SATV, Kathmandu, Aug. 20 - Lively enthusiasm has been seen at the historical and cultural Yartung Festival in Lomanthang Rural Municipality of Upper Mustang.

The festival, which began on Monday, is organised by the Rural Municipality and co-organised by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Office, Lomanthang, with prayers for a good harvest and peace. The festival will conclude on Wednesday with various worship ceremonies.

On the first day of the festival, a horse and foot parade was held in Lomanthang Bazaar in the presence of Jigme Sigme Parawal Bista, the 26th successor to the Mustang throne, who is respected by locals as the Cultural Prince.

The main attraction of the Yartung Festival, the Kadam horse racing competition, was held on Tuesday. In the Himalayan region, the date for celebrating Yartung is fixed according to the date determined by a Lama Guru after the end of the rainy season. “Yar” means rain, while “Tong” means that the rain has ended well.

The first-, second- and third-place winners in the Kadam horse racing competition, considered the main attraction of Yartung, will receive cash prizes of Rs. 250,000, Rs. 200,000 and Rs. 100,000, respectively. Similarly, the first-, second- and third-place winners in the Bharka competition will receive cash prizes of Rs. 150,000, Rs. 100,000 and Rs. 50,000, respectively.

Various programmes, including horse racing with attractive prizes and Himalayan cultural events, have been organised on the occasion of the festival. Umesh Poudel, head of the co-organising ACAP office in Lomanthang, said there was enthusiastic participation from the general public of Lomanthang and neighbouring rural municipalities.

On the occasion of the festival, locals gather to enjoy traditional tableaux, horse races and sweet treats. Villagers come together to exchange well wishes and help those in need.

Tassi Norbu Gurung, Chairperson of Lomanthang Rural Municipality, said that the Yartung Festival has made a significant contribution to preserving Upper Mustang’s rich cultural heritage, strengthening community unity and promoting tourism.

People come to celebrate the festival by setting aside their household chores, as various pujas are held with the hope that the coming winter will be peaceful and the crops will be good.

The Tiji Festival and Yartung Festival, which have reportedly been celebrated for fifteen centuries, are considered the main festivals of Lomanthang.