|
|
|
|
Quick Access Panel |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
Our partner in Australia
Santa Maria is proud to be partnered with Beyond Myanmar - a
specialist travel agency in Australia that operates in partnership with
Santa Maria to offer custom holidays and travel adventures in Myanmar.
You can visit Beyond Myanmar at :
www.beyondmyanmar.com.au |
|
|
 |
Home
>
Myanmar Travel Information
>
Travel Advices
>
101 Festivals of Myanmar |
 |
|
|
|
MONTHLY OF MAJOR PAGODA AND NAT
FESTIVALS IN MYANMAR.
Year – 2015
January
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
JAN |
16 Dec 2009 |
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 |
|
JAN |
29,30 Dec 2009 |
Phaungdawoo Pagoda
festival |
Mandalay next to Mahamuni,
Mandalay. Full Moon day of
Pyatho and previous night. |
|
JAN |
10 Jan 2015 |
Kachin State Day |
Manaw festivals start at 8 to 12
Jan in Kachin state. The precise
dates of the Kachin new year in
early January vary. |
|
JAN |
18-20 Jan 2015 |
Naga New Year's Day |
Annually Jan 12th to 15th.
Celebrated in Layshi or Lahe 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 |
04-19 Jan 2015 |
Ananda Pagoda Festival |
Bagan. 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 |
15 Jan 2010 |
Lahu New Year Day |
1st waxing day of Tabodwe. In
villages around Kengtung,
especially, celebrations go on
for up to a month. |
|
JAN |
24 Jan to 17 April 2015 |
Shwesettaw Pagoda festival |
The festival at the Shwesettaw
Pagoda (with two Buddha
footprints) near Minbu, Magwe.
From 5th waxing day of Tabodwe
to 4th waxing day of Tagu.
Temporary accommodation is
arranged on both sides of Monn
creek. |
|
JAN |
15-30 Jan 2010 |
Mahamuni Pagoda (Payagyi)
Festival |
Mandalay. 1st waxing days to 1st
waning day 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. |
February
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
JAN |
15 Feb 2010 |
Full Moon Day of Tabodwe |
Kyaikkasan, Kyaikkalo and
Kyaikwaing pagoda festivals,
Yangon all take place in this
month |
|
FEB |
4,5,6 Feb 2010 |
Shan State Day |
Three days of ceremonies and
dances in Taunggyi, Kengtung and
Lashio |
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
FEB |
17-22 Feb 2010 |
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. |
|
FEB |
13-28 Feb 2010 |
Maw Tin Zun Pagoda Festival |
The southwest coast of Myanmar.
The Pagoda start 1st Waxing day
to 1st Waning day of Tabaung.
This is only seaside pagoda
festival of importance. Part of
the route from Yangon is by a
pleasant boat ride to Pathein,
an interesting delta town famous
for its pretty parasols. |
|
FEB |
18-27 Feb 2010 |
Shwedagon Pagoda Festival |
Yangon - ceremony to celebrate
enshrinement of Sacred Hair
Relic. From the 6th waxing day
to the Full Moon day of Tabaung. |
|
FEB |
20-27 Feb 2010 |
Indawgyi Pagoda Festival |
Kachin State near 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). |
|
FEB |
20-27 Feb 2010 |
Shwenattaung Pagoda Festival |
Shwedaung, near Prome/Pyay. From
the 8th waxing to the full moon
of Tabaung. |
|
FEB |
22-27 Feb 2010 |
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 2nd to 7th waxing
day of Tagu. 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. |
|
FEB |
23 Feb-02 Mar 2010 |
Shwe Oo Min Pagoda Festival |
Pindaya Caves, Shan State. From
the 11th waxing day to the 3rd
waning day 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). |
|
FEB |
22-23 Feb 2010 |
Homecoming, or sit-byan, Nat
Festival |
Taungbyone, near Mandalay.
