Dharamshala: The Tibet Policy Institute is hosting a talk series titled ‘Himalayan Cultural Heritage’ to spotlight the spiritually introspective, well-preserved 1000 year-long Buddhist traditions in the Himalayan region that have led to the establishment of many monasteries and inspired academic research and study into Buddhism. Moreover, monks or Lamas chant mantras and fire torches are passed through the crowd. Here is a comprehensive list of festivals in the Indian Himalayan region that may reverberate in your mind and ultimately bring you to a unique vacation in the mountains. On this day, young girls conduct most of the ceremonies. Her love for traveling has taken her to the hills and mountains. A small country in the South Asian region, Nepal is a beautiful nation blessed with all the natural beauty including that of the mountains, hills and rivers, among other natural landscapes. Founded in the mid 16th century during the reign of Tshewang Namgyal and located in Sakti village, which is approximately 46 kilometers from Leh, the Tak – Tok Gompa is home to 55 lamas and the only Nyingma monastery in Ladakh. Generally, Mani Rimdu falls in October or November each year coinciding with the best time of trekking in Nepal. +977-9851116042, 24/7 SUPPORT, Home (current) Destination. This Himalayan region is always covered with snow. Ltd. People in rural areas celebrate the festival by gathering in a courtyard to celebrate while in cities people organize a program to mark the New Year. This blog is dedicated to the festival celebrated in the Himalayan region of Nepal. There have been sightings above and below the snow line. Searching for Tour? The rider with maximum silk shawl wins the race. Another popular festival in the Ladakh region is the Dosmoche Festival that is celebrated in February with great pomp and fervor at the Leh Palace, Likir Monastery and Deskit Monastery. The reason of recommending a drive to Kullu once Dussehra is over in Delhi and other parts of India is the Kullu Dussehra Festival. Yomari is another delicacy of the Newar community in Nepal. Among many festivals celebrated like Dashain, Tihar, Indra Jatra, Holi, etc. Home to 50 monks, the Phyang Gompa was founded by Lama Chosje Danma Kunga Dagspa under the sponsorship of King Tashi Namgyaland and belongs to the Degungpa order. The Saga Dawa festival reflects the life of Lord Buddha from his birth, to how he earned enlightenment and salvation from this world. Talk with our local travel specialist who can help organize your trip. Day, The 16 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Travel In Nepal- the noble truth of suffering, secondly the truth of the origin of suffering of Karma and delusion and their causes, thirdly the attainment of Nirvana and lastly the eight fold path leading to Nirvana. In Khumbu region, the Mani Rimdu also holds special attraction. With colorful masks, outer costumes and fusion of sounds of cymbals, drums, and cumbrous trumpets the Hemis Festival brings forth a very indigenous, eccentric and luxurious atmosphere amid the pinpricks of dust. Nyokum Festival is celebrated every year on 26th February with great zeal and spirit. Day, Tips For Solo Female Travel In Nepal- During this festival devotees come for pilgrimage to the sacred Manimahesh Lake. The vegetation in this zone consist of oak, birches, magnolias, pine, fir, yew, rhododendron dwarf, bamboo and moss and fem. Please enter your registered email address to reset your password. For the festival, villages are decorated with new prayer flags while traditional mask dances and fire rituals are performed by monks. Food typical to Gyalpo Loshar is Guthuk and Khapse. The date of Dumji is announced by Abbot of Tengboche Monastery. The beautiful monastery offers a stunning view of Ama Dablam and Everest among several other mountains. However, Indian people living in the Himalayas are often called ‘Pahari’. Mask dances are the main attraction of this festival that captivities devotees as well as spectators. Mainly held in the districts of Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Kangra… the Chet festival is one of the important festivals in Himachal Pradesh that is celebrated with happiness and prosperity. Day, Trekking in Nepal with a Family - 6 Best Family Treks- Lhosar (the New Year) is a major festival. Day, Top 10 Tips To Summit Island Peak - Most Popular Trekking Peak in Nepal- Celebrated at the end of the 10th month of lunar calendar, the festival displays a traditional aroma to thank for the good harvest and to offer prayers for even better yield in the next season. This site uses cookies to provide you with the best user experience. Upper Mustang region comes alive with locals’ enthusiasm for the Tiji festival. The problem of population explosio n in the whole Himalayan region . Nepal is famous for its rich culture and tradition. It is one of the traditional festivals of the Indo–Tibetans that continues for two days and was started by a king named Lhachen Gongdup who ruled the region between the years 1295 and 1320. Festivals are one of the most integral parts of their community, they