Myanmar is recognized as one of the countries in the world where there are many festivals and events throughout the year. Each festival has its own meaning, tradition and characteristics. The cerebration respecting the deep spiritual meaning is the fundamental aspect which commonly reflected on each festival. Each festival also said to be implying the natural and real view of people in Myanmar including customs and culture. Followings are the monthly listed festivals and events.
This colorful festival of Kachin tribe is celebrated during the end of December to the beginning of January. This festival has meaning of offering sacrificial to home god of Kachin with feasts, Kaung Yay (traditional intoxicating drink) and group dance. The people wear their traditional ethnic costume and dance all night on the sacrificial ground. There are other food stands and entertainment offered at the festival.
The Naga hill tribe wearing their traditional costumes participates in Naga New Year Festival. This festival is perceived as one of the emotional festival as the Naga hill tribe worship to their Lords by scarifying the animals. The spiritual dance, traditional martial music and strong belief of animism are part of this festival. This festival is dated January 14th in Naga Land.
This traditional festival is held at the beautiful Ananda temple, the most crowded and popular festival celebrating in one of the most beautiful temples in Bangan. Ananda temple (pagoda) festival starts a few days prior to the day of full moon of Pyatho. It means that the date usually falls in the end of January or early February depending on the Lunar Calendar. Not only the spiritual meaning of worshiping the pagodas but also being held to raise monetary fund for the upkeep of Bagan’s thousand-year-old Ananda temple. Many local visitors and outsiders including the foreign visitors enjoy the various food stands, shops, festival related corners facilitated within the festival site.
It is interesting to see that the many local visitors wearing Thanakha (unique tradition of wearing yellowish paste in the face and skin). This unique tradition in Myanmar, Thanakha, has a purpose of keeping one to stay cool preventing from the heat exhaustion.
Kyaik-Khauk Pagoda Festival is considered one of the legends which was built in the era of Emperor Asorka the great king of India. This festival is held during February in Thalyin. Usually the evening entertainments such as Zats, Anyeints, stage shows and movies are the main entertainments to be enjoyed by the visitors.
The special plants, Nyan Yoe, are burnt at four cardinal points on the platform of the pagoda in the morning of 15th waning day. Nyan Yoe plants are suitable for this ceremony as the plants emit no smoke when they are lit. The worshippers then invited to the top of Pho U Mountain where apparently Lord Buddha had visited. This Bon Fire Ceremony is traditionally held in the first week of February.
It is known as Waxing day ceremony in which the monks chant Buddhist scriptures continuously for the duration of the ceremony. Among a variety of entertainments such as Zats (dance, songs and short and long plays), Anyeints (a few hours long stage performance with “jokers” as caricature of current situations or persons gestured in traditional dances there is also a glutinous rice delicacy contests.
This festival is held in Shewe Saryan village 45 minutes away from Mandalay. A small boat on the Douhtawaddy river is also available to visit the nearby pagodas.
In this festival, there are many shops and stands selling traditional toys, baskets and madts made of dried toddy palm leaves.
The native Pa-O people dressed in their traditional costumes come and perform in the festival to pay homage to the pagoda. This festival is considered uniquely celebrating religious festival as well as a socializing occasion for many people.
This festival is a part of pilgrimage and socializing occasion in this seashore location. It falls either at the end of February or first couple weeks of March.
This pagoda is usually surrounded by water; however in the summer a footpath leading to the pagoda surfaces for pilgrims to walk to the pagoda. The ceremony is sponsored by Kachin Buddhists lasting about one week during the end of February to the first couple weeks of March.
During this festival a large quantities of Shan and Bamar merchandise are traded. There are boat races on the Dote hta wadi river as an attraction. This festival lasts for about five days during the first couple weeks of March.
Ko Gyi Kyaw is one of 37 nat (spiritual figure) who is famous as a drunkard. There is a strong belief among people in that by worshipping Ko Gyi Kyaw will bring prosperity, luck and happiness.
Cleansing the nat figures is an important part of the festival. This festival is usually held during first couple week of March lasting for about six days.
The county of Myanmar is referred to as a land of festivals surrounded with beautiful Pagodas. Among the variety of festivals, Thingyan, the Water Festival is one of the famous festivals in Myanmar. The actual Myanmar’s New Year Festival is Thingyan; and it is usually falls on April 13th for three and four days. Pouring and throwing water are the custom in this festival implying to get rid of impunity. This festival brings lots of laughers, happiness to people. At the same time this festival, Thingyan is also a time to practice good will. During the festival, everyone is content and happy getting wet by water. Thingyan is not only a time of fun but also a time to practice good will.
