Overview

Monasteries of the Everest Region, are the most important and spiritual highlights of Khumbu Sherpa’s. Where daily life is interwoven with the teaching of Buddha and the practice of heritage culture, as it were thousands of years.

Monasteries of the Everest Region is the heart of local culture for worship, prayer, and religious activities and events. Nearly all villages own a monastery from Lukla and to the last permanent village of Pangboche.

Besides famous monasteries on the trail to Everest base camp, one can visit the old monastery of Thame village. As well above Namche Bazaar at Khumjung village with one of the oldest monasteries around the high Khumbu region of Everest.

The monasteries are the religious center and place of worship of all Khumbu Sherpa’s. Besides large monasteries, villages are adorned with religious, prayer monuments called Chorten, Chaitiya a stupa with a series of prayer walls.   

The Sherpa follows Mahayana Buddhism of Tibetan origin, which means a greater wheel or vehicle. At present, it is one of the most popular, widespread sects of Buddhism practiced around the world, including in Nepal. Mahayana form of Buddhism originated in Tibet around the 7th Century by a great Guru Padamasamba, also known as Guru Rinpoche.

Mahayana Buddhism believes in the heavenliness of Buddha and worship of idols and the daily chanting of prayer.  In this text, we have highlighted the most popular and old monastery of Thyangboche also spelled and pronounced as Tengboche. One of the oldest, but re-built twice due to destruction by the earthquake of 1934 and raged by fire in 1989.

An important monastery of the Khumbu area, although there are much older Gompa / Monasteries at Thame, Khumjung, and Pangboche villages. As Thyangboche Monastery is much highlighted due to its beautiful location on the main trail to Everest base camp. The monastery amidst green forest surroundings is lined by tall pines, firs, rhododendron, oaks, and juniper trees.

Thyangboche Monastery/Gompa

Thyangboche / Tengboche Monastery stands on a high ridge at the height of 3, 875 meters / 12, 713.25 feet. Surrounded by an array of snow peaks with views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, and Lhotse towards the north. Includes Ama Dablam at a close distance towards the east with Kantega, Tharmasarku, and Kwangde, with views of Khumbila the holy peak.  

The Thyangboche Monastery also called Dawa Choling Gompa, is the largest Monastery / Gompa around the high Khumbu region of Everest.  

The origin of the monastery dates back to 1916, built by great Guru ‘Lama Gulu’ who visited from Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet. Thyangboche Monastery since then stood as the main landmark and important Gompa for Khumbu villagers.

Although damaged by natural disasters twice, at present stands as one of the most beautiful and colorful monasteries. Close around Thyangboche one can visit a Vajrayana Buddhism nunnery area, and interact with cheerful and happy nuns.

Thyangboche Monastery / Gompa is not only a place of religious activities it is also a school of learning Buddhism philosophy. Where young monk or pupil comes from all across Nepal to study, as well engaged in religious chores and activities.

The monastery stands above the small plateau of Thyangboche, the interior of the Gompa is allowed for visitors at a certain time. The main area of the tour is the main prayer hall, festooned with a tall statue of Lord Buddha, Guru Rinpoche. 

Includes idol of Chenrezig, also known in Sanskrit as Avalokitesvara, a Bodhisattva symbolizes as the god of compassion. The hall and main prayer room are decorated with brilliant religious arts and paintings known as Thanka. The main entrance with paintings of four directional guardian angels East, West, North, and South. 

How to reach Thyangboche Monastery

After flying in from Kathmandu at Lukla Tenzing & Hillary airport, the first-day walk leads to Phakding. One can walk further to Monjo village close to Sagarmatha National Park Entrance for the first overnight stop. The trail is well-defined with the main flow of porters, groups of trekkers on the road to Everest base camp.

The next day walks towards Namche Bazaar, normally visitors spend two overnights at Namche for rest to support acclimatization. From Namche about 9 km walking distance of more than 4 hours due to steep climb of two hours. Then reaching Thyangboche for an overnight stop within the surroundings of giant peaks with time to visit the monastery complex.

The best time to visit Thyangboche Monastery

Nearly all seasons of the year, except for monsoon wet times of June to August months. The best is in springtime when days are longer with enough sun-light hours, the best season for wildflowers. Especially the rhododendron of various species from tall trees to bush rhododendron with magnolia, violets, and primula. Morning and night can be cold, chances of light snowfall sometimes but most days are clear for views and walks.

The next best season is in autumn/fall starting from September to November clear sunny days most of the time, but with short hours of sunshine due to autumn and pre-winter. Can get snowed sometimes much colder morning and nighttime, but with a clear starry night sky. It is also the time for the great Mani-Rimdu festival of Thyangboche Monastery. Takes place at the end of October or the first week of November, as per the Buddhism Lunar calendar.

