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101 Festivals of Myanmar |
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MONTHLY OF MAJOR PAGODA AND NAT FESTIVALS
IN MYANMAR
Year 2008
January
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
JAN |
03
Jan 08 |
Hse-Mie-koe-taun - 9000 lights festival |
Kyaiktiyo
Pagoda, Kyaikto, Mon State. Alms
are offered at dawn, and candles
lit in the evening. (10th waning
day of Nadaw) |
|
JAN |
08
Jan 08 |
Karen
New Year |
1st
waxing day of Pyatho. Karen New
Year celebrated in Hpa-an and Arlein
Ngarsint in Yangon. Speeches by
Karen elders and group dances. Myanmar
traditional kick-boxing competition
can also be seen. |
|
JAN |
10
Jan 08 |
Kachin
State Day |
Manaw
festivals in Kachin state. The precise
dates of the Kachin new year in
early January vary. |
|
JAN |
12
Jan 09 |
Naga
New Year's Day |
Annually
Jan 12th to 15th. Celebrated in
Leshi, Lahe or Hkamti in the Naga
Hills Sagaing Division. Oxen (gayals)
are slaughtered in sacrifice followed
by Naga Pole Erection, traditional
dance and Game competition and drinking
alcohol throughout the night, with
bonfires to ward off the cold and
evil. |
|
JAN |
21-22
Jan 08 |
Phaungdawoo
Pagoda festival |
Mandalay
next to Mahamuni, Mandalay. Full
Moon day of Pyatho and previous
night. |
|
JAN |
15
Jan- 05 Feb 08 |
Ananda
Pagoda Festival |
Pagan.
From 8th waxing day of Pyatho to
14th waning day. Bowls of alms filled
with crops are offered to long lines
of monks. Many farmers travel by
bullock carts from Upper Burma.
Festival market with local produce
including woven baskets and earthern
glazed pots. |
|
JAN |
21
Jan 08 |
Stumadu
Pwe |
Shwe-mok-taw
Pagoda, Bagan. 14th waxing day of
Pyatho. Stumadu (made of sesame
oil, molasses, honey and butter)
is offered to monks |
February
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
FEB |
07
Feb 08 |
Lahu New Year |
1st
waxing day of Tabodwe. In villages
around Kengtung, especially, celebrations
go on for up to a month. |
|
FEB |
11
Feb 4 May 08 |
Shwesettaw
Pagoda festival |
Three
month festival at the Shwesettaw
Pagoda (with two Buddha footprints)
near Minbu, Magwe. From 5th waxing
day of Tabodwe to the New Year.
Temporary accommodation is arranged
on both sides of Monn creek. |
|
FEB |
4,5,6
Feb 08 |
Shan
State Day |
Three
days of ceremonies and dances in
Taunggyi, Kengtung and Lashio |
|
FEB |
14
- 22 Feb 08 |
Kyaik-hkauk
Pagoda festival |
Syriam,
near Rangoon. 9 day festival from
the 8th waxing to the 1st waning
day of Tabodwe. The descendants
of the early pagoda donors donate
drinking water to pilgrims. |
|
FEB |
20
21 Feb 08 |
Mahamuni
Pagoda (Payagyi) Festival |
Mandalay.
14th 15th waxing days of Tabodwe.
Glutinous rice contests cooking
are held late on the 14th waxing
day. On the morning of the 15th
waxing day, incense is burnt in
large flames in a symbolic gesture
of offering sweet in cense to the
Great Image. |
|
FEB |
21 Feb 08 |
Full Moon Day of Tabodwe |
Kyaikkasan, Kyaikkalo and Kyaikwaing
pagoda festivals, Rangoon all take
place in this month |
|
Karen Bonfire Ceremony, Kyondo and
Hpa-an. Karen Nationals burn branches
and stems of the thet-yin-gyi plant
(Croton oblongifolius) in the morning
of the full moon day. By watching
the billowing smoke and the crest
of the flames, they make predictions
about the weather and other conditions
for the forthcoming year. Throughout
the night, young people sing songs
with riddles |
|
Around the Tabodwe Full Moon Day,
many Burmese families hold Htamane
festivals when a pudding of glutinous
rice is cooked up for all comers. |
|
Bonfire Ceremony (nyan-yo-bwe),
Prome. White stems of the nyan-yo
plant which emits no smoke when
lit, are burnt at the four cardinal
points on the platform of the Shwesandaw
Pagoda in the early morning of the
15th waxing day. Worshippers then
proceed to Hpo Oo Taung, the hill
where the Lord Buddha was said to
have predicted the founding of th
city of Srikshetra |
March
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
MAR |
11
