LOMANTHANG, May 28: The 'Tiji' festival, which bears historical and cultural importance, is being observed at Lomanthang in Mustang from Friday.
The festival is being observed by demonstrating a large-size thangka depicting a portrait of Buddhist religious preacher Padamsamba Rimpoche at the courtyard of Lomanthang palace and offering prayers as per the religious procedure.
800-year-old Tiji festival marked in Lhomanthang
The thanka that is as high as a two-storey house building is brought outside the palace and made open for the public once a year for observation and prayers.
Locals of Lomanthang and Loghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality observe the Tiji festival for three days in the month of Jestha (last week of May).
Chhewang Rinzin Gurung, a ward member of Lomanthang Rural Municipality-5, said Tiji is the biggest and most auspicious festival in upper Mustang which is mostly celebrated by the Lowa community.
"Along with residents of two rural municipalities, foreign tourists are also thronging Lomanthang for the celebration of the festival", he said, adding the festival has not been limited to cultural and ritual celebration but a medium to attract foreign tourists.
(RSS)
