The Mani Rimdu festival celebrated at Chiwang Monastery is one of the most important religious activities of the entire Everest region. The Nyingmapa monastery was built in 1919 and has become very famous for this sacred mask dance festival, which lasts for three days in the tenth Tibetan month (November-December). Mani Rimdu aims to expel negativeforces in one’s innermost mind. During the festival, monks present a religious drama in the form of a mask dance representing divine beings and symbolic demons are conquered and dispelled or converted to positive forces, the Dharma Protectors. The festival mainly commemorates the deeds of Guru Rimpoche (Guru Padmasambhava), the great Nyingmapa scholar and the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, and his eight manifestations. The eight manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava do not mean eight different Guru Padmasambhava but are the major virtuous acts performed for various needs in different times and situations. In Tibetan Buddhism, the eight manifestations are called Guru-Tsen-Gye, and Guru-Tsen-Gye are the eight names or principal forms assumed by Guru Padmasambhava. The names are, respectively, the birth, ordination, subjugating demonic spirits, establishing Buddhism in Tibet, mastery of the teachings, kingship, subjugation of non-Buddhists and concealing terma (binding the spirits under oath).

The entire festival is 19 days, from the beginning to the end, during which a series of extensive powerful mantras get recited tirelessly, creates the mandala and practices the Buddhist teachings on many levels. The concluding public day, which falls on a full moon day, is of particular significance in the Buddhist tradition. On this day, the head of monks of the monastery offers blessings and makes special offerings. During the festival, all Sherpa people from Solu-Khumbu gather in the monastery courtyard. As in the case of the Dumji festival, it is an occasion to get dressed in their most beautiful clothes and jewels, meet friends, and enjoy good food, drink and merrymaking.

This monastery lies on the top of a sheer cliff on the northwestern corner of Phaplu, and it is the second most active monastery in the region and monastic schools. There are beautiful views of Mount Numbur, Peekye Peak and valleys full of villages.