Dumji festival concludes in Namche Bazaar with rituals, reunions, and Community joy
NAMCHE BAZAAR — The highland town of Namche Bazaar echoed with spiritual chants, ceremonial dances, and heartfelt reunions as the Dumji Festival came to a close this week. Celebrated from June 26 to July 10, this year’s Dumji was a vibrant display of Sherpa tradition, community devotion, and support from across borders.
NAMCH
Led by monastery elders, the festival honored the birth of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), the spiritual figure credited with bringing Buddhism to Tibet and the Himalayas. Sacred Cham dances, butter lamp offerings, and communal prayers filled the days with reverence and symbolism.
This year’s Dumji also carried a deep emotional tribute. A framed photo of the late Tyangboche Rinpoche, Ngawang Tenzin Zangbu, was placed prominently during the ceremonies. Revered as a spiritual pillar of Namche and the Khumbu region, his presence was felt profoundly even in absence. Since his passing in 2020, Rinpoche’s legacy continues to guide the community through moments of reflection and unity.
Villagers in Namche hosted the event, offering food, hospitality, and traditional celebrations despite the rising costs. “The expense is nothing compared to the happiness of seeing our people together,” said Lakpa Nurbu Sherpa, a lead sponsor who helped organize the festival. His efforts, along with contributions from Sherpa families and supporters from the United States, helped sustain the financial and logistical needs of the celebration.
Among the diaspora, Nima Sherpa from New York shared his regret at missing the event: “Dumji is more than tradition—it’s a part of who we are. Missing it feels like missing home.”
The festival served not only as a spiritual occasion but also a social one. It offered space for resolving disputes, sharing ancestral stories, and strengthening bonds among families and generations. Youth played key roles in organizing and performing, while elders guided rituals and passed down wisdom.
As the final lamps dimmed and prayer flags fluttered in the mountain wind, Dumji 2025 left behind a renewed sense of unity and pride—a living legacy carried from Himalayan peaks to homes across the world.
Below are some glimpses from the Dumji Festival 2025.
