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Myanmar Festivals |
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2006 Festivals : |
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May 2006 <Tagu / Kason>
Pouring water the Sacred Bo Tree symbolizes the Birth,
Enlightenment and Passing away of Buddha. It is an important
Buddhist holiday and belles go in procession to the pagoda
grounds throughout the country with pots of water and thousands
of oil-lamps or candles to be lit. |
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June 2006 <Kason / Nayon>  The onset of monsoon season makes June relatively quiet in
Myanmar. There are, however, various smaller Buddhist festivals
can be witnessed.Buddhist Recitation Kaba Aye hillock, Yangon {June 09-10}Recitation of five parts of Nikaya held at Kaba Aye hillock. Both monks and nuns alike hold similar recitation, throughout the country. Mt. Popa Nat spirit festival Mt. Popa {June 20-21}Traditional wicker ball players from all over the country participate in the month long contest that tradition has going on over 70 years. This is the best event to watch Myanmar traditional chin lone <cane ball> playing match.Wicker ball ceremony Mahamuni, Mandalay {June 6- Aug 4}Traditional wicker ball players from all over the country participate in the month long contest that tradition has going on over 70 years. This is the best event to watch Myanmar traditional chin lone <cane ball> playing match. |
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July 2006 <Nayon / Waso> The onset of monsoon season makes June relatively quiet in Myanmar. There are,
however, various smaller Buddhist festivals can be witnessed.
Shwe Kyun Pin Nat Pwe Mingun, Mandalay {July 23-25}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.Waso full moon festival All over the country July {July 23-25}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. |
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August <Waso / Wakoung>2006 Kyaungdawyar Pagoda Festival Min Bu, Magway Division {August 23-November 22}
A famous religious festival also known as "Fish Feeding Festival". People believed that thousands of big fishes, you can
see only in this period, come to pay homage to the pagoda. Taung Byone Nat Pwe Madayar, Mandalay {Aug 13-19}A popular festival held in Taungpyone near Mandalay. According to tradition, the homage-paying festival is held annually to appease the spirits as it is believed that the Nats can fulfill their wishes, protect from ill-fate and danger, and bring good luck, prosperity and progress. Although Myanmar Buddhists are not particularly spirit worshippers, thousands of country folks and town people, their joyous, light-hearted and merrymaking can be found in this particular festival.Yadana Gu Nat festival Amapura, Mandalay {Aug 27-Sep 2}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. |
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Bo Bo Gyi Nat festival Taungthaman Inn Mandalay {Sep 20 - Oct 2}Bo Bo Gyi is believed to have high level alchemical and to have expired to become a Nat. On the eve of ceremony pilgrims throw tealeaf packets at one another from racing exacts. It is regarded as a pledge that one who is hit must take a visit next year with out fail. |
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October <Tawthalin / Thadyingyut>2006 Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda festival Inle Lake {Oct 03 - 20} The festival is held with great magnificence and pageantry.
There will be full of fun fairs and dances everywhere. 4 x
holiest Buddha images are ceremoniously tugged clockwise around
the lake on a decorated royal barge by leg-rowing boats stopping
at each village to let people pay homage. The procession of the
Inle leg-rowers in full pageantry and ceremonial splendor is a
sight not to be missed by anyone visiting Myanmar. The unique
and most interesting event of the festival is, of course, the
Shan traditional boat races participated by leg-rowers of both
men and women dressed in their national costumes. Phaungdaw O
Pagoda festival draws celebrant from far and near not only for
the homage of Buddha statutes abut also for great fun fair and
for the fame of Intha's <men> and Inthu's <women> unique
leg-rowing competitions. The Thadingyut or Festival of Lights Througout Myanmar {Oct 16 - 17}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. Dummy Elephant festival Kyauk Se, Mandalay {Oct 16 - 17}This unique and exotic elephant dance held at Kyaukse, a small town not far from Mandalay. A huge but light elephant figure is made with 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 circle three times at the foot of the hill to pay homage to the Shwethalyaung Pagoda. It is a dance that requires precise rhythm and timing in order for the elephant dancers to maintain uniformity inside the elephant figure. Numerous life-size paper dummy elephants sing and dance to the accompaniment of music.Mya Tha Lun Pagoda festival Magwe {Oct 13 - 31}Buddhist chanting, early morning offering to 1700 monks, and the lighting of 9000 candles are major activities. The scenic beauty of the pagoda, situated on the riverbank, is dramatic.Kyauktawgyi Pagoda festival Mandalay {Oct 16 - 19}The image was cast out of a single piece of alabaster in1864 under the guidance of king Mindon.Festival of Light and fire ball Kyaingtung {Oct 16 - 17}Indein Pagoda festival Inle Lake {Oct 22 - 25}Buddhist ceremony held at unique site of old sharine complex in Inle Lake. |
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November <Thadyingyut /
Tazaungmon> 2006 Poewintaung Ceremony Monywar {Nov 05-10}The one and only market where leaves, fruits, roots, thorns, tubera, stems of any herbal value from the western wilderness of Chindwin river are sold on a large scale. Shwezigon festival Bagan { Nov 09 - 15}Candlelights and fireworks are carried in procession before offering to the pagoda.Balloons flying festival Taungyi {Nov 10 - 15}
Lu Ping festival commonly known as hot balloon festival
celebrates by Pa O, one of the many ethnic groups in the region.
