The people of Tsum mark the turn of the winter season with Dhachyang, a festival built around horses. Families bring their best animals, often decorated for the day, to open ground in the upper valley. Men race them over the winter fields while the community watches from the walls and rooftops, cheering, joking and sharing tea. Prayers and offerings at the village gompas accompany the day, asking for good health and good harvests in the year ahead.
When the races end, the mood shifts. In the evening women in traditional dress and jewellery join the men for songs and slow circle dances that can last late into the night around fires and in courtyards. Older people explain the songs to the young, and families visit each other's houses. For a valley where most people farm and herd through a short summer, the festival is a chance to gather everyone at a time when fieldwork is finished.
Dhachyang follows the Tibetan lunar calendar, so the exact dates move each year and are set locally, usually in December or January. Few outsiders see it, because the upper Tsum is cold and quiet in winter and many lodges close. If you want to attend, plan with us months ahead: we confirm the dates through village contacts, arrange the restricted area permit, open lodges or homestays and warm gear, and build in spare days for snow.
Tips
- Confirm dates with us at least two months ahead, because they are fixed locally by the lunar calendar and can change.
- Bring serious winter gear: nights in the upper Tsum fall to −15 °C or lower in December and January.
- Ask before photographing riders, dancers or monks, and keep well clear of the racing ground.
- Respect the valley's non-violence pledge and its customs; do not bring meat or alcohol as gifts unless your host suggests it.
Questions travellers ask
When is the Dhachyang festival in Tsum Valley?
Dhachyang usually falls in December or January, following the Tibetan lunar calendar, so the date changes every year. The exact days are set by the villages of the upper Tsum. We confirm the date through local contacts each season; check current status before you travel and allow spare days around it.
Can foreign tourists attend the Dhachyang horse festival?
Yes, visitors are generally welcome to watch respectfully. You need the Tsum Valley restricted area permit, a licensed guide and suitable winter arrangements, because many lodges close in the cold months. Plan the trip with an agency that can confirm open lodges or homestays and local dates in advance.
What happens at the Dhachyang festival?
By day, men race decorated horses across the fields of the upper Tsum while villagers watch and celebrate. Prayers and offerings take place at local gompas. In the evening women join for traditional songs and circle dances, and families visit each other. It is a community celebration rather than a staged event.
Is it too cold to trek Tsum Valley in December?
It is cold but possible for well-equipped trekkers. Days can be clear and sunny at 5 to 10 °C, while nights in the upper valley fall to −15 °C or lower. Snow can block trails for a few days. You need a −20 °C sleeping bag, down clothing and a flexible itinerary.