16 Mar 08 |
Mingun
Nat festival |
(North-west
of Mandalay, 1 hour by boat). From
the 5th to 10th waxing days of Tabaung,
for the Brother and the Sister of
the Teak Tree. The boy and the girl
fell into the Irrawaddy and were
carried along by a floating teak
tree, but died before the tree ran
aground. The trunk took root and
the late children became nats in
its branches. |
|
MAR |
12
21 Mar 08 |
Shwedagon
Pagoda Festival |
Yangon
- ceremony to celebrate enshrinement
of Sacred Hair Relic. From the 6th
waxing day to the Full Moon day
of Tabaung. |
|
MAR |
14
21 Mar 08 |
Indawgyi
Pagoda Festival |
Kachin
State nr Moehnyin. 8th waxing day
to full moon day of Tabaung. This
is the biggest pagoda festival in
Kachin State, and very popular with
local Shan mountain-dwellers. With
drinking and gambling, it can be
a bit wild. The Shwe Myitsu Pagoda
is on an island in the lake. Two
causeways made of sandbanks surfaces
during the festival to allow pilgrims
to have access to it. One is for
humans, and the other for spirits
(it is incomplete). |
|
MAR |
14
21 Mar 08 |
Shwenattaung
Pagoda Festival |
Shwedaung,
near Prome/Pyay. From the 8th waxing
to the full moon of Tabaung. |
|
MAR |
15
21 Mar 08 |
Kakku
Pagoda Festival |
Kak-ku,
near Sesai, S Shan State (headquarters
of U Aung Khamti's Pa-O National
Organisation). A traditional Pa-O
festival, with theatrical performances
and singing contests. The collection
of pagodas at Kek-ku dates back
to the 17th century. Festival runs
from the 9th waxing day to the full
moon of Tabaung. |
|
MAR |
16
22 Mar 08 |
Bawgyo
Pagoda festival |
17
miles from Kyaukme, 5 miles to Hsipaw,
N Shan State. The main festival
in the Shan state, at the most revered
pagoda in Northern Shan State (the
Paung-daw-oo at Inle Lake being
the most revered in the South).
Held from the 10th waxing day of
Tabaung to the first waning day.
It was famous for its gambling.
Many Palaung pilgrims come from
the Namhsam area. They offer alms
to the images at first light on
the Full Moon Day. There is a large
market, and boat races on the Dokhtawadi
(Myitnge) river. The pagoda contains
four gilded images, and a sagawa
tree which bends so as not to overshadow
it. |
|
MAR |
16
21 Mar 08 |
Shwe
Oo Min Pagoda Festival |
Pindaya
Caves, Shan State. From the 10th
waxing day to the full moon of Tabaung.
A typical festival of the Taung-yo
minority, attended by many of the
other minority tribes of Shan State
(Danu, Pa-O, Shan etc). |
|
MAR |
16
17 Mar 08 |
Homecoming,
or sit-byan, Nat Festival |
Taungbyone,
near Mandalay. Two-day festival
on the 10th and 11th waxing days,
which celebrates the return of the
Taungbyone brothers and was originally
held to commemorate the return of
King Anawrahta from his Yunnan expeditions. |
|
MAR |
16
21 Mar 08 |
Ava
(Inwa) Nat festival |
Celebrating
the nat Thon Ban Hla: 10th waxing
day to full moon of Tabaug. |
|
MAR |
17
24 Mar 08 |
Hinthagon
Pagoda Festival |
Pegu.
11th waxing to 3rd waning day of
Tabaung. |
|
MAR |
18
22 Mar 08 |
Nam-pan
Tabaung Festival |
Nam-pan
village, Inle Lake, Shan State.
12th waxing day to 1st waning day
of Tabaung. Numerous monks receive
alms by boat. |
|
MAR |
20
23 Mar 0 |
Ye-leh
Pagoda Festival |
Kyauktan,
near Syriam. 14th waxing to 2nd
waning day of Tabaung. |
|
MAR |
20
21 Mar 08 |
Relic
Mountain Festival |
(Dat-taw-taung-pwe),
Kyaukse. 14th waxing day and Tabaung
full moon day. Buddha images from
the caves of the relic mountain
are worshipped. Includes traditional
boxing. |
| MAR |
21
Mar 08 |
Full
moon Day of Tabaung |
This
moon is said to be the most beautiful
of the year. The month of Tabaung
sees the greatest number of festivals
in large and small pagodas throughout
the country including:
Manuha Pagoda, Pagan;
Shwe-Ohn-Hmin Pagoda,
Aungban (near Kalaw, Shan State);
Zwegabin, Hpa-an;
Shwethalyaung, Kyaukse;
Myathalun Pagoda, Magwe;
Alaundaw Kathapa shrine in the creek
National Park of the same name,
Sagaing Division.
Also Sinbyugyun, on Salin Chaung.
The festival is in the dried up
chaung (Creek).