For interested people can visit during the winter season also around December to February, mostly clear days for views and walks. But shorter sun-light hours can be very cold morning, late afternoon, and nighttime with chances of snowfall.  

Mani Rimdu Festival of Thyangboche Monastery

Although there are other places, where the Mani Rimdu festival is held like in Thame Monastery, west of Namche Bazaar. But Thyangboche Monastery Mani Rimdu Festival is major and popular due to its easily accessible route and location. 

 Where all villagers from Namche-Khumjung-Khunde and Pangboche can enjoy the great festival, as it is situated close to their villages.

The colorful festival Mani Rimdu of Thyangboche is the biggest and most elaborate religious event for all Khumbu Sherpa’s.

Mani Rimdu at Tengboche is a colorful and vibrant festival where all monks and priests are clad in beautiful gowns and masks. Dances to the beat of religious chants and music performed by the young monks wading away from the evil spirits.

A two weeks festival, but three days is the most important part of the event displayed among the public.

The festival is traditionally held on the 10th month as per the Tibetan Lunar calendar but at Thyangboche versions. It is held on the ninth Tibetan month, which is great fortunate it coincides with the best trekking times.

For this year 2022, interested travelers are willing to visit the festival time of Mani Rimdu at Thyangboche. Is held in November from 08th to 10th.

On this day you will be blessed by the high priest Guru Rinpoche of Thyangboche Monastery. A great opportunity to observe the festival is not to be missed while visiting Nepal and the high Khumbu region.

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The 10 Major festivals of Nepal, a country of colorful religious and cultural events with more than 60 ethnic groups. Nepali is the national language, as well 70 different native dialects are spoken, a blend of both Hindu religions and Buddhism religions.

Nepal is situated between Tibet / China in the North and Indian in the South, West, and East. The 10 Major Festivals of Nepal take place nearly all year round, as well as smaller events of different ethnic tribes.

The country a blend of Hinduism and Buddhism religions celebrates more than 50 festivals major or minor events. All festivals are related to merriment and joyous moments with religious backgrounds and of cultural heritage. 

From the Far East to Western Nepal, visitors can experience various types of culture and customs, as well as different festivals. Every region has its own special events due to varied tribes of people, which makes Nepal an interesting country to visit.  

Major Festivals of Nepal, are celebrated throughout the country the most important part of all Nepalese life. Besides big festivals, there are many smaller events among tribal communities, from the high Himalayas to the south area of the Terai belt.  

This program presents Major Festivals of Nepal, apart from many various events that take place all around the country. The national festivals have fixed dates, religious festivals are set by astrologers following the lunar calendar on an auspicious day.

Dashain/Dashera Festival:

The main major and important for all Nepalese around the world is Dashain also known as Dashera. Celebrating victory over devil or evil takes place in the month of late September or in October. As per the Nepalese Hindu Lunar calendar, one of the longest and most chief festivals of Nepal and for all Nepalese. 

Although a major festival, the event is celebrated at home with families and friends, the clear blue Nepalese sky is filled with colorful kites and the marketplaces are crowded with farmers bringing goats, buffaloes, ducks, and Chickens for selling. 

Dashain festival begins after domestic animals, chickens are sacrificed on the night of ‘Kal Ratri’ in respect to goddess Durga. Celebrating the victory over evil and demons, on the day of Dasami the main day of the festival. 

Everyone is dressed in new clothes for the occasion and pays homage to honor the elders, where they get blessed. The elder member of the family blesses all putting ‘Tika’ of raw rice mixed with curd of vermilion. 

Then it’s party time the following days of Dashain, families, and friends unite, feasts are consumed. Nepal’s most beloved festival ends on the last day at full moon, then welcomes the Tihar festival.

Tihar/Diwali Festival of Lights: 

Tihar another important festival simultaneously falls within a few weeks, after Dashain, known as the festival of lights. Observed at the end of October or in the first week of November months as per Hindu Lunar calendar. 

Tihar or Diwali is the second big festival of Hindus in Nepal, also known as the festival of lights. Where every house and street is lighted brightly at night with candlelight’s, oiled wicks on a small clay bowl. The houses are decorated with a garland of marigold flowers to welcome the Laxmi goddess of wealth and fortune.

Where girls and boys join in singing carols to raise funds at every house, to celebrate another festival Bhai Tika. This takes place on the last day of Tihar, which is the day when sisters offer and bless their brothers. Tihar starts with crow and dogs day where people offers special food for the domestic animals.

The main Tihar is the day when every household worship cow as a manifestation of goddess Laxmi, one of the best festivals of Nepal to observe.

