Colorful Mani Rimdu Festival

The Colorful Mani Rimdu Festival is a religious event, one of the world’s highest religious and exciting festivals to experience. The Mani Rimdu Festival is an important religious carnival and celebration for the Sherpa natives held only around the Everest region.

There are three  Colorful Mani Rimdu Festivals which take place in several areas of the Everest region. At Thame Monastery west of Namche Bazaar and Khumbu region, as well as in Tengboche Monastery en route to Everest base camp. Including in Solu the lower mid-hill south of Everest at Chiwang Gompa / Monastery.

The festival and prayers last for 19 days, but the main occasion takes place for three days. Interested people can visit all these beautiful areas to observe the colorful Mani Rimdu Festival.The most preferred and popular is the Mani Rimdu Festival at Tengboche / Thyangboche Monastery 3,867 m / 12,687 feet. Due to its location which falls on the main trekking route from Namche Bazaar to Everest Base Camp.

Mani Rimdu Festival is an occasion to mark the establishment of Buddhism by Guru Rinpoche, also known as Tantric Guru Padmasambhava. Who visited Nepal’s high Himalayas on his way to Tibet an invitation by King Dristen in the 7th century A.D.?

The reason for inviting Guru Padmasambhava was to help King Dristen to build Samye Monastery close to Lhasa near the Brahmaputra River.

Guru Padmasambhava was also a reformer of Buddhism as well who established the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Mani Rimdu is regarded as the holiest festival for the Nyingma sect of Buddhism, especially held around the Sherpa communities. Visitors can choose the areas and time to observe and take part in these colorful events at chosen destinations. Around the lower Solu area or at the Khumbu region in Thame or Tengboche monasteries, the festival is similar despite the locations.

Mani Rimdu Festival is, an interesting event worth visiting as well as a lifetime experience to watch and observe.

Mani Rimdu Festival Events:

Mani Rimdu Festival only the time and places are different due to Sherpa settlements at various parts of the Solu-Khumbu district.

The Colorful Mani Rimdu festival is one of the most important religious events for the Sherpa. The event is marked according to the Tibetan Buddhism Luna calendar, it is a series of masked dances. Where monks and priests dressed in elegant masks and costumes dramatize the triumph of Buddhism over Bon. Which is one of the ancient animistic religions of Tibet as well spread around Nepal Himalayas.

The monks of all monasteries of the Sherpa land in the Everest region of Solu and Khumbu. Performs the religious ceremony wearing colorful attire and chanting prayers and playing ritual instruments, burning incense to wade evil spirits. As well for a good harvest of barley, and buckwheat the main crops of highlanders, the ceremony lasted three full days.

Colorful Mani Rimdu Festival Mani Rimdu Of Solu:

Colorful Mani Rimdu Festival The Mani Rimdu of Solu is held in Chiwong Monastery at nearly the same time as in Tengboche Monastery during the autumn season.

The 9th month according to the Tibetan Buddhism calendar falls in the Full Moon times. The sacred ceremony is a sequence of 19 days.
It completes on the last three days when visitors are allowed to take part in this colorful festival Mani Rimdu.

Where all villagers and guests, visitors devotees get blessed by the high priest. The locals and other visitors also bring offerings like seasonal fruits, refreshments, butter, and crops.

Colorful Mani Rimdu Festival Mani Rimdu Of Thame:

Mani Rimdu of Thame takes place at the oldest monasteries of the Khumbu region of Everest. Thame at a height of 3,880 m high, is located at the west end of Khumbu and the famous Namche Bazaar. A quaint sleepy village, where trekkers often visit Thame which is on the route of the Old Trans Himalaya Caravan Salt Trade. As well as on the high trekking trails to Gokyo Valley via Renjo-La Pass.

The monastery of Thame with a history of 500 years, is perched above Thame village within windswept terrain. The Mani Rimdu Festival falls on Full Moon during late spring and pre-summer time of June or the end of May. According to the Buddhist calendar for the auspicious occasions to celebrate the grand event of Mani Rimdu.

Mani Rimdu Of Tengboche / Thyangboche:

The colorful Mani Rimdu Festival of Tengboche is one of the most popular among outside visitors as well for local villagers. As it is situated on the famous route to Everest Base Camp, the place itself is spectacular for grand panorama.

The Tengboche was established by the great gurus of the Rongbuk monastery from Tibet, built in the last century. Which was damaged by earthquakes in early 1912 and rebuilt, but the fire destroyed it again in 1991. At present, it stands majestically in the shade of Mt. Everest and magnificent Ama Dablam, surrounded by an array of peaks. A picturesque location and a photographer’s paradise amidst a beautiful alpine forest of rhododendrons, pines, firs, and juniper trees.

The festival takes place from the end of October to the first week of November, a great colorful event. The festival begins inside the monastery courtyard with a prayer ceremony, where few visitors are allowed. But at the concluding ceremony on the last three days, which is most colorful and interesting to observe.

Where all visitors and devotees are welcome to immerse themselves in the event and as well take blessings from the high priest. Truly an interesting and joyous celebration to watch and take part in the Mani Rimdu Festival.

Various Routes To Enjoy Tengboche Mani Rimdu Festival:

Of all the colorful Mani Rimdu Festival one can enjoy the trek around Solu or high Khumbu. As per the date for the events, trekking the lower side of Everest around Solu to join for Mani Rimdu festival. A lovely walk to the high Peak Hill viewpoint where one can catch a 360° wide panorama of Himalayan peaks.

Includes Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga amidst a beautiful forest of rhododendrons and pines, after enjoying the trek. Walk towards Phaplu to join in the colorful Mani Rimdu festival, a great combination of culture and scenic views.

Visitors interested in a higher trek to Everest base camp or just a week more walks can enjoy the Mani Rimdu Festival. Walking from Lukla to Namche Bazaar and then towards Tengboche Monastery for the event. Trekkers can enjoy walking to Everest base camp before and after the festival of Mani Rimdu also.

Travelers can also enjoy the Mani Rimdu Festival of Thame Monastery, a few days’ walk from Lukla to Namche Bazaar. After a pleasant stop at Namche Bazaar for acclimatization, a day walk to Thame to observe the Mani Rimdu Festival.

Trekking Everest three passes or Thame one can enjoy an adventure to Gokyo scenic valley crossing the high Renjo-La Pass before or after the festival.