'Yartung' i.e. horse festival has started in the Himalayan district of Manang with the wish of 'good agricultural production'. The festival started from Monday. In this festival, which falls during the rainy season, horses are trampled. Especially, the festival is celebrated to wish for good agricultural production and to get rid of tiredness after planting crops.

This festival is celebrated in Manang village of Upper Manang, Khangsar, Pisang, Bhraka, Humde and the headquarters Chame. It is customary to celebrate the festival here for five days.  Yartung Festival is being celebrated in coordination with Tanki, Manang Society and Ngisang Youth Club and Nepal Nature Conservation Fund, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Tanki Manang Tourism Management Sub-Committee.  

Binod Gurung, President of the Manang Tourism Business Association, said that the festival is celebrated especially by lama dancing. In the past, the festival was celebrated throughout the district due to migration, but now it is celebrated only in Upper Manang. 

Locals say that there is a tradition of celebrating this festival enthusiastically for five days. Horses are worshiped as gods. In the past, everyone used to keep horses in the village, after the farming season was over, horses were worshiped together during free time', President Gurung said, 'Nowadays, the practice of keeping horses is less, but the tradition of celebrating the festival is being abandoned, but it still exists in the upper areas. Horse is considered as an important tool here, this festival also encourages to protect the horse.'

The importance and specialty of this festival is to protect from diseases during the rainy season. According to experts, this festival has helped to preserve the traditional religious beliefs of Manang. Chairman Gurung also accepts that through the festival, social harmony is being developed among the village, society and individuals. 

According to Sagar Gurung, a local senior figure, the interest in this festival is increasing among foreigners and locals, but the participation of local youth is decreasing. According to him, participation has decreased due to young people leaving the village for reasons such as going abroad, studying, and working. 

'The attraction of tourists towards this festival is increasing. It is our duty to protect the costumes, culture, customs and traditions here, through our culture we get more energy to attract tourists. Studying and promoting the culture here is the responsibility of the locals', Gurung said.  

Since there are no roads in many places, horses are still the main means of transportation and transportation of goods here. The road has not reached Narpabhumi Rural Municipality of the district, here the horse is still equally important. Its use is decreasing where the road reaches. The tradition of keeping horses in those areas is also decreasing. 

Tilicho Lake, located at an altitude of 4,919 meters above sea level, under the 10th place in the world, Thorangla Bhanjyang (4516 meters) under the Annapurna Trail, horses are used for the convenience of tourists.

Here, horses are used for collecting grass and firewood, collecting herbs from the lake, transporting food and medicines, and even taking the sick to the hospital. According to Kunjo Tenjing Lama, the chairman of the rural municipality. He told that even though the practice of keeping horses is decreasing in the areas reached by the road, the horse is helping to reach the places that cannot be touched by the road network.