"Saga Dawa is an important Tibetan Buddhist festival, held each year on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar, to celebrate Sakyamuni 's enlightenment." That's what every guidebook will tell you. But actually having been there at that moment, it is more like being part of a magic event - something that gets a total grip on all of your senses. So what's going on? Each year, they replace the Tarboche flagpole, a huge pole that stands round of Kailash. People from all over Tibet gather here that day to attach their prayer flags they brought from home, to pray, and to help erect the flagpole. The flagpole should stand perfectly upright, or else things are not good for Tibet. A Lama leads the whole ceremony from the nearby monastery. It's his job to make it work right the first time.
Day of Saga Dawa: People circulate the flagpole that is down on the ground now. They pray and throw 'wind horses' (little pieces of colored paper with Buddhist scriptures on them) into the air. They help to remove last year's prayer flags and attach new ones. As a visitor you are almost forced to follow them as they go around and around, time after time. Along the sides, on the slope of the nearby hills, a lot of people are sitting to watch the spectacle, and there are musicians who play all the time on their horns and symbols.
The flagpole is first erected halfway, using A-structures and ropes. The Lama continually gives instructions on how to do it, when to stop, and when to go on. Everyone can help pulling the ropes, that's the 'non-organized' part of it, but there are always plenty of people doing this spontaneously. When they cannot go further using the A-structures, they pause for about half an hour. The Lama sits on the side, and all the time people come to sit in front of them, to talk to him, to give him some gift (mostly some drink!), to ask him for good fortune. They do not line-up, however. As soon as someone is gone, someone else comes walking out of the crowds - it all seems like it is not organized, but in fact it's a very special kind of organization!
Then comes the final part, the last step that has to result in the perfect upright position of the flagpole. A steel cable is attached to two trucks, engines are warmed up, and then, on the sign of the Lama, and they go backward, pulling the flagpole. To be able to control the movement, on both sides of the flagpole people pull ropes too, to prevent it doesn't incline to one or the other direction. Once the trucks start moving, it all goes very fast, the flagpole is moving, the A-structures that were supporting it, fall down, and only seconds later it is all over. And then big magic occurs, the flagpole stands upright, and at that very moment, thousands of wind horses fly into the sky... like an explosion of prayers going to the heavens. You can really feel a sudden great sense of happiness surrounding you.
The next moment, people start incubating the flagpole again, this time to assure themselves the job is well done, and that all is well. We join them in some kind of almost euphoria. Some hours later the place is empty again, except for the tents further away belonging to the people that will spend the night here, maybe to return the next day, or to do the Kailash parikrama.
The Saga Dawa festival has been held here for the last thousand years. Being part of it just once is such a powerful experience.
Itinerary in Detail
Day 01 :
Arrive in Kathmandu and check in to hotel. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu
Day 02 :
Sightseeing tour at Pashupati, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath & Kathmandu Durbar Square. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 03 :
Drive from Kathmandu to Zhangmu. Overnight at guesthouse in Zhangmu.
Day 04 :
Drive Zhangmu to Nyalam. Overnight at guesthouse in Nyalam.
Day 05 :
Rest and day hiking Nyalam. Overnight at guesthouse in Nyalam.
Day 06 :
Drive from Nyalam To Tingri. Overnight at guesthouse in Tingri.
Day 07 :
Drive from Tingri to Rongbuk. Camping in Rongbuk.
Day 08 :
Day excursion to Everest Base Camp and back to Tingri. Overnight at guesthouse in Tingri.
Day 09 :
Drive from Tingri to Paigutso Lake. Camping at Paigutso Lake.
Day 10 :
Drive from Paigutso Lake to Saga. Camping at Saga.
Day 11 :
Drive from Saga to Paryang. Camping at Paryang.
Day 12 :
Drive from Paryang to Manasarovar Lake. Camping at Manasarovar Lake.
Day 13 :
Drive from Manasarovar Lake to Tarboche (or Darchen.) Camping at Tarboche (or Darchen.)
Day 14 :
Attend to the Saga Dawa at Tarboche. Camping at Tarboche (or Darchen.)
Day 15 :
Start to the Kora. Camping at Dira Puk
Day 16 :
Continue Parikarma over Drom La Pass. Camping in Zutul Puk.
Day 17 :
End Parikarma to Darchen. Camping at Darchen
Day 18 :
Darchen - Manasarovar Lake. Camping at Manasarovar Lake.
Day 19 :
Drive from Manasarovar to Paryang. Guest House/Camping in Paryang.
Day 20 :
Drive from Paryang to Saga. Guest house/Camping in Saga.
Day 21 :
Drive from Saga to Nyalam. Guest house/Camping in Nyalam.
Day 22 :
Drive from Nyalam to Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 23 :
Free time to explore Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 24 :
Final Departure.
What does our package tour price include?
• Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu valley as per above program.
• Land Transfer by Jeep in Tibet Part.
• Supporter Truck.
• Chinese visa, and Tibet travel permit.
• English speaking guide during the tour.
• Twin sharing accommodation as per tour program.
• Camping gears for Kailash tour like two men tent/dining tent/kitchen tent/toilet tent & all kitchen gears.
• Full board meal during the camping section.
• Yak and Yak men for Mt. Kailash cora, Nepali guide, cook, helpers.
What isn’t included in our package tour price?
• Cold drinks, alcoholic beverages, Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu and Tibet (besides camping section), Nepal visa, Nepal Re-entry visa, Travel insurance, tips for guide, porters, driver, and yak men.
Again, please keep in mind that we can cater to your specific needs and plan the trip accordingly. If you wish to visit some, but not all of the places listed, let us know and we can make a shorter trip that will make you completely satisfied!
Mailing Address:
First Environmental Trekking (P.) Ltd.
Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal
P.O.Box : 8056
Tel : + 977-1-4417343
+ 977-1- 4424346
Mobile: +977-9851038817
+977-9851022303
Fax : + 977-1-4423855
E-mail : firstentrek@wlink.com.np
http://www.go2trek.com
http://www.firstetrek.com
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