Kathmandu: Mike Harker, US Embassy’s Public Affairs Chief, joined one of Mustang’s most distinctive celebrations, Yartung.
Held in Lo Manthang, the three-day festival marks the end of the growing season and the transition to the harvest. At the heart of Yartung is horse racing, with riders competing from villages across Mustang. The festival also features traditional games and dances, food, and community gatherings.
Public Affairs Chief Harker said, ““Watching the riders at Yartung brought me back to my own family’s experience raising horses in Montana. Mustang and Montana might be worlds apart, but there was something familiar in seeing how horses are a part of local traditions. That connection to tradition is what draws visitors to Mustang, supporting local economies while helping preserve what makes this region so distinctive.”