Also at Kazoonma (between Seikphyu
and Hsaw), held on full moon and
preceding night in sandy chaung.
Also Shwe Nattaung Pagoda near Prome.
Turn off west on the Prome-Shwedaung
road 4 miles south of Shwedaung
8th waxing day to Tabaung Full Moon
day the well wishes come in. Covered
wagons/bullock cart.
Shwe Indaung Paya, Taungdwingyi.
8th waning of Tabaung for a fortnight.
Includes puppet shows on a few nights.
|
|
MAR |
22
29 Mar 07 |
Shwesayan
Pagoda Festival |
Near
Patheingyi, Mandalay. On the river
south of the main Mandalay-Maymyo
road (near Ton-bo) and accessible
by car or horsecart from the main
road. Merchandise from Shan State,
and in particular pineapples, sweets
and traditional medicines are sold,
along with the local speciality,
brightly coloured toys and bracelets
woven out of toddy palm leaves.
From 1st to 8th waning days of Tabaung.
A teashop is built out in the river,
and piers built out into the river
offer scope for pre-Thingyan water
festival splashing. Ferrymen rowing
swallowtail boats come across from
Sagaing and Ava to row pilgrims
to the various pagodas. |
|
MAR |
22
26 Mar 08 |
Maymyo
Nat festival |
For
Koe Myot Shin, the black-garbed
nat who is the guardian of Shan
State. Held from the 1st to 5th
waning days of Tabaung. |
|
MAR |
28
Mar 05 Apr 08 |
Ahlone
festival |
12km
north of Monywa on the Shwebo road.
Held from the 7th waning day to
the new moon of Tabaung. A bullock
cart procession from the Ma Ngwe
Daung festival marks the start of
this festival. |
April
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
APR |
05
Apr 08 |
Thanakha
Grinding Festival |
Sittwe,
Rakhine State. Held on the eve of
Thingyan. In the early part of the
night, young women grind thanakha
log on stone slabs and young man
play music and dance to accompany
them. On the following day the Image
Bathing Festival (paya ye-cho-bwe)
is held, and Buddha images are cleansed
with the thanakha paste. |
|
APR |
09
Apr 08 |
Flower-picking
ceremony |
(Thakin-ma
Taung-pan Hkauk-pwe), Patheingyi,
Mandalay. 4th waxing day of Tagu.
The ceremony commemorates the flowers
strewn from the garland of Lady
Shwe Ooth who was mauled to death
by a mythical tiger who was, in
fact, the man whose love she had
earlier rejected. |
|
APR |
11
Feb 04 May 08 |
Shwesettaw
Pagoda festival |
Three
month festival at the Shwesettaw
Pagoda (with two Buddha footprints)
near Minbu, Magwe. From 5th waxing
day of Tabodwe to the New Year.
Temporary accommodation is arranged
on both sides of Monn creek. |
|
APR |
13
Apr 09 May 08 |
Shwe-maw-daw
Pagoda Festival |
Pegu.
From the 8th waxing to 5th waning
days of Tagu. Theatrical shows. |
|
APR |
18
19 Apr 08 |
Mount
Popa Nat festival |
From
the night of the 13th to noon of
14th waxing day of Tagu - to celebrate
return of Taungbyone brothers from
China. Pilgrims come from all over
the country. |
|
APR |
30
Mar-03 Apr 08 |
Ko
Gyi Kyaw or Gu-ni Nat Festival |
Magwe.
Held from the 13th waxing to the
2nd waning day of Tagu. It is widely
believed that the nat Ko Gyi Kyaw
travels around the country and on
his way home, he usually takes a
break in Gu-ni. The nat is approached
by mediums during their dances who
seek his patronage. |
|
APR |
12 17 Apr 08 |
Thingyan Water Festival |
Thingyan Water Festival. The festival
lasts four, or occasionally five
days, and takes place in mid-April,
leading up to New Year's Day. Thingyan
dates back to the Burmese kings
and is also celebrate as Songkran
in Thailand. But it is not a religious
festival, strictly speaking, and
is not determined by the phases
of the moon. According to legend,
Sakkra, King of the Devas, and Arsi,
King of the Brahmas, made a bet
whereby the loser would be decapitated.
Arsi lost the wager and his head.
The Brahmas cut off an elephant's
head and fixed it on his body and
he became the god Ganesh. Since
it was said that the earth would
be consumed by flames and the oceans
would dry up if Arsi's head fell
into them, seven celestial goddesses
were charged with holding the head
for a year each. When they pass
it from one to another, this represents
the New Year. |
|
On the eve of Thingyan, Day 1, only
children are allowed to throw water
before it gets too wild. On Day
2, the Descent Day, Thagyarmin (Sakkra),
the Lord of Thingyan is said to
descend from his celestial abode.
