Myanmar Seasonal Festivals
 January (Nadaw/Pyatho)
Manaw Festival (Kachin State) 29 & 30
January 08
- Traditional Kachin Manaw Festival to
celebrate the New year. All the Kachin clans will congregate
at Myitkyina to celebrate this event.
Ananda Pagoda Festival (Bagan -
Mandalay Division) 15 – 30 January 08 / 22 Jan
- One of the most popular festivals in
the country. Bowls of alms filled with crips are offered to
monks who all wait in a ling line.
 Pilgrimage and holiday
outings on country bullockcarts can be seen.
Naga New Year Festival (Sagaing
Division) 12 – 16 January 08
- One of the most colourful ceremonies of
the country. Different tribes of Naga gather by the hundreds
in their colourful costumes to perform ritual dances.
February (Pyartho/Dabodwei)
Htamene Festival (Countrywide) 21
February – 06 March 08
 - Htamane festival is held between
February and March, throughout the whole country. It is made
of sticky rice and sesame seeds. One large pan requires 4
small baskets of sticky rice, 20 coconuts, one small basket
each of peanut and sesame seeds, 4 kilo of oil, 0.32 kilo of
ginger and some salt.
Making of Htamane is not very easy. First the sticky rice
must be soaked over night. The next day, start frying the
small pieces of coconuts and other ingredients. Then pour in
the soaked sticky rice into the pan. Now, we need two strong
men to do the stirring of the rice until it is cooked. After
preparing Htamane, it is then offered to the Buddha and is
given away for free to all the visitors to the pagodas.
Mahamuni Pagoda Festival (Mandalay
Division) 14 – 29 February 08
 - Falls on the full moon day of Thabodwe.
This festival usually lasts for 2 days. Glutinous rice
(which is a delicacy) contests are also held on the pagoda's
platform. A variety of incense sticks are burnt for the
Myanmar Buddha image on the full moon day. During this
festival thousands of people from all over the country make
the pilgrimage to the Mahamuni Pagoda. The temple is always
the center of activities and during this festival it
explodes with energy.
March (Dabodwei/Tabaung)
Shwedagon Pagoda Festival (Yangon
Division) 21 March 08
It is a traditional Buddhist pagoda
festival and one of the most important pagoda festivals in
the country.
 Kakku Pagoda Festival (Shan State) 19
- 21 March 08
- Annually in March, on the full moon day
of Tabaung (March) which is the last month of the Myanmar
lunar calendar, Kakku Pagoda festival takes place. Normally
the festival will begin two or three days in advance for
this is not just a religious festival but also a social
occasion. It is the time for all to have fun, exchange news
and gossips, to trade. For the younger set it is the time to
meet their friends from other villages or the boys to fall
in love with the girls.
As it is, all the people of the region arrive by the
thousands, dressed in their traditional costumes. Some come
in bullock carts while others arrive by more modern
conveyances, on the village tractor.
But the most interesting time to visit this place is to get
there before dawn of the full moon day of Tabaung where the
Pa O people in all their finery come with gaily decorated
trays bearing morning food offerings.
Pindaya Shwe Oo Min Pagoda Festival (Pindaya)
16 – 22 March 08
 - Pindaya Shwe Oo Min cave Pagoda
festival is held on and around fullmoon day of Tabaung as
well. It starts seven days before the full moon day. During
the festival time, thousands of devotees come from villages
around the area to the cave. A kind of pagoda mall is set up
at the foot of the hill under big shady Banyan trees to sell
local products.
Full Moon Day of Tabaung (Countrywide)
21 March 08
- Ceremonies at pagodas throughout the
country
April (Tabaung/Tagu)
Mann Shwe Settaw Pagoda Festival (Magway
Division) April 08
- Mann Shwe Sattaw Pagoda Festival is one
of the most significant Pagoda festivals in Upper Myanmar.
It is 36 miles from Magwe to the Mann Shwe Sattaw which is
also well known as Mann footprint across Ayeyawaddy river
bridge, Magwe.
Water Festival(Myanmar Thingyan)
(Countrywide) 12 – 17 April 08
- The water festival represents the most
popular, raucous and colorful celebration of the year for
more than 120 million people who will abandon any thoughts
of work and bring their nations to a standstill. People
around the country gather together again and visits pagodas,
offers and pay homage to the monks, play traditional games
and celebrate with their joyous spirit.
