Tiji Festival
तिजी
May 14, 2026 – May 16, 2026 · Baishakh, 2083 (approximate) BS
Approximate — confirm closer to your travel datesLo Manthang, Upper Mustang
Plan a trip around Tiji FestivalHistory & origin
Reenacts the legend of Dorje Jono, a deity who defeated a demon terrorizing the ancient kingdom of Mustang, dismembering it and scattering its body parts — sites across the region are said to mark where the pieces fell. The festival's full name, Tenpa Chirim, translates roughly as a prayer for the continuity and stability of Buddhist teachings.
How it’s celebrated
Monks of Choede Monastery spend months preparing, then perform elaborate masked Cham dances in the walled city's central square over three days, each dance depicting a stage of the demon's defeat. The final day culminates in the ritual destruction of a torma (a dough effigy representing the demon), symbolically banishing evil from the kingdom for the year ahead, watched by the local community and Mustang's royal family descendants.
Tips for visitors
One of the most visually striking festivals in Nepal, but only reachable via a restricted-area trek/permit into Upper Mustang — needs deliberate advance planning around the date.
Related journeys — Buddhist Pilgrimage
Buddhist Kathmandu Immersion
A five-day immersion in Kathmandu Valley's living Buddhist tradition — major monasteries, guided meditation, and a journey out to Namo Buddha.
Namo Buddha & Buddhist Foothills
A three-day short pilgrimage to the hillside monastery at Namo Buddha, one of the Kathmandu Valley's key Buddhist sites, for guests with limited time.
Buddhist Kathmandu Introduction
A one-day introduction to Buddhist practice in the Kathmandu Valley for guests who want context before a longer pilgrimage journey, or who only have a single day.
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