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
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. |
Golden Xylophone Travels & Tours Co., Ltd.
