FESTIVALS

There are many festivals in Maratika but Chimey Takten Choling monastery has its own festivals. The monks of Chimey Takten Choling  practice their rituals every morning and evening. In the morning, they perform holy-smoke offerings practices and perform long-life Pujas. In the evening the monks perform Dharma protector practices , and during the day they also  take regular classes.

They also perform on the special days of the lunar month:  8th day Medicine Buddha and Tara, 10th day Guru Rinpoche, 15th day Amitabha Buddha, 25th day Dakini, 29th day Dharmapala, 30th Shakyamuni Buddha and Naga Puja according to the Tibetan calendar.

Mainly, there are 3 great festivals at Chimey Takten Choling: The Long Life Drupchen for 7 days, the Kusung Thukthik Drupchen for 7 days, and the Mani Rimdu  or (Deshek Kundu Drupchen) for 7 days. At the end of the Mani Rimdu festival, the monks of  Chimey Takten Choling perform a Lama Dance in Maratika Cave, and H.H. Trulshik Rinpoche gives empowerment to the monks, villagers, and visitors.

The main Mani Rimdu festival usually occurs at the beginning of the Tibetan New Year. Besides, that there are many other festival such as Shivaratri, Bhalachaturdasi, Ramnavami, which are the festivals of Buddhists and Hindus as well.

During these festivals thousands of pilgrims attend and visit the caves and monastery of Maratika.