vary from culture to culture in different regions of Himalayas. It is believed that Mt. Also dubbed as “Sonam Losar”, Losoong is the Sikkimese New Year that brings forth the farmers to rejoice and celebrate the harvesting season. The stroma and figures are either burnt or left deep in the desert to shoo the evil spirits of the last year away. The main aim of the festival is to allay evil spirits that harm sentient beings while strengthening the community bond. Devotees offering prayers to the Sun on Chhath Festival. Sacred dances with Buddhist teaching are performed by monks who wear the costumes of deities and behave like one. It is a 3 day of extravaganza that begins with the offering of prayers to Mount Tendong in South Sikkim. Most of the larger lakes are on the northern side of the main range. Just after the Phyang Festival, the fanfare awaits the Tak – Tok Festival at the cave Gompa of Tak – Tok. In the terai region, Chhath is of special importance. Discover 5 Himalayan festivals In Nepal celebrated in high spirits before you plan your visit. On New Year, many Sherpas hoist new prayer flags for the fresh start of the year. If you are seeking to dig into the rich and diverse culture of the ravine folk of the Mahabharata Range… then plan a holiday to Darjeeling during the Darjeeling Carnival that takes place in the mist of November. It is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Lord Gautam Buddha. Majhi and Dhimal display signatures of admixture within the last 1,000 years. Yartung means a summer festival in Tibetan and is celebrated in the Manang and Mustang regions of Nepal. Visiting Upper Mustang for the festival is a good decision as the spring is the best time to visit Nepal. festivals celebrated in himalayan region of nepal, festivals celebrated in nepal, festivals of nepal, nepalese culture, nepalese culture and tradition, nepali festival, nepali festival dashain, nepali festival tihar Being home to more than 100 ethnic groups, there is always some festivals being celebrated in Nepal. Solung is the most popular festival in Arunachal Pradesh that is celebrated by the Adis of on September 1 every year. One of the extremely reverenced Buddhist festivals in the Indian Himalayan region is the Saga Dawa festival that takes place on the auspicious day of Buddha Jayanti. It is celebrated sometime around July to September. Brought up from the cultural capital of India, Kolkata, Swairik Das is a passionate traveller who seeks to travel and explore the length and breadth of the country. Everest Region. Day, Teahouse Trek Vs Everest Luxury Lodge Trek- | Easily the best way to see Nepal is on foot, following a network of trails trodden for centuries by porters, traders, pilgrims, mountaineers and locals travelling from village to village, plains to hills, Nepal to Tibet. The family that hosts the festival gets help from the other villagers which strengthens the community bond. Dedicated to Lord Raghunath, who is believed to be the ruling deity of the Valley, the Kullu Dussehra festival follows a huge assembly of other local deities and is worshipped by pilgrims coming from different parts of the country. Following her passion for writing, she wrote for web magazines and NGOs before joining Third Rock Adventures writing team. It is a summer festival and one of the important festivals in the Ladakh region that continues for 10 days. Further, folk dance and music and bonfires are also a part of the Jagra festival. It is believed that obstacles of your life will be cleared away upon watching the chaam with respect and faith in your heart. One of the festivals that are celebrated by the Gaddi tribes of Kangra, Chamba and Mandi districts… is the Nawala festival. The three day gala affair during the Sindhu Darshan Festival is a rendezvous of various religious groups on the banks of River Indus (Sindhu) that started in the year 1997. This mountain zone encompasses about 25% of the total area of the country. The devotional songs praising Lord Shiva is sung the whole night during this festival. The festival is celebrated on the 3rd Tibetan month and falls in the month of May. Also, people dress up in their cultural dress for this occasion. Further, the rendezvous of music like jazz and rock unites the youth and travellers from different part of the world. Don’t miss out on enjoying the festival time in the Himalayas. Several competitions that foster the traditional art forms are organized during the festival. She enjoys traveling, loves to see new places and enjoys putting her experience into words. Nonetheless, a part of the holy water is distributed amongst the devotes and the pot is replenished with river water and sealed at the end of the festival that is to be opened only during the next Bumchu festival. Various ritual and dance performances like… red mask dance and black mask dance are the major tourist attractions. Nonetheless… it is the perfect time to understand the cultural significance and get on with Qawwali- a form of Sufi devotional music. Few of the rituals in the mountains are “TANTRA” based and so mysterious especially in Trans Himalayan