This is a very special festival in the Khumbu area celebrated in the month of May or June every year. There is much dancing, drinking, and merrymaking in addition to the more serious rituals and dances performed by the monks.
The Dumje Festival celebrates and honors the anniversary of Guru Rinpoches birth on the lotus flower. Lama Sangwa Dorje is the founder of the earliest monasteries of Khumbu and he was the first to start the Dumje Festival in Pangboche about 360 years ago in order to coincide with the birth anniversary of Guru Rinpoche.
The festival serves as a religious and community duty to help bring the villagers together. Each family has its turn to provide the food and drink for the entire village during the 4 days of celebration. It could sometimes lead the family to bankruptcy.
Dumje Festival is performed by the Tengboche Monks in Tengboche, Namche Bazaar, Khumjung and Pangboche of Khumbu and Junbesi of Solu. The dates may vary by one or more days as the Tengboche Rinpoche, the Abbot of Tengboche Monastery may alter the schedule depending on local events.
The festival in Namche is the most interesting and popular one among them all.
Fast Fact
Trek Days 16
Total Days in Nepal 20
Maximum Elevation 5545 meters
Trek Grade Moderate to Difficult
Accommodation Lodge / Camping
