Shey Festival

Mar 30, 2018

Shey is one of the highest regarded pilgrimage in Buddhism. Alike Shey there are few other shrines like the Swayambhunath in Kathmandu, Mount Kailash in Tibet which carries a huge religious importance. Every year in the lunar calendar is dedicated to one animal. Similarly, each year is dedicated to one shrine and in every 12 years comes the turn of Shey. This ritual is believed to be started some 700 plus years back by a guru in Dolpa. Shey is a crystal mountain that lies in the Dolpo region which is believed to be the sister mountain of Mount Kailash. On the full moon day of dragon year according to the lunar calendar pilgrims flock and circulated Shey.

The pilgrims gather, sing, dance, wear traditional clothes, ornament and chant mantras during the entire festival. They as well drink, eat and show cultural dramas and do horse riding and compete in archery. This festival was last celebrated in August of 2012.