Everest Mani Rimdu is one of the most interesting High Himalayan Buddhist festivals observed every year, usually in November (date fixed by lunar calendar) in Tengboche monastery. It is an old Buddhist monastery located on a ridge top. Mani Rimdu is a colorful festival. This festival depicts the victory of Buddhism over the ancient Bon religion. The monks with elaborate masks and costumes perform series of ritualistic dances.

The monks perform the masked dance, to usher some of the protective deities as manifestation of the legendary saint Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism; the dance numbers also display the defeat of demons and the initiation of Buddhism to Tibet. Thus, Tengboche Monastery and Mani Rimdu are major attractions for tourists in Nepal. The number of tourists visiting the monastery is said to be about 15,000 per year and during peak tourist season the number is said to be 600 per week

Asian Adventure Treks & Expedition organizes trekking specially for Mani Rimdu festival. For this trekking you take a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. After we get down at Lukla airstrip our trekking starts to Phakding, the first overnight place, following Dudha Koshi River. Next day we walk through forest of rhododendron and magnolia and arrive to Namche, that’s a junction for trekkers. We have to stay one more extra day at Namche for acclimatization. On that day we hike to Syangboche, one of the major spot for the view of Mt. Everest, Mount Lhotse, Mount Amadablam, Mount Thamserku, Mount Kwangde etc. Then we walk down to Khumjung village, a typical Sherpa village and overnight stay at mountain lodge in Namche Bazzar. Next day we start our trek towards Tyangboche. We stay Tyangboche four nights for mani rimdu festival. During those days we observe Mani Rimdu festival. Then on 10th day we will be  back from Tengboche and follow the same previous route to Lukla.

Highlights of the trip

Wong (blessings) - 10 Nov.
Chham (masked dance) - 11 Nov.
Jhinsak (fire offerings) - 12 Nov.
Lokpar (destruction of the sand mandala) - 13 Nov