Yartung festival at Lomangthang.

Yartung is a Tibetan word that means (Yar=summer) and (Tung=let it). Mid of summer is considered the best season in Upper Mustang where the people get free from their normal agricultural task and they utilize the free time for celebration. The entire youngsters gathered with their friends and go for a picnic where the weather is fine and greenery surrounds the villages. Yartung is not only horse riding but it is also about the feast of drinking Chang (local wine from wheat), dancing, singing, and racing their sturdy Tibetan ponies.
The celebration begins by a short ceremony inside the walled city. Then, for three days (first day for men, second for women, and third for monks) they ride their horses from the town’s gate towards the east and spend the day on the fields eating, drinking, and entertaining each other’s with traditional Loba (people of Lo), Tibetan songs and dances under a tent. Each member of a family has to participate in this festival. In the late afternoon, the riders race the horses but also perform feats of skill across the fields straight to the village. Here, the town folks watch as the riders’ race begins. While riding at full speed, they scoop up Tibetan blessing scarves from the ground or throw rocks at stationary targets. The riders will hang from the horse, one leg hooked on the saddle, the other dragging the ground, with both arms stretched out or waving.
The Yartung (Horse Racing) Festival will provide you an opportunity to take part in festivities with the local people of Mustang. People come out in the finest local dress to enjoy the races. If we are fortunate we will have a chance to join the Prince of Lo King and his friends for the races. There will be plenty of activities like dancing, horse racing, celebrations, singing, gambling and a good time by all. The August full moon day is marked for the horse festival, locally known as Yartung.