On the intervening day(s), he records
saints and sinners in his book,
before returning to heaven on Ascent
Day, the day before the New Year. |
|
The throwing of water originally
took place from a silver bowl from
which thanakha scented water was
scattered with tha-bye (Eugenia)
leaves. Nowadays, water pistols
and motor-driven pumps are used.
Young people splash water at one
another to wash away sins and to
have a good time flirting and drinking,
especially in Rangoon and Mandalay,
while older people retreat to the
monasteries and observe the eight
precepts including fasting after
noon. |
|
Astrologers from Mandalay distribute
the annual Thingyan-sar or almanac
which predicts the situation for
the coming year, including the weather,
pests, economy etc. |
|
During the festivities, than-gyat
or satyrical rhyming couplets are
called out with a lead singing the
first line and the chorus responding.
Special Thingyan sweets - moun-lon-ye-baw,
rice dumplings with a jaggery centre
are cooked as a ritual by boys and
girls. When cooked, they float to
the top of the boiling water (ye-baw).
Sometimes a chille is substituted
for the jaggery. |
|
In Tavoy, the men wear 4 metre high
bamboo effigies of Indians called
Kalar-koe-daung and dance down the
streets to drum music. |
|
At Kyaikkhauk pagonda (Syriam) there
is a special water throwing procession
on New Year's Eve a-teq-nι. |
|
APR |
17
Apr 08 |
New
Year's Day. |
Buddhists
throughout the country perform meritorious
deeds such as releasing animals
(be-meh-hlut-pwe), at Kaba Aye Pagoda
and elsewhere, offering alms, and
paying homage to their elders. Water-throwing
is forbidden except in the village
Yo Go south of Moulmein. |
|
APR |
17
Apr 08 |
Sand
Stupa Festival |
Shwesandaw
Pagoda, Twante near Rangoon. Takes
place on New Year's Day. A stupa
of sand is built in the pagoda compound,
in a ceremony sponsored by descendants
of Shan migrants. People dress up
as buffaloes and dance. |
May
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
MAY |
04
05 May 08 |
Kyaukse
Nat festival |
(Kyaukse
is on the main road between Meiktila
and Mandalay). Held on the 14th
waning day of Tagu until the New
Moon day to honour Shwe Sagadaw. |
|
MAY |
11
Jan
04 May 08 |
Shwesettaw
Pagoda festival |
Three
month festival at the Shwesettaw
Pagoda (with two Buddha footprints)
near Minbu, Magwe. From 5th waxing
day of Tabodwe to the New Year.
Temporary accommodation is arranged
on both sides of Monn creek. |
|
MAY |
13
Apr
19 May 08 |
Shiq-thaung
Pagoda Festival |
Mrauk
U, Rakhine State. From 8th waxing
day to full moon day of Kason. There
are mock boat-races on land and
real boat races and splashing in
the Mrauk U canal on the full moon
day. Traditional wrestling competitions
take place at the foot of the pagoda,
with the final on Full Moon day. |
|
MAY |
12
29 May 08 |
Kutheinaryon
Pagoda Festival |
Salin
(West Bank of Irrawaddy, SW of Pagan).
The festival begins on the 8th or
9th waxing day and continues until
the 9th or 10th waning day. |
|
MAY |
18
May 08 |
Shwe-kyet-yet
Pagoda Festival |
Near
Amarapura. Held on the 14th waxing
day of Kason, the day before the
normal 'watering' ceremony. A large-scale
ceremonial procession is followed
by the pouring of water on the sacred
Bo tree. |
|
MAY |
19
May 08 |
Full
Moon of Kason |
In
different years, Buddha was born,
died and achieved enlightenment
on the full moon day of Kason. The
festival of offering water to sacred
Bo (banyan) trees celebrated throughout
Burma, including at the Shwemohkdaw
Pagoda in Bassein. Alms-offering
ceremony by Prome residents at Neikbeinda
(monasteries three miles north of
Prome) |
June
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
JUN |
03
10 Jun 08 |
Shwemyintin
Pagoda Festival |
Meikhtila.
Kason New Moon day to the 7th waxing
day of Nayon. |
|
JUN |
16
18 Jun 08 |
Amay
Gyan nat festival |
Kyaukse.
Amay Gyan is the beer drinking wife
of an Ava prince-thief. Held from
the 13th waxing to the Full Moon
Day of Nayon. |
|
JUN |
18
Jun 08 |
Recital
Festival |
(Sa-pyan-pwe).
Held on the Full Moon Day of Nayon
at Kaba Aye Pagoda, Yangon. The
five parts of the Nikaya are recited.
