Tiji festival in Upper Mustang (Lo-Manthang)
Festival date - May 29, 30, 31 2012 / 2013
Holiday Mountain Treks has been organizing a special trip to Lo-Manthang-Upper Mustang every year for Tiji festival. The trip will provide you a cultural/history and scenery experience of the forbidden kingdom- Mustang. It is journey for a lifetime and we assist you from fixing journey date to entire arrangements at an affordable price. There will be allowed only limited numbers of people to visit this wonderful place so if you wan to the trip and experience yourself please reserve your space as early as possible.
An introduction of the Tiji festival
Tiji festival is a three-day ritual as well as “The chasing of the Demons” that centers on the Tiji myth. The myth tells of a deity named Dorje Jono who must battle against his demon father to save the Kingdom of Mustang from destruction. The demon father wreaked havoc on Mustang by bringing a shortage of water (a highly precious resource in this very dry land) and causing many resulting disasters from famine to animal loss. Dorje Jono eventually beats the demon and banishes him from the land. Tiji is a celebration and reaffirmation of this myth and throughout the festival the various scenes of the myth will be enacted. The festical normally helds at the ned of dry winter/spring season effectively a spring renewal festival.and will usher in the wetter monsoon season (the growing season for Mustang).
The Tiji festival is celebrated for three days long in Lo-Manthang.
First day, Lamas horns resounded, announcing the two twelve-foot copper dunchens, with their elephantine blurting, followed by two double-reeled horns, all accompanied by drum and cymbals then an ancient and enormous thanka three stories high is unrolled down the entire south wall of the square. Late afternoon, in high wind and blowing dust, eleven lamas in maroon and gold, wearing high red hats, came from the palace and take their places along the wall beneath the thanka, with Tashi Tenzing on the elevated seat just in the center. The masked dancers starts the portrayal of the Tiji myth then Dorje Jono repels the demon through the power of his magical dancing. As the dances end, Dorje Jono kills the demon, after which his people are relieved of their plague of misfortunes, water becomes plentiful once more, and the balance and harmony of existence are restored.
On the second day, numbers of Loba arrive from the outlying hamlets, and the small square is thronged with wild beautiful people, with all of the women and children, at least, in traditional dress. The King of Mustang, “wears a whole crown of tiny river pearls set off by dozens of large red coralline tones interspersed with matched ornaments of turquoise. The costumes and masks, the twelve-foot horns, the gold cups of wheat, the butter cakes, the snow peaks and wind and dust and sun, the mehti, snow leopard, snow pigeons, saligrams, the dying glacier and the desert ruins, the drunks and rajas and foreigners, the dogs and yaks Tantra.
And on the last, the Tiji festival ends with the ceremonial destruction of the evil remains, represented by some long black yak hair and red torma cakes minced to a dark red furry. The demons red remnants are set out on an old tiger skin, where-upon they are attacked by bow and arrow, slings, and the old guns. The poor devils remains are over- turned upon the ground, each time to a wild cannonade from the old muzzle-loaders and a wave of cheers and smoke. This is how the Tiji festival is celebrated.
Trek Style: Tented Camp (full organize)
Group size: minimum 2 person
Grade: Medium-Hard
Walking hrs: 4-9hrs.
Seasons: May-Oct.
Max alt: 4265m.
Min alt: 2720m.
Day 01 (May 21): Welcome to Kathmandu 1300m
Arrive Kathmandu airport; welcome and transfer to hotel.
Day 02 (May 22): Kathmandu Sightseeing
Sightseeing tour of the interesting surrounding sights of Kathmandu valley.
Day 03 (May 23): Kathmandu – Pokhara 975m. drive 6hrs.
Transferred to Pokhara by tourist bus for about 6 -hour drive. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy either doing last minute shopping for the trek or packing your kitty bag for the trek.
Day 04 (May 24): Pokhara – Jomsom 2720m. - Kagbeni 2900m. trek 3-4 hrs.
Fly to Jomsom and gentle walk to Kagnebi, the checkpoint of entry to Upper Mustang The Kaligandaki valley here is called the Thakkhola, after the native Thakalis, who are distantly related to the Tibetans.
