Everest region being highly famous for trekking, mountain views is also famous for its festival trip, Everest Mani Rimdu festival is one of the most interesting High Himalayan Buddhist festivals observed every year. Mani Rimdu Festival is celebrated at Tengboche, Thame and Chiwong Monasteries of Solukhumbu Nepal. It is considered a very sacred ceremony with a string of events of empowerment. It is celebrated for nineteen days in a successive manner, which concludes with three days of public festival. On this occasion, Buddhist monks at Tengboche, Thame, and Chiwong put on a magnificent show. Masked dances and Tantrik rituals are put up by Buddhist monks at these monasteries, where huge crowds from nearby gather to celebrate. Many treks are organized to coincide with this festival.
When does Manirimdu Festival falls?
Tibetan Lunar calendar highly influences the date of the Mani Rimdu Festival and the main lama in charge of the Tyangboche Monastery announces the dates. Usually, the Mani Rimdu is performed in the 9th Tibetan month which usually falls in October or November full-moon in Tengboche.
Six Preparational Stages Of Mani Rimdu
Construction of the Sand Mandala
The sand mandala is constructed step by step. Complicated and Symbolic design is made with the use of colored sand. Sand mandala takes many days to complete. A defensive blade symbolizing deities are placed around the Mandala. The bowl of Mani Rilwu pills (spiritual medicine) is placed above the center. The Mandala symbolizes the palace of Garwang Those Chenpo (Lord of the Dance). Creation of the Buddha of Kindness, the main idol of Mani Rimdu. The mantra “OM AH HUNG RHI, OM MANI PADME HUMG” is repeated thousands of times by the monks during the weeks of the ceremony before the public festival.
Wong (The Empowerment)
The public ceremony kicks off with Wong. It´s performed on the full moon day, of the tenth month in the Tibetan lunar calendar. The sacred Mani Rilwu (sacred or blessed pills) and Tshereel (pills for long life) are given to everyone attending.
Chham (The Dances)
On the second day, of Mani Rimdu the cultural dances take place. Symbolic demons are vanquished, driven off, or transformed to Protectors of Dharma. The major gist of the dance is that the positive forces fight with those of disorder through the dances. The dances convey Buddhist teaching on many levels from the simplest to the most philosophical. During the dance, the monks are believed to become a divine being. The dances are very sacred and are only performed during Mani Rimdu.
Ser-Kyem
Ser-Kyem is most commonly used to make tea offerings to Dharma guards such as Mahakala. It has two pieces: a larger raised dish-shaped bowl and a smaller raised offering bowl. When the offering is being made the smaller is placed in an upright position in the larger dish. The smaller offering bowl is placed upside down in the larger bowl when it’s not being used. The special nectar which is offered during this festival is also used in many ceremonies. The six dancers represent Ngag-pa, Tantric magicians.
The Fire Puja (Jinsak)
The Fire Puja is performed in the yard the day after the dances. The Fire Puja is an offering to Agni (the god of fire), and to the Gods of the mandala – to allay all harm in the world. The harm is visualized as dissolving into the grain and butter is burned.
Afterward, the sand mandala in the temple is pulled to pieces, and the sand is given as an offering to the serpent gods (Nagas).
Chhingpa
The next dance portrays the Four Protecting Ghings, defending the Buddhist faith against attack by demons. Shining paper masks hide the faces of the dancers, each a different color and each displaying a constant smile. The dancers´ hops are rhythmically accompanied by the beating of cymbals. The dancers charge at children in the audience and scare them for fun.
The Dakini dance is performed genially. Slow-motion dance steps, keeping perfect time with the soft tinkle and slow beat of bells and drums are performed by five young priests. The dancers are without masks and portray female spiritual figures; the partners of Padmasambhava. It is believed that they come from his pure land of Shangdok Palri where they live within his mandala. They herald the imminent arrival of Guru Rinpoche at the Mani Rimdu. Two of the Ghing are male, and carry cymbals, while the two females carry drums. The males represent skillful means and the female represents wisdom; these two aspects of the path The torma is made from barley flour and decorated with colored butter. It begins by symbolizing the body of the deity, and by the end of the ceremony, symbolizes enlightenment itself. It stands in the front of the mandala on its own shrine, at the very heart of the temple.