Similar recitations are conducted
by monks and nuns throughout the
country. |
|
JUN |
11
28 Jun 08 |
Thiho
Shin Pagoda festival |
Pakokku
(north of Pagan on west bank of
the Irrawaddy). The pagoda contains
an image presented by the King of
Ceylon some 800 years ago. Held
from 8th waxing to the 10th waning
day of Nayon, with traditional plays
(although not, for the last few
years, puppet shows). Local specialities
include thanakha logs, jaggery,
longyis and checked cotton and wool
blankets. The pagoda is said to
have been built by King Alaunsitthu.
The Thiho Shin Buddha image is one
of the most revered one. This is
a typical a-nyar (Upper Burma) festival. |
|
JUN |
19 Jun 17Jul 08 |
Wicker Ball Festival |
Precincts of the Mahamuni Pagoda,
Mandalay. The festival lasts a month
from the 1st waning day of Nayon.
Chin-lon ball players come from
all over the country to participate
in a festival which has been going
for over seventy years. |
July
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
JUL |
10
Jul 08 |
U-Hmyn-Koe-She |
90
caves, Sagaing Hills: 8th waxing
day of Waso. |
|
JUL |
12
15 Jun 08 |
Boddhaw-maw-pwe
or Cliff Nat Festival |
Sittwe.
Held on the first Tuesday and Saturday
before the Full Moon day of Waso.
The women of Sittwe gather at the
cliff where they believe the Guardian
spirit dwells and stick yellow papers
onto the rock with banana paste. |
|
JUL |
16
17 Jun 08 |
Shinbin-sagyi
Ceremony |
Sa-le
near Magwe. 14th waxing and Full
Moon Day of Waso. The pagoda is
noted for Buddhist paintings and
carvings. Another ceremony is held
on the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut. |
|
JUL |
17
Jul 08 |
Full
Moon of Waso |
Start
of the Buddhist Lent (Dhammasetkya
Day). The Full Moon Day of commemorates
the day Buddha preached his first
sermon on the turning of the Wheel
of Law. Marriages are frowned upon
in Lent. Monks are confined to their
monasteries because of Buddha's
injunction that they should not
go travelling during the rainy season
in case they inadvertently stepped
on some growing plant or insect
life. Waso Thingan robes are offered |
|
JUL |
17
27 Jul 08 |
Paukpayin
Festival |
Kume
(between Meiktila and Kyaukse).
Full moon day to 10th waning day
of Waso. |
|
JUL |
16
Jul 01 Aug 08 |
Yadana
Larbamuni Pagoda Festival |
(Snake
Pagoda), Paleik, south of Mandalay.
From the 14th waxing day of Waso,
for a month. The festival includes
dramatic performances, volleyball,
football and bullock cart races.
The Warlinpo Festival in nearby
Singaing also runs from the Full
Moon of Waso for a month. |
August
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
AUG |
01
Aug 08 |
Zetawun
Pagoda Festival |
Sagaing
- held on the new moon day of Waso. |
|
AUG |
02
04 Aug 08 |
Shwe-kyun-bin,
Golden Teak Tree Nat Festival |
Mingun,
Mandalay. 1st to 3rd waxing days
of Wagaung. The last barter market
in Burma, where natives trades by
exchanging goods. Nat dances on
the 1st day are an audience, the
second a royal bath, and the third,
the cutting down of the htein tree
(see Taungyone, below). |
|
AUG |
02
04 Aug 08 |
Kyaukse
nat festival |
1st
to 3rd waxing days of Wagaung, in
honour of Shwe Sagadaw. |
|
AUG |
09
Aug 08 |
Pottery
Day |
(Ou-pouq-pwe),
Myauk-pyin, near Mandalay. Pottery-sellers
tease one another by hiding each
other's wares while on their way
to Taungbyone nat festival. 8th
waxing day of Wagaung. |
|
AUG |
9 16 Aug
08 |
Taungbyone Nat Festival |
Taungbyone Nat Festival, 10 miles
north of Mandalay (from 8th waxing
day to the full moon day of Wagaung).
Burma's most famous nat festival
which any nat-gadaw (nats wife
or medium) worth his or her salt
must attend. Very crowded and boisterous.
Watch out for pickpockets. The two
Taungbyone nat brothers (also called
the Shwepyin brothers - Shwepyin-gyi
and Shwe-pyin-lay), King Anawrahta's
adopted sons, are worshipped. |
|
On the 8th and 9th waxing days,
homage is paid with flowers at the
shrine of the Twin Princes, gilded
images one slightly larger than
the other. Discarded flowers are
kept as tokens of good fortune. |
|
At 3 p.m. on the 10th waxing day,
there is a conference of the officiating
families of the festival and the
main orchestra begins to play to
pay homage to the images (other
orchestras do not start playing
until the afternoon of the following
day). |
|
On the 11th waxing day, the royal
ablutions are carried out. The 12th
waxing day is -weq-pwe (or 'half')
day, when offerings are made if
bananas, coconuts, fruit, flowers,
cakes, fried chicken, fish and liquor.
