Dhekep Festival in Marpha.
Well visiting Marpha is our newly changed plan. Our original plan was to stay two nights in Muktinath and then trek to Lubra village. When we were in Marpha we got an opportunity to witness the Dhekep Festival in Marpha village. We didn’t know there will be such a wonderful celebration going on. I know when we reached Jomsom. The hotel owner told me that we should see that.
Dhekep festival is an annual celebration that takes place in the Marpha, Syang, and Tukche villages of Mustang. During this festival, monks perform with masks. People from the nearby villages will join and enjoy the monk dance in traditional costumes. Play different kinds of equipment, read the lama books. During the Dhekep festival in Marpha, the president of the areas have to attend and the higher-level lamas will be there to join the ceremony.
We were excited to see that festive there so that at 11 am we climbed the stairs of the Samteling monastery of Marpha. For foreigners, they requested for donations so Rob and Godie donated some amount and they appreciated putting Khata. Around 11:30 am festival started, we enjoyed ourselves a lot there to see the monk’s performance.
We stayed there for around three hours and then walked back to Jomsom. Because we have to fly back to Pokhara the next day early in the morning. And need to celebrate our last day of the trek. I felt this festival is similar to the Tiji festival which celebrates in Lomanthang Upper Mustang every year during May or June.
