Festival In Myanmar

January

Kachin Manaw Festival
Location: Myitkyina, Kachin State.
When: 10th January 2008
This festival was celebrating a sacrificing-cum dancing best known as Manaw to propitiate or exercise numerous. Nat (spirits) the spectacular carnival held in every 10th of January is the festival to celebrate a victory or achievement where the young and old, the great and simple gather in true community spirit.

Ananda Pagoda Festival
Location: Ananda, Bagan.
When: 8th waxing day of Pyatho and ending of full moon day of Tabodwe 23 days festival. Bowls of alms filled with donated items are offered to monks who all wait in a long line. People who live villages near and far come with bullock carts outings come and enjoy.

Mahamuni Pagoda Festival
Location: Mahamuni precinct, Mandalay.
When: 14th waxing day of Tabodwe and full moon day of Tabodwe
Glutinous rice delicacy contests are held late on 14th waxing day of Tabodwe. In the morning of 15th waxing day, offer it to the Buddha. Thousand of people from all over the country make the pilgrimage to the Pagoda. The evening entertainment includes a variety of dances, songs, short and long play, open air movies and many stalls selling up various traditional snacks and other utilities.

Naga New Year Festival
Location: Khamti, Lahe, Lashi (Sagaing)
When: 12th – 16th Jan 2008
The authentic Naga Hill Tribes (about 68 different groups) wear their respective traditional costumes to participate this important festival. They worship to their deities by scarifying the animals. Their traditional dance, martial music and cults of animism are unique and interesting. The festival days are 14 & 15 of January

February

Mawtinsun Pagoda Festival
Location: Pagoda point, Pathein
When:
15 days festival. Pilgrimage and recreation go together at this seashore. Long and secluded beach stretch between pagoda point and cape Negrais is haven both for beach lovers and beach bums alike.

Indawgyi Pagoda Festival
Location : Moe Nyin, Kachin State
When:
8 days ceremony. The ceremony is sponsored by Kachin Buddhists. In summer, a footpath leading to the pagoda surfaces enabling pilgrims to walk to the pagoda. Usually the pagoda is surrounded by a large volume of water, in the Indawgyi Lake.

March

Shwemawday Pagoda Festival
Location : Bago
When: 8th waxing day of Tagu to 5th waning day of Tagu
13 days ceremony. Vendors come from far and near and build temporary shops made of bamboo to sell their local products as is the usual case of a pagoda festival in Myanmar. Dancing troupes perform onstage for a whole night. Theatrical artists perform on stage with full force to show, their competitive edge over their counterparts and to win future performance.

April

Thingyan Water Festival
Location: through out the country
When: 12th to 17th April 2008
The festival is held prior to Myanmar New year to clean away evil deeds of the past year with water. Youths go out for enjoyment while elders take retreat in monasteries and pagoda precincts to perform meritorious deeds. People build temporary pavilions and from there throw water at passer by and revelers going around in open cars and trucks. Traditional foods are offered as donation to whoever passing by. In the evening dancing troupes go round in decorated floats to compete in dancing and rap style satirical singing contests held through out the city.

Myanmar New Year’s Day
Location : throughout the country.
When: 17th April 2008
Buddhists young and old alike, spend the day performing meritorious deeds such as releasing animals, offering to monks, paying homage to elder, etc..

Popa Nats or Spirit Festival
Location : Mt. Popa
When: 3rd waning day of Kasone
Pilgrim from all over the country pay respect to Mt. Popa Nat Shrines, (a spirit – the black smith Maung Tint Te, Min Maha Giri) ) who killed by King of Tagaung for his strength. Bagan King made a place as shrine for him and effectively starting the official worshop of Nat in Myanmar, Nat believes from all over the country to come and pay respect to Mt. Popa and the Nat shrines.

May

Kason Fullmoon festival or watering of the sacred Bo Tree Festival
Location : throughout the country
When: Full moon day of Kasone
This day is not only the Buddha birthday but also attained Buddha hood while sitting in meditation under a Bo Tree and attained Nirvana at the aged of 80 years. Full moon day of Kasone is one of the holiest day of the year of Buddhist. And this month is hottest month in Myanmar. That's the reason for puring the water on the Bo Tree. Women carry small water pots on the heads and go to Bo Tree in processing to pour water. Men accompany eith them playing traditional musical instruments.