In the late evening on the eve of the Water Festival, young women grind thanakha bark to a fine cream using water on rounded slabs stone. They are accompanied by music played by young men. The festival falls on April 13th every year.
Buddhists, young and old alike, spend a day performing meritorious deeds like releasing live animals, offering food to monks, paying homage to elders etc. This festival falls on 17th of April annually.
Stupa of sand built on the compound of Shwesandaw on the receding day of Thingyan which is sponsored by descendants of Shans. Buffalo dance is also presented. The festival falls on April 17th every year
Full-dress, large-scale procession followed by water-pouring on the sacred Bo-tree on the waxing day of Kason is held usually a day before normal watering day. The festival falls in the first week of May and takes place one day only.
There is a torchlight procession by Taung Yo tribe paying homage to the statues placed in the cave. The festival usually falls in the first or second week of May.
This traditional recitation is held in every pagoda throughout the country. This important recitation is celebrated during the first couple of weeks in July.
This special recitation is held by Sittwe women and worshiper gathering at the cliff of mountain where it is believed to be the place for the Guardian Spirit dwells upon. This recitation is usually held in the couple weeks of early July.
The traditional festival is held to pay homage to the nats by gathering the difference sizes of native marine vessels around the Ayeyarwady River. A special spirit dances are some of the traditions presented during this ceremony. This festival is held during the end of July to beginning of August.
This is Taungbyon Spirit Festival held in village of Taungbyon 8 days before the last full moon every August. This special festival symbolizes a respect towards the Taungbyon Brother Lords. There are thousands of people attend this special festival. The historical wooded figures representing the 2 brother lords are washed and paraded by the worshiper during the ceremony. There are ceremonial spiritual dances, pwes , ritual and many other are presented.
This special festival takes place right after the Taungbyon spirit festival. This festival is held in respect to Popa, Medaw and Mewana the mother of the 2 brother lords. This festival is held for 8 days in August.
There are 2 Shrines in Yadanagu; and the annual festivals are held at these 2 shrines at the same time. The festivals take place during the first or second week in September.
This ceremony is held for monks and nuns residing in Sagaing Hill to received donated rice. It is interesting to watch children’s play of wood apples. This festival is usually held in the second or third week of September.
This is a one of the biggest festivals of Thadigyut celebrating the Buddha’s return from the celestial abode on the full moon day. The 3 days festivals are celebrated with candle illuminations. This seventh month of the Myanmar calendar marks the end of lent. This festival is also meant to remember the people whom we need to pay respect and appreciate. According to the Buddha’s teaching there are 5 revered icons in life, the Buddha, his law, Monks, Parents (elderly) and Teachers. This festival is held during the second or third week of October and last of 3 days.
This festival is celebrated from 14th waxing day until the full moon day with the dancing and singing dummy elephants accompanied by cheerful music. This festival truly reflects the people of Myanmar preserving their traditions. The festival is usually held during the second and third weeks of October.
One of the biggest festivals of the lake is Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival in Inle Lake. The holy and spiritual images of Buddha from Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda are firmly placed on the Karaweik (decorated royal barge). The Karaweik are towed around the lake to let people pay homage.
Because of its magnificent size of the festivities it is said to be the festival of many ethnicity among the people of Myanmar. There are ethnic group as Danu, Inntha, Pa O, Shan,Palaung, Kachin, Taung Yoe and many others visiting this famous festival. One of the popular and traditional events in the festival is the boat races participated by the Shan men and women in traditional costume. The festival usually falls around the first and second week of October lasting for 18 days.
The candle lights ad fireworks are brought into the Pagoda. The festival begins in the first or second week of October and it last for 15 days to complete.
This special place with the boulder perfectly balanced and standing on the edge of the highest mountain peak is said to be one of the sacred place on the earth. The festival usually falls during the second or third week of October which is the full moon day of Thadingyut.
The one of the famous festivals in Myanmar is known as Tazaungdaing festival (Hot air balloons festival). During this festival the Buddhists in Myanmar celebrate and pay respect especially to the monks. The various patterns of lanterns and lights are illuminated at the houses and pagodas. Mee Bone Byan (huge balloon made of way paper, marajin cloth and plastic sheets) is set free to the sky.
This beautiful festival is held between the first three weeks of November for 5 days.
This spiritual event takes place on the full moon day, usually the second to the third week of November. There are 9999 candles to be lit. The worshipers are served with salad with maezali buds during this event as part of the ritual.
This festival is held at the Pagoda of Po Win Taung Cave in Monywa in the month of December. Every year more than 500 worshipers and devotees arrive to this Cave carrying clay pots on bullock carts. Then they drop the clay pots on the day of ceremony to pay homepage to the spirit of the cave. This ceremony lasts for 6 days.