-Full Moon Day of Tagu (Countrywide)
20 April 08
-Shwe Maw Daw Pagoda Festival (Bago) 13 – 25 April 08
 -Myanmar New Year Festival (Countrywide) 12-17 April 08
May (Tagu/Kason)
Kason Bo Tree Watering Festival
(Countrywide) 19 May 08
Shitethaung Pagoda festival (Mrauk U) 19 May 08
June (Kason/Nayon)
Pariyatti Sasana Examination
July (Nayon/Waso)
 Full Moon Day of Waso (Countrywide) 17
July 08
- The day Buddha preached his first sermon is commemorated.
Monks are confined to the monastery by Buddhist code of
conduct during the 3-month long Buddhist lent.
August (Waso/ Wakhaung)
Taung Byone Festival-Nat Pwe (Mandalay
Division) 09 – 16 August 08
Mount Popa is a vast volcanic mountain that overwhelms the
flat landscape. It is only about one hour drive from Bagan.
Popa is located near Bagan and it has many legendary stories
about the spirits (Nats) of today. This annual festival is
known as Taung Byone festival, it is usually held during the
month of August.
The Nats are believed to be super natural powerful beings,
stated between the gods and the spiritual beings. The
Myanmars still worship them vigorously, and believe that the
Nats can bring luck and prosperity to the worshippers and
can also bring danger to those who do not respect them. The
word "Nat" is unclear. It may be derive from the Hindu Natha
which means lord, savior or protector.
 Shwe Kyun Pin Pagoda festival, Mingun
(Mandalay) 04 – 10 August 08
Pwint Phyu,Fish feeding ceremony (near
Magwe) 16 August 08
Yadana Gu festival, Amarapura
(Mandalay) 24-30 August 08
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. Medaw, Mewanna <mother of
the two Lords> who came back from Taunbyon Festival, on her
way back to Mt. Popa, she halted at the Yadanagu as her
transit-camp.
Lawkanandar Pagoda festival (Bagan) 02
– 16 August 08
Bagan boat racing presentation 08 August 08
Offering food, Bagan – (Bagan) 09 August 08
Mya zadi Pagoda,making dolls,
offering food (Bagan) 15& 16 August 08
September (Wakhaung/Tawthalin)
 Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival (Inle
Lake - Shan State) 30 Sep – 17 Oct 08
- One of the famous principal shrines in
Myanmar, this pagoda houses five small Buddha images. Once a
year, in end Sept-early Oct., there is a pagoda festival
during which the five Buddha images are rowed around the
Lake in a colourful barge.
One of the famous principal shrines in Myanmar, this pagoda
houses five small Buddha images, which are much revered by
the lake-dwellers. Once a year, in late September - early
October, there is a pagoda festival during which, four of
the five Buddha images tour around the lake in a colorful.
The festival of Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda is usually held during
October. The festival takes about 18 days. It is the biggest
occasion held in the Inle Lake¸ Shan State. The festival is
held with great magnificence and pageantry. The holy
Buddha's images are placed on a decorated royal barge and
towed by leg-rowers around the lake. There are also Shan
traditional boat races participated by leg-rowers. People
from all the villages nearby come to pay homage to the
Images.
Manuhar pagoda festival– Making dolls
(Bagan ) 13 &14 September 08
Paper Dummy (Nat) Idols are made into
competition. Singing & Dancing competition in commemoration
of Taungbyone (Nats). Festival Start at 2 PM and ends around
4 PM.
Shwe kyetyet boat racing festival
(Mandalay) 22 September 08
October (Tawthalin/Tadingyut)
Festival of Lights (Thadingyut)
(Countrywide) 14 October 08
To mark the end of the Buddhist Lent, and
is also one of the most prominent festivals of the year.
Pagodas, houses, public buildings, parks, and monuments are
all illuminated and there are various kinds of activities
for everyone to enjoy. Thadingyut is not only for joyous but
also thanksgiving and paying homage to Buddhist monks,
teachers, parents and elders, and asking pardon for whatever
misdeeds might have committed during the year.
Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival
(Mandalay Division) 13 October 08
- Dancing Elephant Festival is also
another famous festival in Myanmar. It is held in Kyaukse,
near Mandalay. It is a marvelous performance of two men
together to dance in rhythm. A huge elephant figure is made
from bamboo and paper. Men take their places inside the
figure and dance around the town to the accompaniment of
Dobat and Drums. The elephant dancers circles three times at
the foot of the hill to pay homage to the Shwe Tha Lyaung
Pagoda. It is a dance that requires precise rhythm and
timing in order for the elephant dancers to maintain unity
inside the elephant figure. People from far and near come to
visit Kyaukse and watch the elephant dance.
