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Myanmar is a Land
of Festivals: a festival for every month of the
year. Most festivals are cultural and religious.
Majority are nation-wide celebrated while a few are
distinctly regional. The dates of the festivals and
special events are determined by the Lunar Year. |
In January
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Kachin Manau Festival
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 Venue
= Myitkyina, Kachin State
The Tawt Malan or Padan Manau Festival. This
festival is held to ensure victory in battle. In
ancient times, it was like a battle cry issued forth
to recruit warriors to march on enemies. Then there
is the Ju Manau, which is a festival to pray for
health, protection from harm, for offspring to carry
on family traditions and other religious occasions.
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Ananda Pagoda Festival
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 Venue
= Bagan in Mandalay Division
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Shwe-set-taw Pagoda Festival (Minbu,
Magway)
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 Venue
= Minbu in Magway Division
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Mahamuni Pagoda Festival
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 Venue
= Mandalay, Mandalay Division
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NAGA Festival
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 Every
year in January. NAGA New Year is celebrated. This
year, the Festival will be celebrated in Layshi,
Sagaing Division, Union of Myanmar.It is the
tradition of the NAGA people to share joy and
happiness with friends and guests on this auspicious
New Year and Thanksgiving celebrations to mother
nature for granting bountiful harvest for all year
round.
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In February NEW!!!
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Sea Gypsies Festival (Salone
Festival)
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 Venue
= Mergui Archipelago
Myeik (Mergui) Archipelago, located in southernmost
part of Myanmar (Burma), comprises over 800
beautiful islands. Due to its virtual isolation, the
islands and surrounding seas are alive with an
amazing diversity of flora and fauna.
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In March
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Shwedagon Pagoda Festival
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 Venue
= Yangon, Yangon Division
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In April
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Thingyan Myanmar Water Festival
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 4
Days Myanmar New Year Festivities
Venue = Whole Country (Specially in Yangon &
Mandalay)
By the Myanmar calendar, the first month is 'Tagu'
(April). It is the time of the Water Festival-we
calls it "Thingyan' which means 'change'. This is
often symbolized with the change of duty from one
celestial daughter to another to hold the severed
head of the 'Brahma' lest it might fall into the sea
or on land and cause a complete dry-up in wherever
it happens to fall. But, that belief may originally
belong to Hinduism. |
Popa Nat or Spirits Festival
(Mount Popa)
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 Venue
= Mount Popa, Mandalay Division
During Thingyan, pilgrims from the country over pay
respect to Popa nat shrines.
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In May
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Kason Watering to Banyan Tree
Festival
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 Full
moon Day of Kason (Myanmar second month) Festivities
Venue = Whole Country
A month after 'Thingyan' is another water-related
event - the Kason Festival. It falls on the Full
moon day of Kason according to the Myanmar Calendar
(early May). The Full moon Day of Kason is a day of
three - fold significance the Day the Buddha was
born, the day he attained enlightenment and the Day
of His Demise.
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In June
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Nayon 'Ti-pi-ta-ka'
Examinations ( )
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 Almost
the whole month of June Festivities
Venue = Whole Country
Nayon ( June ) is the month for the holding of
'Ti-pi-ta-ka' Examinations. Successful candidates
are duly recognized and outstanding ones accorded
popular acclaim. Buddhists donate all the necessary
things such as 'soon', offertories, etc. to the
Sanghas and Nuns who participate as the sons and
daughters of the Buddha, during the exam period and
ceremonies. |
In July
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Waso Beginning of Buddhist Lent
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Full
moon Day Waso in July Festivities
Venue = Whole Country
Waso Full moon Day in (July) commemorates the
Buddha's First Sermon and the beginning of the
Buddhist Lent. It is an occasion for religious
function of the Sangha but the laity also
participates in it with offerings of food, robes,
shelter (Monastery) and medicine (the four
requisites of a 'Bikkhu') to the Sangha going into
the rain retreat. |
In August
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Full moon Day of Wagaung
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Venue = Whole Country
Wagaung (August) is the month for what is called
Maha Dok festival named after a very poor man who
became rich over-night for his offerings to 'Kas-sa-pa
Buddha'. On the festival day, a large marquee is
built to place as many alms bowls as there are monks
(bikkhus) in the locality. |
Taungpyone Nat or Spirit
Festival
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 8-day
ceremony August 16th to 23rd
Venue = Taungpyone, Mandalay
Known as Mother Taungpyone Festival. Most enjoyable
boat rowing to the site. Spirit dances are rampant.
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In September
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Tawthalin Boat Festival
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''Tawthalin" (September) is the
sixth month on Myanmar calendar and it is the time
for royal regatta festivals which is being revived
by the state with the holding of festivals. |
Buddha Tooth Relic Festival
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Venue = Paung de
Buddhist devotees from all over the country come to
Paung-de (Buddha's Tooth Relic Festival), 130 miles
north of Yangon, to worship this sacred relic
brought out once a year (in September) from its
vaults. It is taken around the town on an elephant
in a procession. |
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival (
18-day festival ending Oct 24th )
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Venue = Inlay Lake, Shan State
Four Buddha images (in Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda) are
ceremoniously tugged clockwise around the lake on
the royal barge by leg-rowing boats and return home
on third waning day. Leg-rowing boat races are held
throughout the event. |
In October
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Thadingyut Festival of Lights/
End of Buddhist Lent
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Venue = Nation wide
Thadingyut' (October) is the end of the Buddhist
Lent or the rains retreat. It is the festival of
lights on the full-moon day, one day before and one
day after. Houses and streets in cities and towns
are brilliantly illuminated. Pagodas are also
crowded with people doing meritorious deeds. |
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival
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Venue = Inlay Lake, Shan State.
The festival of 'Phaungdaw Oo pagoda' in 'Inle' Lake
is held every year during the month of Thadingyut
(October), is the biggest occasion of the lake |
Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival
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Venue = Kyaukse, Mandalay
Division
The main feature of this festival is the elephant
dance accompanied by colourful pageantry a life-size
white paper elephant decked with regal trappings
carries on its back a replica of the sacred Tooth of
Buddha or some relics of an 'Arahat' while a black
paper elephant follows as the finale of the
procession. |
Shwezigon Festival (Bagan)
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 Venue = Bagan, Mandalay Division |
In November
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Tazaungmone Festival of Lights
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Venue = Nation wide
In 'Tazaungmone' (November), Tazaunding' Festival is
held on the full moon day of Tazaungmone according
to the Myanmar calendar. Homes, buildings and
streets are illuminated and monks are provided with
robes and various requisites at Kahtein (ceremony of
offering robe to monks). |
Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock)
Festival
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 Venue
= Kyaik Hto, Mon State
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Hot Air Balloons & Fireworks
Festival
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 Venue
= Taunggyi, Shan State
The Taunggyi hot-air balloon competition is the most
popular main attraction in Myanmar during winter.
The hot-air balloons are made up of hand-made paper
beautifully designed with colorful fireworks and
firecrackers.
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In December
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Nadaw History
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Venue = Churches
Although the great majority of Myanmars are
Buddhists, Union of Myanmar is not a Buddhist State
secular one and highly motivated in their respective
religions. |
Karen New Year
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Venue = Karen State
The Kareans, one of the Union National groups in the
Union of Myanmar, celebrate their 'new crop'
ceremony bringing in their New Year. Garbed in their
national costumes, dances and songs are put on show
high-lighting with their lively 'Don' folk dance. |
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