Dingpoche – 4410m 6/3/2022 10:53:34 AM

Last light was very windy and it made buildings’ loose parts to rumble is such a way that I hoped that I would have slept in a tent. Later in the night the wind calmed down and at the breakfast we got beautiful views to Mt. Everest and Lhotse.

This is a remarkable day; sherpas and trekkers go to get a blessing before continuing to the mountain. We were given a blessing by “High Lama” Geshe who lives in Pangpoche village at 4000 m. The ceremony was very impressing and each one of us got a blessing. Lama Geshe is highly educated Buddhist, an elderly gentleman. The reason we went to see this particular Lama is that he is specialized in blessing expeditions. All Sherpas, who have gotten blessing from the Lama, have survived the mountain. In addition to blessing, the Lama gives instructions. One advice is to show a written blessing to the mountain before summiting.  The ceremony continued with discussion despite of the language barrier and Lama told us Buddhism. Discussion was in Sherpas’ own language, translated to Nepalese and then to English. Dawa Sherpa’s thought that some parts were a little bit too “Buddha technical”. As a summary it can be said that good will is present everywhere and in everyone. Lama’s wish: ”Give up all intension to harm others from your heart and do your best to benefit them all. If each and everyone feel the universal responsibility to do so, we will enjoy the feast of peace!” Instead of the usual Puja a prayer was said, which wished us success to climb to Mt. Everest and which meant to protect us from evil. Without Puja Sherpas do not want overnight on the mountain. When the ceremony ended we went to the oldest monastery in Khumbu region (over 600 yrs) to give our scarves to gods.

We continued slowly towards Dingpoche and arrived there in time accompanied by rising wind. The scenery reminded us of Finland’s Kilpisjärvi region and especially Lake Somasjärvi despite of the surrounding 8 000 m peaks. I got a headache which was mended by couple cups of tea. Moday is the acclimatization day. We ascended to 5000 m according to Suunto monitors. Everything is going well.
 
PS. One detail about previous blog (Khumbu), which has caused some discussion about places and their meaning. Officially Khumbu belongs to Solu-Khumbu region (Solu means lowland and Khumbu highland), which opens from Kathmandu towards Mt. Everest. Regional administration locates in Solu Saller, which is the capital. However, when we talk about Khumbu, it has not official capital and Namche Bazar is said to be Sherpas’ capital. Earlier Khumjung was the capital of Kumbu Sherpas. Sherpa called Namche started to do business in his home region, couple of hours away from Chumjung. Little by little Namche became the central market place of Khumbu region and was called Namche Bazar. The village became Sherpas’ capital. Sherpa (Sher=east and Pa=human) means nation that came from the east, from Tibetan highlands. Therefore, it is natural that in spoken language Solu Saller is not held as a capital. Mika Pitkämäki