What Happens in Everest Base Camp Puja? Sherpa Rituals Explained

Do you know that every climber does an Everest Base Camp Puja before setting foot on the dangerous slope? This is one of the most unique ceremonies performed by Sherpa Buddhist Lamas of the Himalayas. This Sherpa mountain ceremony is done to seek permission from the mountain and ask for safety, success, and harmony as a blessing from the gods.

The Sherpa rituals Everest are deeply connected to Tibetan Buddhism and the sacredness of Mount Chomolungma. They have a local animistic belief and view Everest as a divine abode. The Everest Base Camp Puja ceremony involves blessing gear, chanting, burning juniper for purification, raising prayer flags, and, at last, scattering flour on each other and dancing in the puja hall.

The puja ceremony at Everest is a symbol of gratitude, unity, and long life. Let’s explore in depth what actually happens in the Everest Base Camp Puja ceremony with Sherpa rituals:

What is Everest Base Camp Puja?

The Everest Base Camp puja is a ceremony performed by a Buddhist lama or monks. The head monks of the Sherpa monastery in the Everest region performed this puja ceremony at Everest Base Camp to ask permission and protection from the mountain goddess, Miyolangsangma, also known as Chomolungma, for Everest climbers. This puja is believed to offer a safe passage to Everest climbers and for their summit victory.

There is a belief among Sherpa that if you attempt the Everest climb without doing a puja, it is dangerously unlucky and is also disrespectful to mountain deities. Even the atheist climber participates in this Everest Sherpa ritual before doing the Everest ascent.

Where Does the Puja Ceremony Everest Take Place?

The Puja ceremony Everest takes place in the Everest Base Camp. Everest Base Camp is located at an elevation of 5,364 meters, and the puja is set directly below the Khumbu Icefall on the Khumbu glacier. The Everest Sherpa rituals are done before entering the most dangerous Khumbu Icefall, and this ceremony is the beginning of the Everest Expedition.

After doing this puja, it is believed that you have received the blessing of the mountain deities, Miyolangsangma, and you will be under their protection throughout the expedition. Similarly, the exact location of the puja ceremony changes every season with glacial movement and camping location.

Inside the Sherpa Rituals on Everest Puja

Construction of Puja Altar

First, the selection of the base camp is done in a clean and quiet area. The land facing east of Mount Everest is selected on slightly raised ground. After that, wooden sticks, bamboo, flat stone or ice, and juniper branches are gathered.

Then, the base is constructed with bigger stones and stacks of stone are added layer by layer. The height of the altar needs to be around 2 to 3 feet. The top should be fat so that it can hold the offering, sacred object, lamps, and incense.

The altar is attached with five different colour flags in such a way that they should flutter freely. Trekking gear, like an ice axe and poles, is kept in front of the altar and ritual items are placed. The ritual items, like tormas (ritual dough offerings), rice or tsampa, butter or oil lamp, Dorje and bell, and Sacred texts, are only placed after the construction of the Puja altar.

Blessing Gear

The head lama gives a blessing to the trekking gear, like ice axes, crampons, helmets, ropes, so that they could protect the expeditors from high altitude unpredictable disasters like avalanches, crevasses, storms, and altitude sickness. The climbing equipment is placed in the front row of the altar, and the head lama chants a sacred mantra while sprinkling the gear with holy water, followed by touching them with sacred rice or barley flour (Tsampa). They also apply a small mark to some items with butter or flour.

Also, the burning smoke of juniper is waved over the trekking gear, and short prayer flags are also attached to ropes, ice axes or helmets. Throughout the gear blessing, climbers have to bow their foreheads, while a few also remove their hats as a sign of respect. Click here for details on the Sherpa guide gear list for Everest.

Chanting and Mantra

The head monks do low, rhythmic mantra chanting, which lasts for more than 30 minutes or an hour. This chanting is accompanied by bells, drums (nga), cymbals (rolmo), and a ritual horn (dungchen), which makes the mind calmer and purifies the environment. The most commonly heard mantra is ” Om Mane Padme Hum.”

Offering to the Mountain

They offer traditional Chang (Barley beer), Tsampa, torma, tea, rice, flour, butter fruits, sweets, and dry foods to the mountain spirits. In addition to this, smoke from juniper branches or incense and holy water are also offered to the mountain deities.

Prayer Flag Raised

The prayer flag is composed of five colors, such as Blue, white, red, green, and yellow. This color represents:

• Blue: Sky
• White: Air
• Red: Fire
• Green: Water
• Yellow: Earth

These prayer flags are placed in such a way that they flutter continuously.

Feast

After completing the puja ceremony, lama monks and expeditors enjoy having meals and drinks. It is a unique opportunity to indulge in Sherpa hospitality, as you will be offered Dal Bhat (lentils, rice, and veg curry) for energy, Sherpa cuisines like Thukpa (noodle soup) or Shakpa (stew), and Momos. They serve you this meal with hot tea.

Cultural Rules Everest Climbers Must Follow

There are certain cultural rules in the Everest region, which should be followed by every trekker and climber, some of them are:

• Always have respect for the mountains.
• Respect for prayer flags and sacred sites.
• Must participate in the Everest Base Camp puja.
• Always follow “Leave No Trace” rules strictly.
• Must have photography etiquette.
• Maintain a respectful behaviour towards other climbers and Sherpa guides.
• Never step on your climbing gear.

How Climbers Participate in Everest Puja

The Climbers participate in the Everest puja performed in the Everest Base Camp by:

• Standing or kneeling quietly and making their climbing gear ready for the puja.
• Some clasp hands, do namaste, or bow their heads in front of the altar.
• Silence and focusing on the mantra and chanting.

• Contributing to the offering by providing Rice or tsampa (roasted barley flour), Butter or tea, and Alcohol.
• Following the Lama’s mantra and touching the gear as he says.
• Climber offers khatas (ceremonial scarves) to the ceremony.

Importance of Puja Ceremony Everest

The Everest Base Camp puja ceremony is important in cultural, spiritual, and psychological terms.

• The puja ceremony Everest offers spiritual protection, as it is done for receiving blessings for the journey’s success from mountain deities.
• This is done to show respect for Everest before stepping on it.
• The Everest Base Camp puja is a way of honoring and respecting the centuries-old Sherpa culture, tradition, and norms.
• Spiritual purification of gear is needed as the climber’s life depends on the climbing gear.
• Following the Sherpa spiritual practice in puja helps you focus, calm your mind, and recharge yourself from within.
• The Everest Base Camp puja makes the bonds of the climber, the sherpa porter, and the guide stronger.
• This puja helps you remove all the bad luck and accidents and saves you from negative spirits.
• It also provides a deeper sense of connection with the Himalayan environment and the Sherpas.

A Spiritual Safety Everest Ritual

The Everest Base Camp puja is a brief display of Sherpa rituals at Everest. This puja ceremony is very important, and no one can place a single step on Everest without participating in it. To seek permission, protection, and victory, the puja ceremony is performed by head lamas at the Everest Base Camp.

The ceremony is a mixture of prayer, monks chanting, and offering of food, rice, and juniper incense to the mountain deity, Miyolangsangma, which helps climbers connect with the Sherpa spirituality and belief. The puja ceremony offers a serene and sacred environment in the middle of the chill and snowy landscapes of the Everest region. These Sherpa rituals help every climber and participant to gain a sense of purpose and mindfulness in their life.