region. Baisakhi Festivals – Bid Farewell to Winters. News & Advice. Its tremendous height is supposed to be due to subsequent uplifts during later periods of Tertiary Era. Himalayan populations show signatures of recent admixture events, mainly with South and East Asian populations as well as within the Himalayan region itself. On the last day, exhibitions on traditional Lepcha food, costumes and ornaments are held. Lama Sangwa Dorje has credited for beginning this festival who also founded initial monasteries in the Solukhumbu region of Nepal. Kullu, one of the Himalayan valleys in Himachal Pradesh, is a good escape to nature. One of the popular festivals in the Kashmir region, Herat OR commonly known as Shivratri is a major festival among the Kashmiri Pundits and generally falls in February or March. Buy The Water Resources Of Himalayan Region In Uttarakhand India by winterlineproductions1 on VideoHive. Further, the festival also aims at promoting eco-tourism through flower exhibitions and also brings you closer to the cultural diorama by displaying traditional crafts and costumes. Contact us . All content and photography within this website are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without permission. The clear sky will give you a breathtaking view of the striking landscape of Upper Mustang. Devotees fast and make offerings to the sun by gathering at river banks. Further, one can also witness the colourful atmosphere of the locals in their traditional attire and can also participate in the gala affair by setting off firecrackers and trying out kapse, which is a kind of cake served during dinner. The festival is famous as the horse riding festival in the mountainous region of Nepal. Different stalls in the festival showcase the culture, handicrafts, traditional medicines, and cuisines of the Himalayan region. *photos used in this post are for educational purpose. So, the festival of the Himalayan region celebrated by a niche group is overshadowed. Although located in a remote region, 6 kms from Padum, the Sani Monastery, which is close to the picturesque Sani Village and approximately 12 hours of drive from Leh, is definitely worth a visit. One of the extremely reverenced Buddhist festivals in the Indian Himalayan region is the Saga Dawa festival that takes place on the auspicious day of Buddha Jayanti. The main monk performing in Tiji is called Tsowo and he is chosen on the basis of precedence and superiority of rank from the Chhode Monastery. Four-day Dumji festival promotes religious values and brings together communities. During the festival, the head priest performs rituals and prayers are offered to the spirits to bring peace, harmony, and prosperity to the people. All rights reserved. The festival acts as an initiative to strengthen harmony between the inhabitants of Himachal Pradesh and Tibetans. Himalayan region lies in the northern part and is least developed. It is clear that massive efforts have to be mounted, together with sound scientific strategies for mitigation, if … They wear thick woolen clothes called Bhakkhu, Pangden and Knee-high thick shoes called Docha. Tiji festival celebrated at the capital city of Upper Mustang is special festival that runs for three days. The Darjeeling Carnival was started as an initiation to get over the violent agitation in the eighties amongst the youth of Darjeeling. After you submit the form, one of our travel experts will get back to you with customised holiday package based on your requirement, within 24 hours. The Himalayan myth is that there is a Yeti on the lurk around the mountain range. Tiji. Further, a fire ritual called Jinsak is performed by monks to allay all harm in the world. An off-shoot of the national Navratri festival, the Kullu Dussehra festival in Himachal Pradesh is a weeklong international level fair that is held every year in October. The affair continues for 10 days and includes events like poetry-reading sessions, painting and photo exhibitions, tea-drinking ceremonies, Land Rover rally, music concerts and ethnic food festivals. With songs, dances, delicious food, and alcoholic drinks the locals celebrate this festival in a lively way. During this festival one can experience various literary and cultural programmes that are held in the state capital to commemorate the occasion. Tiji is a three-day masked dance festival celebrated annually with high significance in the last … The festival is seen as a means of relaxation and entertainment after hectic hours of labor in the farms. One of the prominent Kashmiri Pandit festivals is the Khichdi Amavasya that is celebrated in December or January. It is … A group of families comes together to provide food and drinks for the entire village for this 4-day festival. The sacred dance dramas (a.k.a. Dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava, who founded Tantric Buddhism in Tibet, the Hemis Festival comprises a mystic and colourful Masked Dance performance that depicts the triumph of good over evil. Usually the Pahari people master the art of wooden carving, which is seen in Srinagar’s wooden mosques or in the