Selmukang festival concludes at Raling monastery

By Rajan Rawat, Humla, June 2: The Selmukang festival, held at the historic and religiously significant Raling Monastery, regarded as a centre of faith for the Lama community in Ward Nos. 2 and 3 of Simkot Rural Municipality, concluded on the occasion of the full moon of Jestha Shukla.

Located at an altitude of around 4,000 metres above sea level, Raling Monastery witnessed a large gathering of Buddhist and Hindu devotees from early Sunday morning. The religious rituals and worship concluded on Monday.

According to the local Kunga Lama, the festival was celebrated with great enthusiasm through prayers, religious rituals, devotional singing and various cultural programmes. 

The renowned religious destination of the district, Raling Monastery, also known as Selmugang or ‘Little Kailash’ and associated with Guru Padmasambhava, hosted a special religious festival on the occasion.

Organised by the Raling Management Committee and Burause village with support from Simkot Rural Municipality, the Raling Selmugang Festival gained additional significance this year as it coincided with the special Saga Dawa festival of the Year of the Horse, organisers said.

Under the chief patronage of Buddhist spiritual leader Pema Riksal Rinpoche, religious programmes including Krodhikali Puja and Chirayau Puja were conducted with prayers for world peace, human welfare and the prosperity of all living beings.

During the festival, locally known as Raling Purnima, locals from Simkot, Kharpunath, Namkha, Sarkegad and Chankheli rural municipalities, as well as employees working in various government and non-government offices in the district, visited the monastery for worship.

From midnight on Sunday, devotees travelled to the monastery by motorcycle, vehicle and on foot. Alongside worship, the festival traditionally includes singing Deuda songs, dancing and communal celebrations.

Following the completion of religious ceremonies at the monastery, devotees gathered at the nearby Tokra meadow, where they socialised, played Deuda through the night and stayed overnight, a long-standing tradition.

According to local belief, playing traditional musical instruments at the monastery during Raling Purnima brings rainfall. Rain reportedly followed the completion of the worship this year as well. Located a short distance from Simkot district headquarters, Raling Monastery attracted more than 500 devotees this year. 

With the increase in participants, the area experienced a notable rise in traffic, while the entire region took on a vibrant religious and cultural atmosphere.