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
Kachin Manau
Festival
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.
Ananda Pagoda
Festival
Venue
Bagan in
Mandalay Division
Shwe-set-taw Pagoda
Festival (Minbu,
Magway)
Venue
Minbu in
Magway Division
Mahamuni Pagoda
Festival
Venue
Mandalay,
Mandalay
Division
NAGA Festival
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.
In February
NEW!!!
Sea Gypsies
Festival (Salone
Festival)
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.
In March
Shwedagon Pagoda
Festival
Venue
Yangon,
Yangon
Division
In April
Thingyan Myanmar
Water Festival
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)
Venue
Mount Popa,
Mandalay Division
During Thingyan,
pilgrims from the
country over pay
respect to Popa nat
shrines.
In May
Kason Watering to
Banyan Tree Festival
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.
In June
Nayon 'Ti-pi-ta-ka'
Examinations (
)
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
Waso Beginning of
Buddhist Lent
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
Full moon Day of
Wagaung
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
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.
In September
Tawthalin Boat
Festival
''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
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
)
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
Thadingyut
Festival of Lights/
End of Buddhist Lent
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
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
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)
Venue
Bagan,
Mandalay Division
In November
Tazaungmone
Festival of Lights
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
Venue
Kyaik Hto,
Mon State
Hot Air Balloons
& Fireworks Festival
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.
In December
Nadaw History
Nadaw ' is the name
of the ninth month
on the Myanmar
calendar
corresponding to
December of the
calendar in
International use.
The actual spelling
in Myanmar
characters
transliterates as
Nattaw Nat is a
general term applied
to Spirit God, Deva
or Deity and Taw is
honorific signifying
'respect'.
Christmas
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.