Thame Gompa, also known as Dechhen Chhokhorling Monastery, is located on the southern sloping area of Sumdur Peak and up to Thame Village. It lies in Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality of Solukhumbhu District, to the Northeast of Kathmandu in Nepal and Tibet, and was founded in the early 17th century by Lama Ralwa Dorjee, a distinguished Buddhist practitioner and the middle brother of three great lama siblings. Lama Sangwa Dorje, another brother, established Pangboche Monastery, while Lama Khenpa Dorje founded Pema Chholing Monastery in Upper Rimijung. Lama Ralwa Dorjee was the middle brother of lama Sangwa Dorji and lama Khempa Dorji. Lama Ralwa Dorjee was a practitioner endowed with extraordinary powers, and, as a sign of his accomplishment, he was able to twist an Iron Rod with his bare hands. The particular Iron is preserved in the Monastery's shrine, and the Rod is displayed during the annual Dumjee festival. Initially, Thame Monastery was a small hermitage with a temple, serving as a gathering place for lay practitioners from nearby villages to perform rituals and receive teachings. Under the guidance of Trulshik Rimpoche, it later transformed into a monastic institution, where over 30 monks now reside, studying the Nyingma teachings of Monastery Buddhism. The Monastery observes various festivals and rituals annually based on the lunar calendar.
Mani-Rildup/ Mani-Rimdu festival
Thame Monastery hosts several annual religious festivals. Among them, the Manirimdu/Manirildup festival is one of the most famous and significant festivals in the region. "Manirimdu" and "Manirildup" are terms that relate to the rituals and practices surrounding the blessings given during the festival dedicated to Chenreyzig, where "Mani" refers to the mantra associated with Chenreyzig, which embodies the essence of compassion. Chanting this mantra is a central practice in Tibetan Buddhism. It is believed to invoke the qualities of the Compassion Buddha, and "Rimdu or Roldup" refers to small red pills known as Rilbu, which are blessed during the festival. The pills are consecrated through repeated rituals and prayers, symbolizing the blessings and compassion of Chenreyzig. During the festival, often celebrated on Ong (Blessing Day), these blessed pills are distributed to attendees as a means of sharing the blessings and spiritual merit generated during the ceremonies. At Thame Monastery, the festival is held during the fourth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar, which corresponds to May and June of the Gregorian calendar. It falls at the end of the spring season of the Everest expedition. The festival, which lasts for 19 days, is a religious festival involving ceremonies and meditation (DRUPCHEN).
The festival is a tradition passed on from The Mother Monastery to RONGBUK MONASTERY in Tibet. It begins with an elaborate depiction of the Kilkhor (Mandala) Diagram made with colored sand. This sand is extracted from a specified location and from Holly's place. After the mandala is drawn, it is covered and taken to the central chanting room. The 1st and 2nd days of the festival are for preparation and creating different structures from Rice and flour, called Torma and Gyanthak. From the third day, the offering and puja ceremonies continue until the 9th day. On the 9th day, Chamgyuk, or pre-practice dance, takes place. The 10th day is the most important day of the festival. Today, locals from the Monastery gathered at the Monastery to receive a blessing from the Rimpoche, the head lama of the Monastery. The mask dance takes place on the 11th day of the festival. On this day, Monks performed various mask dances, displaying different mudras and acts of gods and goddesses.
The mask dance begins with the monks' hand skills, known locally as RwolChham. Afterward, the monks pray Rewosangcho for good luck, and then they start the mask dance for the entire day.
The mask dance serial starts from here:
1. Rolcham
2. Serkem
3. Khing
4. Dorji Thrilbu
5. Ngacham
6. MeTseRing
7. ThurTak
8.GonCham
9. Menak
10. Shalungnga
11. Khangdroma
12. Tokden
13. Lhakma
14. Thikcham
15. Sur Chaam
16. Lokchaam
On the 12th day, the fire puja known as Jingsyak is performed under the leadership of the Monastery's head Lama.
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