Dedicated to
His Eminence, Late Chogye Trichen Rinpoche (1919 – 2007), Head of the Tsharpa branch of the Sakyapa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, who has graced many Tiji celebrations with his holy presence, and has played a major role in keeping alive the sakyapa religious tradition in Lo Manthang.
History of Tiji
 Allegiance to the Phurba (Sa Phur) tradition i.e. invoking the wrathful deity of Dorje Shunu who is considered to banish all forms of obstacles has prevailed since the time of Lama Lowo Khenchen (1456-1532), the son of Lo’s second King amgon Sangpo (1419-1482). This influence could be due to the visits of the great Sakyapa master Ngorchen Kunga Sangpo who was invited by Amedpal (1388-1447) the first ruler of Lo and was honoured as his chief religious preceptor. Lowo Khenchen was considered as one of the greatest Buddhist teachers of his time, and he played a major role in spreading Buddhism in Mustang.
Tiji is believed to have started around the time of Lowo khenchen and continued with great pomp and fervor in the few centuries thereafter. It thus became one of the main festivals of Lo. The country at that time was flourishing, food was plentiful, and Buddhist religion was practiced and followed by the Royal family as well as the lay people. Large monasteries were built and great teachers were born. Evidence of this golden age of religion and prosperity can still be seen in most villages in the form of monasteries, dzongs, large houses and private chapels.
 During the reign of the 15th King of Mustang, Ahang Jamba Dadul, (enthronement approx 1816, died 1837) the country of Lo witnessed unrest and economic downfall. The Queen was also unable to bear a son, so to appease the gods and remove obstacles to the Buddhist religious traditions, Ngachen Ngawang Kunga Sonam, a great Sakyapa master from Tibet, was invited to visit Lo. At the festival of Tiji this master is said to have performed the masked dances as the main dancer, or tsowo. Folklore describes a mound outside the city walls of Lo Manthang where the arrow used by the great master to drive away the demons is said to have been buried, and left an indent upon the mound. This place is known as Sa Kawo or the “White Land”, and exists to this very day. Following Ngachen Ngawang Kunga Sonam’s visit to Lo, the festival regained its popularity and prior glory.
However, towards the mid 19th century, political changes in Nepal affected Mustang, and many age-old traditions were abolished including Tiji. Although the main ceremony in the city’s square no longer took place, Choede Gompa, the central monastery of Lo Manthang, continued to celebrate the festival with the monastery without economic support from the people. This has been practiced since 1963, and still continues today, despite the main festival having being revived.
 An intriguing story behind the most recent revival of Tiji denotes that an apparition appeared to Pemba, a layman from Lo Manthang, and it was prophesized that if the Tiji festival was not practiced, great evil and suffering would befall Lo. Epidemics would plague the area and there would be death, suffering and poverty everywhere. So the present King, now 25th in the lineage, Jigme Dadul Palbar Bista met with the late Khempo (Head Lama) Tashi Tenzin of Lo Manthang’s Choede Gompa, the representatives of Lo Tso Dun and high officials to discuss the matter.
It was then decided that the festival would be restarted, and by the 1970s the main festival in the square (in front of the King’s Palace), within the high city walls, was again celebrated with great enthusiasm. It can thus be said that despite much antagonism (both political and economic), the tradition and continuity of Tiji was never really broken, and continues in its original form to this day.
Itinerary for 2008 |
3 April 2008: Day 01: Arrival Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel
24 April 2008: Day 02: Kathmandu full day sightseeing
25 April 2008: Day 03: Drive to Pokhara
26 April 2008: Day 04: flight to Jomson & Trek to Kagbeni
Rsttricked area:
27 April 2008: Day 05: Kagbeni - Chele - Camping
28 April 2008: Day 06: Chele - Gilling - Camping
29 April 2008: Day 07: Gilling - Ghami - Camping
30 April 2008: Day 08: Ghami - Tsarang - Camping
01 May 2008: Day 09: Tsarang - Lo-Manthang - Camping
02 May 2008: Day 10: Lo-Manthang Day hiking - Camping (Start Tiji Festival)
03 May 2008: Day 11: Lo-Manthang - Tiji Festival
04 May 2008: Day 12: Lo- Manthang - Tiji Festival Ends
05 May 2008: Day 14: Lo-manthang - Ghami - Camping
06 May 2008: Day 14: Ghami - Samar - Camping
07 May 2008: Day 15: Samar - Chhusang - Camping
08 May 2008: Day 16: Chhusang - Kagbeni - Camping
Exit Restricted area:
09 May 2008: Day 17: Kagbeni - Jomsom
10 May 2008: Day 18: Jomsom - Pokhara & Kathmandu flights
11 May 2008: Day 19: Kathmandu - free day - Shopping
12 May 2008: Day 20: Final Departure |
| |
Cost include:
- 4 nights hotel in Kathmandu 3 star bed & breakfast
- 1 night hotel in Pokhara Bed and breakfast.
- Flight Jomsom -Pokhara - Kathmandu
-
full lodge trek from Pokhara to Jomsom and with 1 guide and 1 porter and Fully camping trek with meal, guide, sherpas, porters, cook etc upper Mustang Trekking.
- 2 men tent, dining tent, table & seating chair, toilet tent for upper Mustang Trek.
- Necessary Kitchen equipment
- conservation fee for low and upper Mustang
- Transportation of staff & equipment
- Staff flight Pokhara - Jomsom - Pokhara
- Cargo for trekking goods from Pokhara - Jomsom -Pokhara
- Domestic airport tax
- Insurance & clothing for trekking staff. Upper Mustang, we use donky ( Hours) as carrying
- Air port /hotel/airport transfer
- 1 full day sightseeing in Kamandu
- Kathmandu - Pokhara Deluxe Air-Condition bus
- last day good bey dinner in Kathmandu with official staff of Sherpa Adventure Trails.
- Our Service Charge
Cost does not include:
- All expenses of personal nature
- Personal travel insurance
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu & Pokhara
- Helicopter rescue incase needed
- Medicine as well as in trekking
- International airport taxes
- Tips for staff
- Laundry, phone calls
- Bar bills, Mineral water, Sweety, candy
|
|
| |
|