The word Lu Ping generally means eliminating all evil by giving
alms and offertories to Buddhist monks. On the occasion people
also 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. |
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Mt. Popa Nat Sprit festival Mt. Popa {Dec 14 - 15, 2006}Mt. Popa being considered most important Nat worshipping center, thousands of country folks and town people in their joyous, light-hearted and merrymaking in this particular festival. Thousands of animals were sacrificed to the Nats during the festival however this practice has been stopped since Bagan period. Spirit possession and overall drunken ecstasy are part of the celebration.Kachin New Year Celebration Kyaingtung {Dec 25 - 31, 2006} |
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January <Nadaw / Pyatho>2006 Manao festival Myitkyina and Bahmo Jan 10, 2006The Duwas celebrate a sacrificing-cum dancing best known as Manua to propitiate or exercise numerous. Nat <spirits) the spectacular carnival held in every January is the festival to celebrate a victory or achievement where the young and old, the great and simple gather in true community spirit.
Anandar pagoda festival Bagan Jan 10-16, 2006Bowls of alms filled with crops are offered to Buddhist monks who all wait in a long line. Pilgrimage and holiday outings on country oxcarts can be seen.Naga New Year La He <Hkamti> Jan 14 - 15, 2006 Although most people have heard about Naga tribes there is some
who have seen them and only a few who have been to their area.
Nagas celebrate their new year 15 of January each year. In this
particular day you will se the most unique Nagas gathering from
the entire region with festive mode. You will be busy shaking
hands with Naga warriors wearing hats made from bear fur, wild
boar tusks, hornbill feathers, and tiger claws. Some also have
tiger fangs hanging from their necklaces. |
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February 2006
<Pyatho / Tabodwe> Wa, Lisu, Lahu new year festival Kyaingtung Feb 1 - 2, 2006Celebrate at the same day of Chinese New year day. Similar to those of Kachine Manaw festival, celebrate ascrificing -cum dancing in different ways. Full moon festival <Dabodwe) All Over the country Feb 22 - 23, 2006Traditionally, it is held on the full moon day of this month as the harvest festival when people rejoice in the combined communities preparation and distribution of glutinous rice delicacy or feast of Htamane. One should not miss this opportunity to sample the delicious Myanmar delicacy consisting of glutinous rice freckle of coconut, sesames seeds, peanuts, ginger, and oil, which is specially prepared for the feast. Among the major Buddhist festival are Mahamuni Pagoda ceremony in Mandalay and Kyaikkhauk festival in Yangon. Mahamuni Pagoda festival Mandalay Feb 22-23, 2006Incense are burnt in large flame in symbolic of offering heat to the great image.Bon Fire Ceremony Pyay Feb 22-23, 2006Plants which emit no smoke when lit, are burnt at four cardinal points on the platform of the pagoda in the early morning. Worshippers than proceed to Pho U mountaintop where the Lord Buddha is said to have visited and made preordination of events.Kyaik khauk pagoda festival Syrium March 2-7, 2006Maintaining the heritage of donating drinking water to all by descendants of the first donor family is amazing.Zeedaw Nat Festival Monywar March 10-16, 2006Spirit festival is held at Zeedaw village across Chindwin river. |
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March 2006 <Tabodwe / Tabaung> Nam pan ceremony Inle Lake, Shan State {March 21-24}The sight of numerous monks who come in boats to receive food offerings is striking view. Shwemyitsu pagoda festival Inndawgyi {March 19-26}Ceremony sponsored by Kachin Buddhist. The 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.
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April 2006 <Tabaung / Tago>
Shwemawdaw pagoda festival Bago {April 16-23}Theatrical artists perform on stage with full force to show their competitive edge over their counterparts to win future performance contracts.
Shithoung pagoda festival Mrauk U {April 16-23}Dummy boat race on land, real boat race and water splashing in Mrauk U canal on full moon day. Traditional wrestling competitions are held at the foot of the pagoda.Bo Min Khaung Memorial Mt. Popa {April 20-24} Bo Min Khaung is remembered for his higher attainment in
mediation practices. Fullmoon day of Tagu All over the country {April 22-23}This is the first month of Myanmar lunar calendar. The most colorful month of the year with Pagoda Festivals in full swing everywhere.Thingyan Festival All over the country {April 13-16} Celebrated to welcome Myanmar New Year for four days throughout
the country during the second week of April.
It also marks the
end of the old year and beginning of the new. Young people
gather together to sing and dance, and to joyfully throw water
on each other. During the Thingyan Carnivals decorative floats
and water
 throwing pandals are seen everywhere in towns and
cities alike. If you do not mind getting wet, this high-spirited
festival is one that you should not miss.New Year day All over the country {April 17}Buddhists young and old alike spend the day performing meritorious deeds such as feeding and releasing animals, offering to monks, paying homage to elders etc. |
Kason Festival All over the country {May
21-22}
Shan New Year Celebration Kyaingtung {Nov 24}
Kaung Mudaw festival Sagaing {Nov 14 - 15}
visit next
year with out fail. 
