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In the Khumbu region of northeast Nepal, the home of the
Sherpa people, lies the spectacular Tengboche Monastry.
It is on the main route to the Base Camp of Mount Everest
and offers the first clear views of the highest mountain
in the world. Tengboche Monastery exhibits an important part
of Nepal's heritage.
What happens at the Mani Rimdu Festival?
Apart from the fresh mountain air and the green-calm surroundings,
the monastery also hosts the delightful Mani Rimdu Festival.
The Mani Rimdu Festival is a festival of colour and noise
that takes place in this most spectacular of settings. Performed
by the monks of Chiwong and Tengboche monasteries, it depicts
the victory of Buddhism over the ancient 'Bon' religion. Unchanged
for centuries this is the annual full moon festival at the
Tengboche Monastery.
The dances performed represent Buddhist destruction of all
the pagan gods that live in the Himalayas. The monks all dress
up in masks to represent the old ghosts that were exorcised.
The festival lasts for three days and is well attended by
the Sherpa people who often trek for many days to witness
this important event. Tengboche Mani Rimdu starts on the full
moon of October, and the Chiwong Mani Rimdu on the full moon
of November.
What's the history of Tengboche?
Tengboche became known to the world after Sir Edmund Hillary
and Tenzin Norgay (his Sherpa guide) made the first
ascent of Mount Everest in 1953 from here. It was established
in its present site by Lama Gulu in 1916 and has strong
ties with the Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet. Tengboche
was the first celibate monastery and follows the Nyingmapa
lineage of the Vajrayana Buddhist teachings.
Tengboche has been destroyed and rebuilt twice. In 1934 an
earthquake caused severe damage and on the 19th January 1989
the monastery burnt to the ground. The fire was so intense
that nothing of worth could be recovered. Most of the monastery's
precious old scriptures, statues, murals and woodcarvings
were lost, even the famous stone in which Lama Sangwa Dorje
left a footprint cracked in the tremendous heat.
Other things to see and do
In days gone by, Tengboche monastery was remote and inaccessible.
Today things have changed - over 30,000 people come every
year to enjoy the beauty of Tengboche and splendor of the
mountains.
In the quiet of the ancient forests surrounding Tengboche,
the national bird of Nepal, the iridescent Dhaphe (or
Impeyan pheasant) can frequently be seen and heard. Huge vultures
dominate the skies above. Yellow billed choughs and
black ravens play on the winds. These wild high places are
also inhabited by the tahr and goral, both rare
species of wild goat antelope, as well as the endangered
musk deer. There are many rare kinds of medicinal plants
and sweet smelling incense scrubs. Tall rhododendron forests
of many different species and colors adorn the landscape in
spring. Rocks are carved into with prayers and bright flags
hung in high places carry prayers of compassion skywards.
Most visitors walk to Tengboche by way of Namche Bazaar.
The trek takes fourteen days from Jiri or three days from
the airstrip at Lukla. Tengboche lies on a ridge at an altitude
of 3,867 meters. From Tengboche there are spectacular views
of some of the world's highest mountains including Ama
Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, Tamserku and Kantega. The
ice walls of these mountains dominate the landscape and avalanches
can frequently be heard rumbling high up the glaciers. |
