The major Tibetan-Buddhist event known as Tiji Festival is observed in Lo-Manthang City in Upper Mustang. The celebration is still endemic to Upper Mustang residents. Tenchi is referred to as “Tiji.” These two are condensed versions of the Tibetan term Tenpa Chirim, which implies a prayer for world peace.

The festival was established more than 300 years ago to commemorate the triumph of good over evil. The festival explores the folklore around Tibetan Buddhist figures Dorje Jono and Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche. Popular Vajrayana Buddhist deity is Dorje Jono (Vajrakila). He carried out Padmasambhava’s directive and overcame the bad forces to bring prosperity.

The Chhode monastery monks perform a unique Vajrakila ceremony at Lo Manthang every May. The event, which was created by the people of Lo Manthang, honors the contributions of Padmasambhava and Dorje Jono.

The celebration performs a protracted ritual that includes prayer chants and vibrant mask dances. The dances recreate the conflict between Dorje Jono and the evil forces in historical times.

The three-day festival starts with a calm dance and builds to a colorful performance that shows good triumphing over evil. On the festival’s final day, performers dress up as devils and gods and don bizarre masks and horns known as “Dhungchen.”

First Day of Tiji Festival Celebration

The Tiji Festival’s first day begins at noon. Throughout the day, the community gets ready to start the festival. The sound of the double-reeled horns, drums, and cymbals, as well as the booming horn sounds from the Tibetan horns, Dhungchen, may be heard as soon as the festival starts.

Local monks and performers make up the entourage, which leaves the monastery. The monks make their way to the square and take a seat beneath the enormous Thangka (picture) that is placed on its southern wall. The “Tsa Chaam” masked dance starts after that. The tale of Dorje Jono and his triumph over evil is depicted in this masked dance.Third Day
On the second day of the event, “Nga Cham” is performed by the monks “dance. The second day describes Dorje Jono’s attempt to bring the demon back to the world of Buddha. Female performers dressed in traditional garb and jewelry enter the main square for the show. The primary act that displays the latest in celestial palaces and gods is the performance on the second day.

Fourth and last day
The performance concludes on the third day of the Tiji Festival. The ceremonial music is played first, then the masked dance known as “Ras Chaam This dance has a lively pace, and the performance emphasizes the triumph of good over evil.
All the artists enter the stage for the closing ceremony, which is accompanied by more music, dancing, and gunfire. An effigy of the demon “Ma Tam Ru Ta” constructed of Tsampa (barley) is thrown by the monk who performs Dorjee Sonam.