Phoksundo Matri Ceromony - Dolpo Caravan Treks

Nepal is rich in culture and nature among them Dolpo has simply amazing culture and landscape. In Dolpo there are numerous ritual activities and ceremonies, So Matri is also one of the most crucial ceremonies for the Bonpo sect. In these ritual activities, people from Phoksundo and nearby gather together and the high monk of the Bon monastery performs different kinds of Mantras and Puja. During the ceremony, prayers are offered to the deity Matri, who is believed to protect the local community and bring blessings for their well-being. It's a cultural and spiritual event that holds great importance for the practitioners of Bon, an ancient Tibetan religion.  

Matri is specifically celebrated in the winter season depending on the time availability of locals. They celebrated it for 3 days by doing different activities. 

Day 1: All the local people gather together and they collect food and drinks for guests and monks. Monks started to perform Rituals like puja and ceremonies. Local people help with monastery kitchen parts and servicing for guests and visitors. 

Day 2: Whole day monks performing puja for blessings and well-being as well as offered to the deity Matri. In the evening local people start to chant Matri by saying OM MATRI MUYE SALE DHU with the help of Monks. 

Day 3: On this day most of the activities end but some entertainment parts are still shown by monks and local youth. They will dance with marks as we call it the Marks dance and Monks dance in a parallel form which synchronizes the value of doing all kinds of puja and well-being for others. 

In the evening local people will start their cultural dance called Syabdo which is a dance in a circle where women are holding their hands with each other and some of the boys will play the Tibetan guitar also known as Tungna. They will spend almost the night with local Beer and juices. During the dancing period, so many people are offering money and drinks to the performers.