One half is left at the shrine and
the other half taken home. The 13th
waxing day is htat-pwe ('heap day'),
when whatever is offered at the
shrine is added to, and devotees
take home their offering and the
extra. |
|
The 14th waxing day is yon-hto-pwe,
when roasted wild rabbit or hare
and toddy are offered to the images,
with a drunken procession and dancing,
in memory of when they visited toddy
plantations themselves for grilled
rabbit and a drink. |
|
On the Full Moon Day, male natgadaws
representing the princes descend
from the stage and cut down the
branches of 'htein' tree (Nauclea
Parviflora) which have been placed
by the shrine. According to legend,
their adopted father Anawrahta was
killed by the god of the htein tree
in the form of a wild buffalo, and
they are exacting their revenge.
Fragments of the branches are kept
for good luck. |
|
On the 1st waning day, the images
are regilded and their robes changed
and the following day alms are offered
to the monks. |
|
AUG |
16
Aug 08 |
U Min Thounseh Pagoda Festival |
Sagaing
Hills. Full Moon Day of Wagaung. |
|
AUG |
25
29 Aug 08 |
Mount Popa Nat festival |
To
celebrate departure of Taungbyone
brothers for China - from 9th to
13th waning days of Wagaung. |
|
AUG |
26
30 Aug 08 |
Amarapura (south of Mandalay) |
Nat
festival - Irinaku/Yadanagu pwe,
for the ogress Popa Medaw, mother
of the Taungbyone brothers who has
visited them in Taungbyone. 10th
waning day of Wagaung to the new
moon day. The site is flooded during
the rainy season and a rowing boat
must be taken. The five day ceremony
includes a nat audience, the royal
bath, ascending the throne, the
daughter of Mahagiri reels on the
ground in grief (4th day) and the
cutting of the htein tree (5th day).
Thalein Medaw, the nat guardian
of buffaloes, dances in the streets. |
September
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
SEP |
13
14 Sep 08 |
Manuha Pagoda |
Myinkaba,
Pagan. On the 14th and 15th waxing
days of Tawthalin. |
|
SEP |
14
Sep 08 |
Padamya Pagoda,
Sagaing Hills |
Full
moon day of Tawthalin |
|
SEP |
19
29 Sep 08 |
Bo Bo Gyi nat festival |
Taungthaman
Lake, Amarapura. 5th waning day
of Tawthalin to the new moon. |
|
SEP |
24
Sep 08 |
Hsu-taung-pye Alms Offering Ceremony |
Monywa.
Over a thousand monks are invited
and receive alms bowls. 10th waning
day of Tawthalin. |
|
SEP |
30
Sep 17 Oct 08 |
Inle Lake leg-rowing festival |
Paung-daw-oo
Pagoda festival. The festival is
held from the 1st waxing day to
3rd waning day of Thadingyut. The
Buddha images are taken from the
Paung-daw-oo Pagoda and tours around
Inle Lake from village to village
in a decorated barge propelled by
leg rowers. The tour lasts for about
18 days. Boat races are held throughout. |
October
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
OCT |
04
Oct 08 |
Sand
Stupa Festival |
Kyaikkami
and Setse Beaches, Mon State. 5th
waxing day of Thadingyut. People
from the nearby villages gather
on the beach to build sand-stupas
and enshrine paper currency. These
are washed away by the waves hours
later. |
|
OCT |
12
14 Oct 08 |
Pyet-khay-way
Pagoda Festival |
Kume,
between Meiktila and Kyaukse. 13th
waxing day to Full Moon Day of Thadingyut.
The mountain top is demarcated at
the centre of the cardinal points
of Burma. Pilgrims bring their own
musical instruments to play at the
pagoda. A peasant band plays doe-but
and drums. |
|
OCT |
13
15 Oct 08 |
Thadingyut
Festival of Lights |
Throughout
Burma from the 14th waxing to the
1st waning day of Thadingyut. Marks
the end of Lent, Buddha's descent
from Tawatimsa, the Celestial Abode
after spending the three months
of Buddhist Lent there. Between
Thadingyut and Tazaungmon kahtein/kathina
robes 'donation with great merit'
are offered to the monastery as
a whole to be distributed by the
senior monks. Padetha-pin - padetha
trees - are adorned with money and
donations and offered to monks.
The Pa-wa-ra-na ('requesting') ceremony
in held in which monks ask to be
reprimanded for any sins. |
|
OCT |
13
16 Oct 08 |
Kyauktawgyi
Pagoda Festival |
Mandalay.
