Mani Rimdu is the most popular festival in the high Himalayas, especially in the Khumbu region. To observe Mani Rimdu Festival and celebrate with local Sherpa, we Nepal Mother House design Mani Rimdu Festival Trek for you. Sometimes people call it Tengboche Monastery Trek also due to the main destination being Tengboche. It celebrates every year at Tengboche monastery, Thame monastery, and Chiwong Monasteries of Solukhumbu. Normally, the Mani Rimdu festival celebrates from October to November full moon at Tengboche, just south of Mt. Everest, the date of the festival is fixed by the head of monks according to the Sherpa lunar calendar. It is a Buddhist sacred ceremony in a monastic environment, which consists of nineteen days of events with empowerment, meditation, and dance. The public celebration lasts for three days before the concluding ceremony.
Legendary, Mani Rimdu is an honor celebration of the great saint Guru Rinpoche (Guru Padmasambhava); who established Buddhism in Tibet. The monk’s performance different story with masks dancing in colorful dresses. The dance is only performed on the occasion of the Mani Rimdu festival and needs to be special monks who are permitted by the head monks. It cannot perform on other ordinary days and occasions. The monks who are performing dance; first take vows from Trulshig Rinpoche (head of Monk) for the ceremony empowerment. The master of ceremony explains, “Seeing Mani Rimdu is like receiving a blessing”. During the ceremony, the dance is the real performance of a goddess rather than entertainment, so it is a sacred celebration. This is a story about the defeat of daemons by the goddess who protects good people from evil. Especially, the Tengboche Mame Rimdu festival goes for three days. The monks wear special customs and elaborate masks through a series of ritualistic dances and play the trumpet, Kangling (made from human thigh bone), conch, and drum. The main first day of the Mani Rimdu festival is prayer day, the second day involves colorful Lama dancing in brocade gowns and wonderfully painted masks. On the last day is the performance of humorous dances and chanting prayers. Then the master of ceremony (headlamp) offers Wang (blessing/empowerment) to the public.
Mani Rimdu is a great opportunity to rejoice in the ceremony of Sherpa and the Tibetan community. They get to gather at the monastery with traditional dress and ornaments joyfully. Many local people and foreign tourists attend this performance. The Tengboche Mame Rimdu festival Trip rewards you to see the real and unique culture of the Sherpa people and the Himalayan picturesque scenery. This trip is best for 6 days to above combined with Mt.Everest Base Camp Trip or Everest Chola Pass Trek or Gokyo Lakes Trek.
When is the Tengboche Mani Rimdu festival for the year 2023/2024?
The festival date of the Mani Rimdu is fixed by the head of Lama at Tyangboche Gumba according to the Tibetan Lunar calendar. The ceremony is performed in the 9th month of the Tibetan calendar which usually falls on the full moon of October or November month. This year Mame Rimdu festival at Tengboche will be on the 08th, 09th, and 10th of November 2023.
Regarding the Manerimdu Festival; according to the previous history, it should be on 8th- 9th- 10th November. 8th is the day of the full moon and, the festival goes on for three days from the full moon. As this is a religious ritual then, only the head of the monastery Lama has only right to decide the exact date. We will update the actual date of the festival when declared by the monastery at Tengboche. Join Nepal Mother House to celebrate the Mame Rimdu Festival Trek. Hurry up to secure your trip with us.
