The Sacred Puja Ceremony on Mt. Everest

The Lama - Buddhist Spiritual Leader

A Buddhist spiritual leader, typically a Lama, seeks blessings from the Gods, and asks the mountain deity for safe passage on the mountain. This spiritual observance sets the tone for the expedition. The Puja Ceremony is mandatory for Sherpa team members who hold deep religious beliefs tied to the world’s highest peak – Chomolungma (the Tibetan name for Mt. Everest), and Sagarmatha (the Nepali name for the mountain). The Puja Ceremony is arranged by the Lama on an auspicious date. This day will hold significance relative to the Tibetan lunar calendar and factors including weather and the team’s climbing schedule.

Participants include all climbing team members. The ceremony takes place at the base of the ‘Puja’. Here, the Lama prepares offerings for the Gods, which include food, beverages, juniper branches and other symbolic items laid out at the Puja. Such offerings are intended to appease the mountain deities while seeking blessings for a safe ascent and descent on the mountain.

The Khata Ceremony

The Lama leads prayers and chants invoking the blessings of the Gods. The Lama blesses Basecamp, as well as climbing gear items brought to the ceremony for blessing, by sprinkling holy water or rice over the camp and the items. Following these blessings, the Lama performs a Khata Ceremony. Khata are traditional Tibetan scarves, which participants offers to the Lama, symbolizing respect and gratitude. The Lama then blesses the Khata offerings, and returns the scarves to the participants, signifying the acceptance of their prayers.

White Beards and Juniper Branches

The final blessing takes place when the Lama applies white flour on the faces of the Puja participants, praying that each will grow old enough to grow a white beard. Blessed juniper branches are lit to purify the camp’s surroundings, and will remain lit anytime team members are on the upper mountain. When the Puja Ceremony has concluded, climbing teams are welcome to begin their upward journey on Mt. Everest.