Two-day festival on the 10th and
11th waxing days of Tabaung,
which celebrates the return of
the Taungbyone brothers and was
originally held to commemorate
the return of King Anawrahta
from his Yunnan expeditions. |
|
FEB |
22-27 Feb 2010 |
Ava (Inwa) Nat festival |
Celebrating the nat Thon Ban Hla:
10th waxing day to full moon day
of Tabaung. |
|
FEB |
23 Feb-02 Mar 2010 |
Hinthagon Pagoda Festival |
Pegu. 11th waxing to 3rd waning
day of Tabaung. |
|
FEB |
24-28 Feb 2010 |
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. |
|
FEB |
26 Feb-01 Mar 2010 |
Ye-leh Pagoda Festival |
Kyauktan, near Syriam. 14th
waxing to 2nd waning day of
Tabaung. |
|
FEB |
26-27 Feb 2010 |
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. |
|
FEB |
27 Feb 2010 |
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. |
|
FEB |
28 Feb-07 Mar 2010 |
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. |
|
FEB |
28 Feb-04 Mar 2010 |
Maymyo Nat festival
(Koe Myo Shin Nat) |
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. |
March
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
FEB |
03-04 Feb 2015 |
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 |
06-15 Mar 2010 |
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 |
13 Apr 2010 |
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 |
18 Mar 2010 |
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 |
15-24 Apr 2010 |
Shwe-maw-daw Pagoda Festival |
Pegu. From the 3rd to 12th
waning days of Tagu. Theatrical
shows. |
|
APR |
11-12 Apr 2010 |
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 |
17-31 Mar 2010 |
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 |
13-17 Apr 2010 |
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-né. |
|
APR |
17 Apr 2010 |
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 2010 |
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 |
26-27 May 2010 |
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 |
20-27 Apr 2010 |
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 |
20 Mar-07 Apr 2010 |
Kutheinaryon Pagoda Festival |
Salin (West Bank of Irrawaddy,
SW of Bagan). The festival
begins on the 8th or 9th waxing
day and continues until the 9th
or 10th waning day of Kason. |
|
MAY |
27 Apr 2010 |
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 |
27 Apr 2010 |
Full Moon day 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) |
|
MAY |
19 May 2010 |
Shwemyintin Pagoda Festival |
Meikhtila. Kason New Moon day to
the 7th waxing day of Nayon. |
|
MAY |
25-27 May 2010 |
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. |
|
MAY |
27 May 2010 |
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. |
|
MAY |
25 May-06 Jun 2010 |
Thiho Shin Pagoda festival |
Pakokku (north of Bagan 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. |
|
MAY |
28 May-26 Jun 2010 |
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. |
June
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
JUN |
19 Jun 2010 |
U-Hmyn-Koe-She |
90 caves, Sagaing Hills: 8th
waxing day of Waso. |
|
JUN |
25-26 Jun 2010 |
Buddhaw-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. |
|
JUN |
25-26 Jun 2010 |
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. |
|
JUN |
26 Jun 2010 |
Full Moon day 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 |
|
JUN |
26 Jun-06 Jul 2010 |
Paukpayin Festival |
Kume (between Meiktila and
Kyaukse). Full moon day to 10th
waning day of Waso. |
|
JUN |
25 Jun-26 Jul 2010 |
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. |
July
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
JUL |
27 Jul 2010 |
Zetawun Pagoda Festival |
Sagaing - held on the new moon
day of Waso. |
August
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
AUG |
11-13 Aug 2010 |
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 |
26-28 Aug 2010 |
Kyaukse nat festival |
1st to 3rd waxing days of
Wagaung, in honour of Shwe
Sagadaw. |
|
AUG |
18 Aug 2010 |
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 |
12-25 Aug 2010 |
Taungbyone Nat Festival |
Taungbyone Nat Festival, 10
miles north of Mandalay (from
2th waxing day to the full moon
day of Wagaung). Burma's most
famous nat festival which any
nat-gadaw (nat’s 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 |
25 Aug 2010 |
U Min Thounseh Pagoda Festival |
Sagaing Hills. Full Moon Day of
Wagaung. |
September
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
SEP |
03-07 Sep 2010 |
Mount Popa Nat festival |
To celebrate departure of
Taungbyone brothers for China -
from 9th to 13th waning days of
Wagaung. |
|
SEP |
04 Sep 2010 |
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. |
|
SEP |
22-23 Sep 2010 |
Manuha Pagoda |
Myinkaba village, Pagan. On the
14th and 15th waxing days of
Tawthalin. On the first day,
pretty village girls dressed in
their best parade eith trays of
fruit and cake to offer at the
pagoda. During the afternoon,
young men parade
larger-than-life papier mache
figures they have made of
heroes, celestails and animals.