local markets of Shimlaand other cities and towns. Mani Rimdu is celebrated to mark the foundation of Buddhism by Guru Rinpoche or Padmasambhava in Tibet. Also known as Prithvi puja, Chrewal is another prominent festival in Himachal Pradesh that is celebrated in the month of August and continues for a month. It occupies an important position among the Hindus, as Himalayas is the home for major Hindu Pilgrimage. Hemis Jangchub Choling), and is one of the popular festivals in the Ladakh region. Login. The typical species of the zone characterized by Indo-Chinese fauna are red pandas, badgers, porcupines, ferrests etc. During these dances, symbolic demons are defeated, chased away or converted into Protector of Dharma. It is 15 days of extravaganza that welcomes the crop yielding season with mask dance performance, music and theatre shows. Nonetheless… you can also try out various ethnic foods that include momos, thukpa and kinema. From the thrilling horse race to sacred mask dances for which monks practice in recluse, soak in the festive vibe and enjoy with locals. Did you know that a Tsowo goes through a recluse of 3 months in the monastery as a part of the preparation of Tiji? Moreover, the monks chant mantras thousands of times for the wellbeing of the entire universe during this festival. One of the most important festivals of the Sherpa community, Dumji is celebrated with exuberance in the Everest region. If the water is overflows then that signifies a year with natural disaster and disturbances. Held in Gangtok at the Deer Park where Lord Buddha addressed the disciples and delivered his sermon… the Drupka Teshi festivals follows the first Noble Truth i.e. The Indian Himalayan region remains a special attraction because of its vast and diverse landscape that is bedded with a sprawling biosphere and dotted with numerous glaciers and lakes. Besides unveiling the statue of Naropa… during this festival the Lamas from Bardan Monastery perform masked dances as ritual offering, symbolizing the struggle and conquest of good over evil. In the Hindu religion Himalayas is considered to be the abode of God. Sherpas, Bhotias, Thakalis live here. Top Attractions : Almost every festival rejoiced in the cozy environs of Himachal Pradesh has something or the other unique to add to its delight. Drop us a line if you wish to go on a festive trek celebrated in the Himalayas of Nepal. The Himalayan region is dotted with hundreds of lakes. Men and women wear traditional Tamang dresses and visit monasteries. festivals celebrated in the Himalayan region of Nepal are less-known. Though it was Hindu kingdom in The Eastern Himalayan region differs from the western region. This is a list of festivals which you can't miss on Himalayas such as Mani Rimdu Fstival, Tiji Festival, Dumji Festival, Yartung Festival. It is celebrated with much gaiety for wealth, good health and universal happiness. People. Day, 5 Festivals In Himalayas - You Can't Afford To Miss. And it has slowly become a symbol of unity, harmony, and ethnicity. Kagyed Dance festival enacts various themes from the Buddhist mythology and culminates with the burning of effigies made of flour, wood and paper. Subscribe for more updates, tips and insights for your holidays. It portrays the Kalachakra Tantra within the Tantric Buddhism that revolves around the astrological concept of time and cycles, leading to the path of enlightenment. In the Himalayan region, Lo Sar, a.k.a. The festival takes place in the first month of the lunar year OR in April. This Himalayan Mountain situated on the north part of Nepal is the youngest and loftiest fold mountain of the world. To welcome the New Year, houses are cleaned and decorated with colorful cloths or papers in doors and windows. Chham or dances with masks are regarded as sacred and only performed in the Mani Rimdu festival. There is a saying, “It snows when the Urs of Meesha Sahib is held, it is windy when the Urs of Batamol Sahib takes place, it rains on the occasion of the Urs of Bahauddin”. During this festival young girls go to all the houses in the muhalla or the village with plates full of rice, jaggery, coconut, green leaves and flowers. A perfect time when you can try out one of the local beverages of India, Chang or Chhaang, is during the Losar Festival, which is a vibrant festive affair in the Indian Himalayan region that stretches for 15 days in late January or February, according to the Tibetan calendar. When the water level is low or almost dry it is a sign famine. These religions are practiced in the regions like Ladakh, Sikkim, Tibet, and Lahaul & Spiti. The demon brought havoc in the semi-arid region by creating a water shortage. Third Rock Adventures is the company name of Third Rock Adventures Pvt. Bodies of climbers found in Himalayas 16 years after they went missing. Besides the usual dance – drama performances, a few sporting events such as a Polo tournament – “Ladakh Festival Cup” and Archery captures the tourist’s interest. They offer their good wishes for the prosperity of the household and are given blessings and presents (sweets, gur, money etc) in return.