Day 05 (May 25): From Kagbeni trek to Chele 3200m. 6hrs.
Day 06 (May 26): From Chele trek to Geling 3510m. 6hrs.
Day 07 (May 27): From Geling trek to Charang 3650m. 5-6hrs.
Day 08 (May 28): From Charang trek to Lo Manthang 3910m. 5hrs.
Day 09 (May 29): Tiji festival starts and witness of the day first of Tiji and sight visits around
Day 10 (May 30): Witness of the day second of Tiji and sight visits around
Day 11 (May 31): Witness of the day third of Tiji festival and sight visits around.
Day 12 (June 01): Return trek from Lo Manthang to Surkhan 3460m. 5-6hrs.
Day 13 (June 02): Trek from Surkhan - Tange 2640m. 6-7hrs.
Day 14 (June 03): Trek from Tange - Tetang 3160m. 5-6hrs.
Day 15 (June 04): Trek from Tetang- Muktinath 3750m. 6hrs.
Day 15 (June 05): Trek from Muktinath – Jomosom 2720m. 5hrs.
Day 16 (June 06): Fly back from Jomosom-Pokhara. Rest of the is free for own activities.
Day 17 (June 07): Drive Back to Kathmandu .
Day 18: Rest day at leisure or final souvenir shopping. Join the farewell dinner in the evening with live cultural program hosted by Holiday Mountain Treks.
Day 19: Departure transfer to airport for return flight to home.
Trip organize cost USD 1870 per person group joining basis
Special permit fee USD 500 per person
ACAP fee USD 32 per person
Flight fares (Pokhara-Jomsom-Pokhara) USD 164 for foreigner and USD 64 for Nepali per person
Trip cost includes: Full board basis tented camp trekking, hot drinks, ground transportation, guide, sherpa, cook, kitchen helpers, porters, insurance, equipments and other facilities for the staffs, arrival/departure transfer, taxes and other logistic support etc.
Trip cost excludes: Personal wears & gears, personal nature expenses, emergency rescue cost, cold beverage, mineral water, alcoholic drinks, tips etc.
Introduction and trip briefing: On our all tours, trek, expeditions and other adventures, we give a short brief about the trip in Kathmandu on the same day of your arrival and introduce your trip guide and team members. At the mean time, we provide an opportunity for individuals to ask questions if any about the trip.
A day on the trek : Day starts with warm greeting and bed tea. Then you will be offered a basin of hot water to wash and take breakfast then you are off to trek for more then 3 hours through the forests, hills, mountain and local villages. You will stop at pleasant surroundings for hot lunch for an hour. You will then walk 3 or more hours depends on the places and facilities for camping places, stop for the night camp, you will be then offered tea / coffee with some light snacks then explore the area or relax until dinner is served at the warm dining hall. Most of the evening you will be encouraged to sing and dance in a traditional way. Sometime you will spend time playing cards, reading books and learning Nepali.
Finally, go to bed served with hot water rubber bag to keep you extra warm in the cold temperature.
A successful trek requirement: As other trek, Upper Mustang trek also requires previous experience of trekking, sound health & fitness. This trek involves 5-8 hours of high mountain walking. You should be prepared about 10 Kms of walking or jugging exercise everyday 3 months before involving the trek as you are walking on high altitude for long and short days. Likewise you must need a positive attitude and a strong determination; lots of willpower and of course reasonable fitness, good health and physical condition are the basic measure of your success. We suggest you to consult your doctor for medical requirements as medical and evacuation expenses are your responsibility. To ensure for a safety and successful trek; we will provide one trek guide , one assistance guide on every group trek so that if in case one get sick, it would not be canceled the trek and run as plan as in itinerary.
Things to know: Our first concern is your safety while traveling with Holiday Mountain Treks. Please be informed that your trek leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Our every effort will be made for a safely completion of the planned itinerary, however as this is adventure travel into the remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee it! Other factor like weather conditions, the health of member can be the reason to changes the itinerary. In such a case, please be prepared to be flexible. Your leader will accompany you on all scheduled activities and you will have free time to pursue your own interests too. Your trek leader will assist you with information about your options but please be informed that any additional activities you undertake are not part of our itinerary.