The Kyauktawgyi image was cast from
a single piece of alabaster in 1864
under the guidance of King Mindon.
The festival lasts from the 14th
waxing day to the 2nd waning day
of Thadingyut. |
|
OCT |
13
Oct 08 |
Matho
Thingan weaving competition |
The
Shwedagon Pagoda Yangon (Rangoon).
It starts at 5 p.m. on the eve of
the full moon day of Thadingyut. |
|
OCT |
13
18 Oct 08 |
Pa-O
Ceremony of the Tree of Plenty |
(Than-bouq-sin-pwe),
Taunggyi. A mythical tree of plenty
is erected with a seat on top for
Buddha. It is decorated with fruits
and other offerings. 14th waxing
day to 4th waning day of Thadingyut. |
|
OCT |
13
14 Oct 08 |
lephant
Dance Festival |
Shwethalyaung,
Kyaukse. Two (one black, one white,
life-size dummy elephants made of
paper and cloth on a bamboo frame
dance for two days to music and
take offerings up the stairs of
the pagoda to the accompaniment
of dobat and drums. Previously pilgrims
came on real elephants. 14th waxing
day and Full Moon Day of Thadingyut. |
|
OCT |
13
17 Oct 08 |
Kyaikkami
Yae-le Pagoda Festival |
14th
waxing day to 3rd waning day of
Thadingyut. |
|
OCT |
14
Oct 08 |
Floating
Alms Bowl festival |
(thabeik-ye-myaw-pwe),
Bohtataung Pagoda, Rangoon. Alms
bowls are floated in the early morning
of the full moon day of Thadingyut. |
|
OCT |
14
Oct 08 |
Zayat-gyi
Pwe |
Dummy
oxen and buffalo dances and release
of hot air balloons. A Pa-O, Shan,
Mon and Karen event on the Full
Moon Day of Thadingyut. |
|
OCT |
14
Oct 08 |
Tawatimsa
Ceremony, |
Bassein.
The Buddha image is ceremoniously
pulled down a decorated stairway
using cables and pullies to mark
the day that Lord Buddha descended
from Tawatimsa. Full moon day of
Thadingyut. |
|
OCT |
15
Oct 08 |
Floating
Lights Festival |
Shwekyin,
Pegu. On the first waning day of
Thadingyut there are dances, followed
a night in which floating lights
dedicated to Shin Upagutta are released
onto Shwekyin creek. |
|
OCT |
09
28 Oct 08 |
Myathalun
Pagoda Festival |
Magwe
(east bank of Irrawaddy between
Prome and Pagan). 10th waxing day
to the New Moon day of Thadingyut.
Buddhist chanting, early morning
rice offering to 1700 monks, and
the lighting of 9000 candles are
major activities. The pagoda is
situated on the riverbank. The market
pecializes in iron utensils. |
|
OCT |
15
28 Oct 08 |
Hsu-taung-bye
Pagoda Festival |
Monywa.
The best puppeteers perform during
the festival which lasts from the
1st waning day to the new moon of
Thadingyut. On the eve of the festival,
traditional sweets and snacks are
handed out by each household. |
November
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
NOV |
12
14 Nov 08 |
A-kyuq
A-luq Pwe |
Takes
place on the full moon day of Tazaungmon
in Hsipaw, Mandalay, Prome and some
other places in the country. It
takes place in cemeteries, with
candles being lit on graves at night,
and a donation a-hlu the following
morning. The aim is to release souls
which have not managed to escape.
Hsipaw has revived it since about
2002 and Mandalay for nearly 20
years before that. |
|
NOV |
02
13 Nov 08 |
Shwesandaw
Pagoda Festival |
Prome.
From the 5th waxing day to the 1st
waning day of Tazaungmon. |
|
NOV |
11
13 Nov 08 |
Hpo-win-daung
Festival |
Monywa.
