Pomo Ama

Pomo ama is a festival that is celebrated in the Thini area every 12 years worshipping the goddess Pomo Ama for a long life and progeny. It is thought to have originated sometime between 1147 to 1206 AD. Like most of the festivals in Nepal this particular festival also has a story attached to it. While Pomo Ama was meditating in Bodhgaya, India the king of Garab Dzong (near the present day Thini) dreamt of her and wanted to bring her to GarabDzong. The king asked her to live with him giving her the proposition that people of Garab Dzong worshipped her. Pomo Ama agreed. She came to GarabDzong but soon became tired and went back to Bodhgaya. The angered king then asked Pomo Ama to stay but she refused. She asked for the leave saying that she would bless the people of GarabDzong with three wishes: longevity, property and progeny. But she could only do it for once every 12 years. The king compromised and asked for the permission to create a duplicate statue of Pomo Ama so that it could act on her behalf and bless the people in between the 12 years gap. The duplicate image of brass and gold is called Tong Tang Beo. Thus, every 12 years people of Thini region worship Pomo Ama and hope for longevity, property and progeny that she promised. It is celebrated for 14 days when the statue is revealed. The last time this festival was celebrated was in 2005. So the next Pomo Ama will be held on 2017. It generally lies on April/ May.