Trek staffs: Believing that every successful trips have been possible because of the team work, Holiday Mountain Treks employs experienced and trained Nepalese trek guide and other staffs.
Guide: The guide is English speaking, well experienced and knowledgeable holding license from government institutions. He is well trained about the high altitude problem, eco tourism, social responsibilities and sincerely dedicated on his duty.
Actually our guide play an invaluable role in ensuring that our clients have the best opportunity to experience, learn about, and enjoy their trip presenting him whenever you need any help.
Assistant Guide and Sherpa: We provide one assistant guide and one Sherpa for every 6 trekkers. Assitant guide will help group during day time walking close by to help trekkers at the difficulty situation. Sherpa will take care of the camp site by setting and saving from out sider. They are well experience and dedicated on their duty.
Porters: Normally we use only regular porters working for the company. Our porters are fully equipped and insured having knowledge of walking on snow and high altitude passes. They are very honest, reliable, strong and of curse get good pay.
They can speak engligh and will be referred to take the guide training after they are well experience and confident.
Cook: Cook have got cook training from government and private training institutions and moreover they are well experience to prepare the most delicious and different cuisines with some local way too. They will prepare best of all combination meals like Nepali, Indian, Tibetan, continental and other cuisines as per your test requirements.
Washing and toilet facilities: We provide hot or washing bowl of hot water to freshen up and to bath. We bring toilet tent and set at walking distance from your sleeping tent. No worries! We will cover it with necessary natural preservation after use of such facility.
Foods and dinks: Fresh and hygienic foods at its high level of balance diet on full board basis will be throughout the trek. An experienced and trained cook will prepare some of the best cousins like Nepali, Tibetan, Italian, Continental, and Indian.
For drinks you will get boiled water, Tea, coffe, choklate, soups, squash and juice in diffent flavor etc.
Accommodation: You will be staying at comfortable 2-3 star standard category hotel/resort having all modern amenities with breakfast in Kathmandu/Pokhara and good quality two men dom tents during the trek.
Transportation: Deluxe private vehicle are provided while on city tour, airport transfers and tourist bus to and from Pokhara or private vehicle or flight will be arranged at an extra cost if required.
Responsible tourism concept: Holiday Mountain Treks is taking concern of economy, social, environment and culture while running its trips. Our staffs are trained on this and try for minimum impact on the natural environment and native peoples. We try to support local economy by using their products, making aware and our clients will have to respect the local culture and traditions. We always try to make the areas more cleaner and friendly environments after we travel. This is possible by your understanding and our trained crews.
Travel Insurance: We suggest and t is a condition of traveling with us that you must be fully insured, including air rescue services and all medical expenses. You decide and choose what amount and types of is insurance is suitable for your trip nature as some does buy cancellation and only for certain period of time.
Itinerary: Given itinerary is flexible if needed so there is often scope on the trek to extend or lengthen the walking days. In the special case if the trips is ended a week or more earlier, there will be given an optional for a short trip. Please discuss this with your trek guide and express your wishes. He is there to maximize your enjoyment of the trek.
Electricity: Small scale electricity schemes are running is several mountain communities but as they by definition small the light may not be strong enogh to read by and is not always guaranteed to be working. Kerosene lamps, candles or solar light bulbs are often used is the dining room where there is no electricity. A toch light, with extera battries is essential. Some lodges have rechargeing facilites for which there is a small charge. Nepal use voltages, 220-240 volts to power your appliances. The sockets are fit both round and flat.
I took the Mustang trek to the TIJI festival from Abir. The guide Dinesh and cook pemba were both first rate. The food was very good and each meal different. Dinesh knew the trail very well and pointed out all the interesting places and people in each village we passed. From the morning wake up tea until going to sleep in the evening, I was well taken care of by the entire group. I would highly recommend them to anyone and look forward to doing another trek with them again. The administration of the entire program was the best.
Thank you,
Tom Young
USA