Shey Festival with Dolpo Mugu Trek

Overview

In the Tibetan lunar calendar, there is a twelve-year cycle represented by different animals every year. The animals that represent the year are, Mouse, Bull, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Monkey, Bird, Dog, and Pig. And the year 2024 is the year of Dragon. The Dragon Year is the pilgrimage year of Crystal Mountain (Shey Ribo Drugta). On the occasion of Dragon Year every 12 years, there is a festival in Shey Gompa Upper Dolpo Nepal.

The last festival was held in August 2012 year of Dragon at Shey Gompa. This time it will be held in 2024 after 12 years. It is a very auspicious festival where all the Buddhist people from Himalayan areas participate in the festival. Dolpopas and people from the lower Dolpa area gather in Shey Gompa.

The festival starts from August 16th to 19th 2024. The first dayof the opening ceremony is followed by different activities on each day. There will be teaching by great lamas and Rinpoche along with cultural performances (Syabros) and traditional games such as horse racing and archery. 18th is a full day and it is an auspicious day to circumambulate (kora) around Shey Ribo Drugta. Even some people circumambulate (kora) barefoot around Shey Ribo Drugta. It is believed that making circumambulate (kora) around the Shey Ribo Drukta will purify and cleanse sin and bad deeds. At the end of the festival, participants get blessings (Wangs) from honorable and renowned lamas.

Himalayan Companion's Shey Festival Trek 2024 Dolpo Mugu trekking, starts from Juphal and runs past the Phoksundo Lake for the fabled Crystal Monastery Shey. In Shey you will observe and participate in Shey Festival. Then, you will continue to Bhijer. In Bhijer you branch off from the main route and wander very lonely roads over high passes and threw deep gorges by Mugu. The few villages here are considered the most remote throughout. Our trekking brings us to the biggest lake of Nepal, the Rara Lake National Park. Dolpo to Rara traverse trek connects two of the most beautiful high-altitude lakes in Nepal. Starting in the barren yet stunningly beautiful landscape of Dolpo, and ending in the equally beautiful Mugu district.