June & July

Dhama Sakya Day (Shwedagon and other famous pagodas)
Location: throughout the country
When: Full moon day of Waso
This day commemorates the Lord Buddha's first sermon (Dhama Sakya) to his five disciples. It is also first day pf Buddhist Lent during which the monks are prohibited to travel and sleep outside of their monasteries. The holy day's religious activities can be found at the precincts of the famous pagodas and monasteries featuring; delivering sermons by Buddhist monks, reciting Pali verses praising Lord Buddha, offering meals to the monks.

Waso Robe Offering (Nation Wide)
Location: throughout the country
When: During the month on Waso
The month of Waso in Myanmar calendar is associated with the offering of Waso Robe to the Buddhist monks viewed precursor to the Buddhist lent, not later than the full-moon day of Waso. After this day, the Buddhist monks are forbidden to travel and are required to spend lent in their monasteries. The robes are offered to use during the period of retreat.

August

Taungbyone Nats or Spirits Festival
Location : Taung byone, Mandalay
When: 8th waxing day of Wagaung to the full moon day of Wagaung
6 days ceremony. The most famous of the Nat festival in Myanmar. Held for worshipping two Taung Byone spiritral figures. Major gathering spot for spiritual medium. Spiritual dances are rampant. This event is visited by all over the country who worship Nat, especially the traders and merchants who want help for more profits.

Yadana Gu Nat Festival
Location: Ratanagu Pagoda, Amarapura Township, Mandalay
When: 8th waning day of Wagaung to 15th waning day of Wagaung
This is a festival to honor the mother of two Nat brothers of Taungbyone. Known as mother of Taungbyone festival. Most enjoyable because of the rowing boat trip to the site. The festival is held annually in honor of Popa Maedaw, Me Wanna who came back from Taungbyoune Festival, on her way back to Mt. Popa, she held halted at the Yadana Gu as her transit-camp.

Thadingyut Festival or Festival of light
Location : Throughout the country
When: 14th waxing day to 1st waning day of Thadingyut
3 days festival. To make the day Lord Buddha came down from the celestial Abode after spending 3 months of the Buddhist Lord there. Buddha’s return is remembered and commemorated throughout the country with colorful illuminations. It is the end of the Buddhist Lent and is also one of the most prominent festival of the year. Pagodas, houses, public buildings, parks, and monuments are all illuminated and there is various kind of everyone to enjoy. Thidingyut is not only for joyous but also thanksgiving and paying homage to Buddhist monks, parents, teachers and elders and asking pardon for whatever misdeeds might have committed during the year.

Shwezigon Pagoda Festival
Location : Nyaung U (Bagan)
When:
23 day festival. Candle lights and fireworks are carried in procession before offering to the pagoda.

September

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival
Location: Inle Lake, Shan State
When: 1st waxing day to 2nd waning day of Thadingyut
The famous Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival is held at Inle Lake once a year. The four Buddha images are placed on a decorated royal barge and taken around the lake, stopping at villages for people to pay homage. The procession of the Inle leg-rowers are held in full pageantry and ceremonial splendor and it is a sight not to be missed. Thousands of people of Shan state attend this most holy of Shan celebration.

October

Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival
Location: Kuaukse, 26 mile, south of Mandalay, Mandalay Division
When: 14th waxing day of thadingyut
Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival is a yearly cultural highlight of Kyaukse; located 26 miles to the south of Mandalay. A huge elephant figure is made from bamboo and paper. 2 men take their places inside the figure and imitate and coordinate the movements of the dancers, assisted by a small number of musicians. The festival is celebrated on the day before the full moon of Thadingyut (October). As the day progresses, it is getting more and more crowded because people from nearby villages and as far as Mandalay come to Kyaukse and join in the festivities.

November

Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock) Festival
Location : Kyaikhto, Mon State
When: Full moon day of Thadingyut
Approximate 9 month long season. The boulder standing on the edge of a peak in the highest mountain range, is said to be freely hanging over the cliff. Famous as pilgrimage and holiday outing spot.

Hot-Air Balloons Festival
Location : Taunggyi, Shan State.
When: 12th waxing day to full moon day of Tazaungmone
6 days festival. Typical Pa-oh festival. Hot-Air Balloons made of bamboo and paper are released day and night, competing over their beauty and the altitude they gain. Day time flying is meant for competition of animal figures and night time is for beautiful fireworks.

December

Kayin New Year Day
Location : Pha-an in Kayin State and Arlain Ngarsint in Yangon.
Speeches by Kayin elders followed by group dances.

Christmas Day
Location : Among Christian community in Yangon and others.
Christianity is the second largest religion in Myanmar after Buddhism.