Yartung festival in Mustang

Yartung festival in Mustang - Mustang people from 19 villages including Ranipauwa come together to celebrate the Yartung Festival near the Muktinath Temple in Mustang. The festival is also celebrated in other villages of Mustang, but the celebration in Ranipauwa is very special because many people gather there for four days during the Janaipurnima festival. Festival is celebrating from around early September 2027.

Yartung festival in Mustang - local people wear their traditional clothes and warmly welcome visitors and tourists by saying “Tashi Delek,” which means “Welcome” and “Best Wishes.” They prepare homemade local alcohol in copper pots, serve rice mixed with cow ghee, play traditional drums, and sing traditional songs.

Yartung festival in Mustang - Muktinath ( Ranipouwa )  is a local market area near the entrance of the Muktinath Temple. Many pilgrims and travelers visit this place. During the Yartung Festival, people from 19 villages join together and perform cultural programs, making the festival very special. Local people believe that the festival is celebrated to say goodbye to the rainy season. People living in the Himalayan region of Mustang often move from one place to another with the seasons because of their traditional nomadic lifestyle.

Yartung Festival days they gather together, enjoy delicious food, exchange good wishes, dance, and take part in activities such as horse riding and arrow throwing. Horse riding is the main attraction of the Yartung Festival in Mustang. Yartung festival in Mustang riders from different parts of Mustang come to Ranipauwa village to show their skills. They ride fast horses and try to catch khada (a religious scarf) and money while riding. Many tourists visit Mustang to watch this exciting event.

Yartung festival in Mustang -Many people join the competition with great excitement. The winner of the competition is called “Roshan.”
Arrow throwing is another popular activity during the festival. The main purpose of the festival is to keep friendship and unity among the villages and communities. Traditional and old cultural items also make the festival unique and beautiful. The Yartung Festival has been passed from one generation to another. At one time, the festival almost disappeared, but recently the Waragung Mukti Chhetra Rural Municipality has worked actively to protect and preserve this important cultural heritage.