The Buddha Jayanti (Birth Anniversary of Lord Buddha):

The date as per the Nepalese calendar which falls around May in the full moon is the day ever benevolent Buddha was born in Lumbini-Nepal.

Lord’s birth, enlightenment, and salvation took place on the same day of a full moon the occasion is applauded throughout the valley and around the main Buddhist areas of Nepal with celebrations. The main place of celebration takes place at Swayambhunath and Bouddhanath Stupas, a great event to observe around the monasteries. In Nepal a public holiday for this auspicious event on Buddha Jayanti the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha.

Janai Purnima/Rakshya Bandhan & Gai Jatra

A holy, auspicious event especially for Hindu men and boys, is the day to change their holy threads with a homely ceremony. As well as visiting Himalayan holy lakes and ponds for a dip and bath in August. According to the Hindu Lunar calendar which falls in the full moon time. Where most Hindu men and women also wear a holy thread on the wrist and get blessed by the priest. At the same time, it is a day of blessing to brothers by sisters, by putting a colorful fancy paper-made bracelet.

Gai Jatra is one of the joyous events, in remembrance of the deceased person to make the departed soul to the gates of Heavenly Paradise.

The festival takes place in August as per the Hindu and Nepalese calendars. Especially around the three cities of Kathmandu Valley that including Patan / Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. The native of the valley Newar people celebrate this occasion which started during the regime of the Malla Kingdom dynasty.   

A procession is held around the town and city streets young kids dressed in comic

Teej- Festival of Women:

Another great event, especially for women, is Teej falls in August as per the Hindu calendar, Teej is celebrated for three days in honor of Lord Shiva and the long and healthy life of the husband. Spinsters or unmarried young girls also observe Teej getting the right, good dream husband. 

Teej celebrations start with great meals and then fasting to the last days. Traditional folk dances and songs make an important feature on the ever of Teej celebrations. One can notice women wearing red or bridal costumes, considered an auspicious color for women observing Teej.

Shree Krishna Janmashtami (Lord Krishna Birth Anniversary):

Interesting to know most festivals fall during August as per the Hindu and Nepalese calendar. On the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, Hindu devotees observe remaining awake the whole night performing religious rites dancing, singing in praise of Lord Krishna. Krishna is also a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu taking re-birth to fight over evil.

Fagu Purnima – Holi (Festival of colors): 

Celebration to welcome the spring season, a colorful event that falls during mid-February or at the beginning of March as per the Hindu / Nepalese calendar.

Fagu Purnima or Holi as well the festival of playing with colors marks the end of the winter season. To rejoice the starting of spring. Where people share a token of friendship and put different colors on each other.

Indra – Jatra:

A festival to honor the rain god showing gratitude for a rich harvest, after a timely good shower of monsoon rain yielding good crops. A week-long event and festival of Indra-Jatra, which takes place in September month as per Hindu and Nepal’s own calendar. The events start hoisting Lord Indra’s flag (Indra-Dhoj) at midnight and faces of Bhairavas deities, displayed in main public places.

The main festival is held at Kathmandu’s Durbar Square this great celebration honor to “King of Heaven” or Indra’s Dhwaj, a flag, is erected on the first day. 

This is the day Goddess Kumari observes the festival from her chariot, and the public gets a blessing as well the late royal family or present head of the country.  

Maha Shiva-Ratri (Birth Anniversary of Lord Shiva):

The festival and celebration to honor the birth anniversary of Lord Shiva, the main hub of the event are at the holy temple of Pashupatinath. Where thousands of devotees and pilgrims pay homage to get blessed by the priest.

The religious festival of Hindu’s held around the end of February or the first week of March as per the Hindu calendar. Lord Shiva, the most popular god for the Hindu followers, where Sadhus (hermits) imitate Shiva with ashes over their bodies. 

Besides the main event at Shiva temples, people celebrate with bonfires and share food and have merriment singing songs and dancing throughout the Pashupatinath complex and in the streets. 

Losar Tibetan Buddhism New Year:

Losar is a new year for Tibetan Buddhism followers, in Nepal especially the high hills and mountain people celebrate this great event in their own special way.

Losar is celebrated in several ways and on different days as per the tribe who practice Buddhism. Like Tibetan, Sherpa, Gurung, and Tamang have their own auspicious day to celebrate the occasion. However, the day and the year are the same for all Tibetan Buddhists as well in the Chinese calendar. The celebration takes place visiting the monasteries for blessing, having a party with friends and family.

The festival of New Year starts from the end of December to February as per tribal wise, however, the year at present 2021 is the year of the OX and lasts till the end of the year till February 2022 which will be the year of the Tiger.

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