 Kyaikhtiyo Festival (Mon State) 14
October 08
- The famous legendary Pagoda on the
Golden Rock about 160 Km from Yangon and 11 km of hiking
from the base camp at Kyaikhto. Visitors can also go by car
up to a point about a mile away from the Pagoda. This pagoda
is situated on a rocky mountain 3615 ft above sea level. The
Kyaikhtiyo pagoda is one of the most ancient and celebrated
of all pagodas in Myanmar. It is situated in the vicinity of
Kyaikhto township, Thaton district. The pagoda is said to
have been built during the life-time of the Buddha over 2400
years ago.
The Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda Festival is a special festival of
lights celebration. On the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut,
locals offer the lighting of 9000 candles and 9000 flowers
to the Biuddha. On the next morning, rice, sweets and other
snacks are offered. The platform and passage of the pagoda
are usually filled with visitors from all over the country.
Tourists also find the golden rock pagoda magnificent.
Thadingyut usually falls in October, depending on the lunar
calendar. At such a time, the weather is cold up on the
mountain.
During the festival time most of the local places and hotels
around the pagoda are fully booked. Some people travel to
the base of the mountain by car, and then hike up the
mountain on foot. Some people climb the mountain by ferry
buses. Some hike up with carriers.
Kyaidawgyi Pagoda festival (Mandalay)
07 – 14 October 08
Myathalon pagoda festival (Magwe) 07 Oct – 05 Nov 08
Shweinnbein pagoda festival (Salay) 13 & 14 Oct 08
November (Tadingyut/Tazaunmone)
Matho Thingan Festival (Yellow Robe
Weaving) (Countrywide) 12 Nov 08
This festival of Tazaungmon is an auspicious time for
offering of yellow robes to the monks. The Buddha’s mother,
reincarnated as a god in Tavatimsa, perceived from her
heavenly abode that her son would soon be discarding, the
royal robes and wearing a monk’s garments. She wanted to
provide the yellow robes of the monk and she had only a
night’s time. But she had it woven in a single night and
offered to the Prince (Siddhata) by a celestial messenger.
In commemoration of this event weaving competitions of
yellow robes are held all over the country.
An offering of Kathein thingan (ceremony for offering of
yellow robes) to the monks is usually a big affair in large
cities of Myanmar. Offering ceremonies consist of a thousand
and one gifts pooled by the whole town beside the prime gift
of Yellow robes. The Kathein festivals account for the
greatest significance in Tazaungmone.
 Hot Air Balloon Festival (Taunggyi -
Shan State) 06 – 12 Nov 08
- Taunggyi is the capital of the Southern Shan State and it
lies 1,430 meters above the sea level and has a moderate
climate. The most significant festival is the annual
Tazaungdine Lighting Festival which is around October and
November. Lu Ping festival commonly known as hot balloon
festival celebrates by Pa O, one of the many ethnic groups
in the region.
On the occasion people enjoy fun and merriment by holding
firework-launching competitions. The firework is in the form
of rockets. There is also hot balloons competitions on the
day and night occasions. Day balloons are usually in the
form of Pagodas, and animals such as elephant, dragon or
ducks while the night balloons usually in the shape of rugby
ball, huge elongated paper balls with small lighted
multicolored paper lanterns hung around their sides and
balloons would sting along fireworks and fire sticks which
are set off mid-air fireworks.
Tazaungmone Festival (Countrywide) 12
Nov 08
- On the night of full moon day of Tazaungmone, 9,999
candles were lighted and offered to Koehtatkyi Pagoda in
SanChaung Township, Yangon Division. On the full moon day of
Tazaungmone, all the stars completely shown out and at
midnight on that day, people usually eat vegetable curry and
it is believed the bitter Maezali bud salad, you will be
free from all diseases.Streaming from that belief, people
usually prepare Maezali bud salads and share it with
friends. This is one of the treasured habits of Myanmar.
 Shwezigone pagoda festival,offering
food (Bagan) 04-19 Nov 08
Thanboddhay pagoda festival (Monywa) 07-12 Nov 08
Phowintaung festival (Monywa) 12 Nov 08
Kawmudaw pagoda festival (Sagaing) 12 Nov 08
December (Tazaunmone /
Nadaw)
Aloedawpyi pagoda festival,offering
ceremony (Bagan) 05 – 20 Dec 08
Shwemyitman pagoda festival (Shwetaung) 05 -12 Dec 08
Taybyone net (sit htwet festival) (Taybyone) 12 Dec 08
Minmahar Giri Nat ceremony (Popa) 12 Dec 08
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