In the archives of Nepal’s cultural narrative, the Everest juggernaut has long eclipsed other regions—none more so than the Heart of Solukhumbu- Salleri, once the thriving heart of Sherpa culture reduced to a transit station or a parking station for the jeeps coming down from Lukla or Namche carrying stranded trekkers from Khumbu. Today, the Saga Dawa Running Festival organized by Thekchhen Pema Chholing Monastery, is scripting a quiet but profound counterpoint: a reclamation of Buddhist heritage through the rhythmic cadence of runners’ feet on ancient trails.
This is no ordinary marathon. It is, if you will, a moving meditation—one that traverses the sacred geography of Buddhist monasteries, stupas, and forgotten heritage spots. The festival, timed to Saga Dawa (the holiest month in the Buddhist calendar, marking Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana), transforms athletic endeavor into spiritual homage. Runners become pilgrims, retracing steps once taken by Sherpa traders and monks, their breath mingling with mountain winds that have carried prayers for centuries. The racing routes aren’t merely scenic; they’re internationally accredited by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and UTMB, adding credibility and granting participants, especially Nepal’s trailblazing local runners, a coveted spot in the global performance index.
But the festival’s genius lies in its vision of interconnectedness. Alongside the races, a Himalayan food tour offers flavors preserved through generations, while an ‘ethnic fashion show’ showcases colorful fashion woven with stories of resilience. Highland dance workshop and ethnic music performances—raw, authentic, and beautiful—are not mere entertainment but acts of cultural preservation.
The jewel in the crown? The Buddha Purnima celebrations, which is one of the most important festivals will bring the entire community for a peace procession in the town and ceremony in the monasteries which the visitors can witness.On the same day, inauguration of Himalayan Art Symposium 2025 supported by the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Arts, New York, honors the regional Himalayan artists and elevates their artistry onto a global stage.Nepal's greatest cultural custodians have often been the last to recognize their own inheritance. Through immersive presentations and dialogues, the event hopes to awaken the locals to what has too long been taken for granted: the sublime mastery of our mountain artists; providing an antidote to the cultural amnesia. Master artists and young prodigies alike gather, their brushstrokes echoing the festival’s ethos: that heritage is not static, but living and breathing.
In reimagining Salleri and the surrounding villages as a nexus of outdoor recreational sport and Spirituality, the festival achieves something extraordinary: it proves that development need not come at the cost of identity. Here, every stride is a step toward remembering—and in remembering, we attain a spiritual honor which every Nepali needs in these dire times and can offer to the troubled world today.
