Overview

The Mani Rimdu festival in Chiwang Solu is celebrated on in the 10th month of Sherpa / Tibetan calendar ( 3rd weeks of November) at the Chiwang Gompa which is situated atop of magnificent cliff near (1 hour’s walk) Phaplu airstrip.

Built in 1935 by legendry Sange Lama of Phaplu, the Chiwang Gompa is one of three monasteries in Solu Khumbu to play host to the Mani Rimdu festival of Nepal.

In the chill of each day’s dusk masked dancers make their first appearance on the bare courtyard of the monastery before performing, for hours on end, in an elaborate ritualistic retelling of the story of Buddhism’s triumph over Bon, Tibet’s ancient animist religion. The drama is lit by the full moon by which each Mani Rimdu is timed. Performing Lamas (monks) wear beautifully crafted papier maché masks and intricately woven brocade costumes. There are various phases to the festival as on the first day the monks act out elaborate prayer rituals before embarking on the story itself on the second day. On the final day, the throngs of Sherpas who have gathered for the ceremonies join with the local villagers and party the night away in an all night Sherpa dance. Sherpas are amongst the most devout Buddhists in Nepal, mountain people originally descended from Tibetans, who made the long and arduous trip from their country across the Himalayas. Trulshik Rimpoche (one of the chief abbot of the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism from) from the Thubten Cholin monastery – presides the masked dances (wang) and the blessing (Wong) ceremonies.

Before the arriving at the Chiwang Monastery for the festival, we trek to the milky lakes of Dudhkunda Himal.