Spiritual Pilgrimages to Kathmandu Valley with Yana Womack, Ph.D.Known as the abode of gods and goddesses, Kathmandu is a magical place where elements of Buddhism, Hinduism, tantrism, and animism continue to harmoniously coexist. While on pilgrimage, we visit ancient shrines and temples dedicated to the worship of the
Buddha, Vajrayogini (Queen of the
dakinis or 'skydancers'),
Tara, Sarasvati, Shiva, Parvati, Durga, Kali and
Laksmi. We witness rituals to the Mother goddess Durga during
Dasain, the most vibrant festival in Nepal where masked dances and processions enliven the atmosphere with
shakti, (female power); We visit with, and receive blessings from
Kusali Devi of Kathmandu, a living manifestation of the goddess Hariti, and attend teachings by renowned Tibetan Buddhist master
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche. A tour of the beautiful
Kopan Monastery and a visit to medieval villages to explore the making of exquisite statues and thangkas are included in our itinerary. We receive lessons in sacred dance and sound healing (Tibetan singing bowls) and enjoy a private mountain retreat for personal meditation and hiking, complete with full views of the breathtaking, pristine Himalayan peaks.
Tour includes: deluxe hotel accommodations, full breakfasts, tours and entrance fees, lectures by guides and local experts, transportation per itinerary, mountain retreat, sacred dance instruction by master dancer in traditional Newari dance, Tibetan singing bowl lesson by master sound healer, and farewell dinner.
The tours I offer are both cultural adventures and spiritual pilgrimages.They are designed for those interested in learning about the art, culture, folkloric and spiritual practices in Nepal, and for participants who want to begin, or expand and deepen their spiritual practices in an atmosphere imbued with sacred imagery.