“Successful Everest Journey Begins With a Puja”
We Sherpa people have a strong belief that each and every mountains abodes realm of God and goddesses. Puja is an important ceremony where we pay respect to the mountain and offer blessing for safe passage before heading up onto Mount Everest also known Chomolungma or Sagarmatha.
In preparation for the ceremony, a large cairn is constructed with long strands of prayer flags. The team makes an offering of special food and drinks and bring their climbing gear to be blessed for the safe journey ahead. Monks, Sherpa’s and the entire Climbing team sit around, praying and offering, Sherpa dance and respect wishing for a safe and successful season with no any casualty.
Tsampa flour, a staple of the Tibetan/Sherpa diet, is spread on the faces of climbers and Sherpa. At the end of the ceremony, it is tossed in the air in celebration and for good luck.
The main part of ceremony is to ask forgiveness for hurting the goddess Chomolungma with the sharp points of the tools that we use while climbing her but the most important part is to ask permission to climb the mountain and for safe passage “Forgiveness, permission and Safety with no any obstacles on the journey from the start to the end”.
Today on an auspicious day 23rd of April 23, 2022, Saturday early morning our entire 8k Expedition Everest climbing team organized and celebrated puja in Everest Base Camp site paying huge respect to the God and Goddesses of the mountain.
We will be heading towards the khumbu ice fall soon and we pray peace, Safe and Successful Summit journey to all the Climbers in the mountains heading to the top of the world highest mountain Mt.Everest 8848.86m.