The 16th century cave temples of
Hpo-win-daung host a festival and
market from the 14th waxing day
to the 1st waning day of Tazaungmon
which features indigenous medicines
from the west of the Chindwin River
and bronze utensils and religious
articles. |
|
NOV |
07
12 Nov 08 |
Balloon
festival |
(Mi-bon-pyan-bwe),
Taunggyi. A Pa-O festival in which
hot-air balloons are released day
and night, and compete for attractiveness
and height attained. During the
day, animal figures are flown, and
at night, there are fireworks and
bamboo and gunpowder rockets launched,
and lighted balloons are sent up
as high as possible to reach the
magnificent pagoda in Tawatinsa
with Thagyarmin, King of the Devas,
resides. From the 10th waxing day
to the Full Moon Day of Tazaungmon. |
|
NOV |
11
Nov 08 |
Flower-tossing
ceremony |
Mahamuni
pagoda, Mandalay. People toss water
lilies at the image of Buddha while
making a wish. 14th waxing day of
Tazaungmon. |
|
NOV |
12
Nov 08 |
Tazaungdaing
festival of Lights |
Full
Moon day of Tazaungmon. Candles
are lit throughout the country,
and buildings are illuminated in
lower Burma (more so than at Thadingyut
as there is less chance of it being
rained out). Treasure hunts (pant-tha-ku)
are organised for the children and
donors hide and hand out money,
sweets and presents. |
|
NOV |
12
Nov 08 |
9000
Candles Ceremony |
Ko-dat-gyi
(9-storey pagoda) Yangon. 9000 candles
are ceremoniously lit on the Tazaungmon
Full Moon Day and at midnight visitors
are served with a mixed salad of
mezali buds (Cassia siamea), mixed
with sesame, groundnuts, fried garlic
and sesame oil, which is believed
to possess powerful magical and
medicinal properties if eaten on
this occasion. |
|
NOV |
12
Nov 08 |
9000
candles ceremony |
Kyaiktiyo
pagoda, Kyaikto, Mon State. Rice
and fruit are offered at dawn, and
candles are lit at night to the
Pagoda on the Golden Rock. |
|
NOV |
12
Nov 08 |
Fire-stick
Festival |
Kalaw,
Shan State. Long poles stuffed with
fireworks are ceremoniously carried
to a pagoda on the outskirts of
town on the Full Moon day of Tazaungmon.
They are planted near the pagoda
and set off to burn throughout the
night. |
|
NOV |
12
Nov 08 |
Hindu
Sacred Bathing Festival |
Prome.
Hindus from all over Burma come
and observe the Full Moon day of
Tazaungmon as they do at the Ganges. |
|
NOV |
12
18 Nov 08 |
Kaunghmudaw
Pagoda Festival |
Sagaing.
The festival is renowned for its
puppet shows and peasant pilgrims
who come with oxcarts. It runs from
the Full Moon day of Tazaungmon
to the 6th waning day. 802 lamp
posts illuminate the dome. The pagoda
slaves of the three nearby villages
(Si-tee, Leq-hlouq, Sun-ket) perform
the duties of the respective village
names (drum playing, dancing (hand
moving), and alms cooking). |
|
NOV |
05
27 Nov 08 |
Shwezigon
Pagoda Festival |
Pagan.
Candles and fireworks are offered
to the pagoda. The festival runs
from the 8th waxing to the new moon
day of Tazaungmon. |
|
NOV |
28
Nov 08 |
War-going
ceremony (siq-htweq-pwe) |
Taungbyone,
Mandalay. This nat festival on the
1st waxing day of Nadaw originally
commemorated Anawrahtas departure
for Yunnan. |
December
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
DEC |
05
13 Dec 08 |
Sandawshin
pagoda festival |
West
Phayonga island, Rakhine State.
The festival runs from the 8th waxing
day to the 1st waning day of Nadaw.
The pagoda on the Nilar Paba Hill
at the mouth of the Kaladan River
is dedicated to a famous Rakhine
queen, Saw Me Kyi (or Soe Mai),
wife of King Phalaung. According
to legend, any form that represents
a tiger cannot be taken into the
pagoda precincts. |
|
DEC |
10
13 Dec 08 |
Yangon
Bohtataung Pagoda Festival |
Last
two days waxing, full moon day,
and first waning day of Nadaw. |
|
DEC |
11
12 Dec 08 |
Taungbyone
Nat festival |
14th
waxing day of Nadaw until the full
moon day, for the Taungbyone brothers.
The shrine is opened at the end
of the afternoon and on the following
day, King Anawrahtas proclamation
is read, originally made after his
departure to China in quest after
the Buddhas tooth relic. |
|
DEC |
12
17 Dec 08 |
Prome
Brothers nat festival |
Prome
from the Full Moon day of Nadaw
to 5th waning day. |
|
DEC |
12
18 Dec 08 |
Mount
Popa Mahagiri nat festival |
From
the Full moon day of Nadaw to the
6th waning day. The festival celebrates
the brother nat and Lord of the
Great Mountain, formerly Maung Tint
Deir the blacksmith who was burnt
at the stake by a jealous king. |
|
DEC |
22
Dec 08 |
Hse-Mie-koe-taun |
9000
lights festival, Kyaiktiyo Pagoda,
Kyaikto, Mon State. Alms are offered
at dawn, and candles lit in the
evening. (10th waning day of Nadaw) |
|
DEC |
27
Dec 08 |
Karen
New Year |
1st
waxing day of Pyatho. Karen New
Year celebrated in Hpa-an and Arlein
Ngarsint in Yangon. Speeches by
Karen elders and group dances. Myanmar
traditional kick-boxing competition
can also be seen. |
|
|
 |
|