At night, they put on dances and
plays. The next morning at dawn
they offer food at the shrine
and also to the monks.\ |
|
SEP |
23 Sep 2010 |
Padamya Pagoda, Sagaing Hills |
Full moon day of Tawthalin. The
festival held in Sagaing Hills. |
|
SEP |
28 Sep-09 Oct 2010 |
Bo Bo Gyi nat festival |
Taungthaman Lake, Amarapura. 5th
waning day of Tawthalin to the
new moon. |
October
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
OCT |
03 Oct 2010 |
Hsu-taung-pye Alms Offering
Ceremony |
Monywa. Over a thousand monks
are invited and receive alms
bowls. 10th waning day of
Tawthalin. |
|
OCT |
09-23 Oct 2010 |
Shwezigon Pagoda Festival |
Bagan. Candles and fireworks are
offered to the pagoda. Lacquare
ware, glazed pots and hand woven
cotton blankets are sold by
villagers living in the region
at this great country fair. The
festival runs from the 1st
waxing to the full moon day of
Thadingyut. |
|
OCT |
09-26 Oct 2010 |
Paung-daw-oo Pagoda festival (Inle-Lak) |
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. |
|
OCT |
13 Oct 2010 |
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 |
21-23 Oct 2010 |
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 |
22-24 Oct 2010 |
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 |
22-25 Oct 2010 |
Kyauktawgyi Pagoda Festival |
Mandalay. The Kyauktawgyi image
was cast from a single piece of
alabaster in 1864 under the
guidance of King Mindon. An
exciting festival focused on a
huge Buddha image carved from a
block of marble. It coincides
with an annual compettion among
teams of cane-ball (chinlon)
players.This sport of keeping a
rattan vall off the ground
without using the hands is not
about one side winning and the
other losing and is surely the
only sport in the world with
such a concept. The festival
lasts from the 14th waxing day
to the 2nd waning day of
Thadingyut. |
|
OCT |
22 Oct 2010 |
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 |
22-27 Oct 2010 |
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 |
22-23 Oct 2010 |
Elephant 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 |
22-26 Oct 2010 |
Kyaikkami Yae-le Pagoda Festival |
14th waxing day to 3rd waning
day of Thadingyut. |
|
OCT |
23 Oct 2010 |
Floating Alms Bowl festival |
(thabeik-ye-myaw-pwe),
Bohtataung Pagoda, Yangoon. Alms
bowls are floated in the early
morning of the full moon day of
Thadingyut. |
|
OCT |
23 Oct 2010 |
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 |
23 Oct 2010 |
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 |
24 Oct 2010 |
Floating Lights Festival |
Shwekyin, Bago. 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 |
18 Oct-06 Nov 2010 |
Myathalun Pagoda Festival |
Magwe (east bank of Irrawaddy
between Prome and Bagan). 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 |
24 Oct-06 Nov 2010 |
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 |
20 Nov 2010 |
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 |
21 Nov 2010 |
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 |
11-22 Nov 2010 |
Shwesandaw Pagoda Festival |
Prome. From the 5th waxing day
to the 1st waning day of
Tazaungmon. |
|
NOV |
20-22 Nov 2010 |
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 |
15-21 Nov 2010 |
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 9th
waxing day to the Full Moon Day
of Tazaungmon. |
|
NOV |
20-22 Nov 2010 |
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 |
21 Nov 2010 |
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 |
21 Nov 2010 |
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 |
21 Nov 2010 |
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 |
21 Nov 2010 |
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 |
21-29 Nov 2010 |
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 7th 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 |
14-21 Nov 2010 |
Shwezigon Pagoda festival |
Bagan. Candles and fireworks are
offered to the pagoda. The
festival runs from the 8th
waxing to the full moon day of
Tazaungmon. |
December
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
DEC |
07 Dec 2010 |
War-going ceremony
(siq-htweq-pwe) |
Taungbyone, Mandalay. This nat
festival on the 1st waxing day
of Nadaw originally commemorated
Anawrahta’s departure for Yunnan. |
|
DEC |
14-22 Dec 2010 |
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 |
19-22 Dec 2010 |
Yangon Bohtataung Pagoda
Festival |
Last two days waxing, full moon
day, and first waning day of
Nadaw. |
|
DEC |
21-26 Dec 2010 |
Prome Brothers nat festival (Popa
Guardian Spirits festival) |
Prome from the Full Moon day of
Nadaw to 5th waning day. The two
spirit figures on either side of
the Tharaba Gate at Bagan are
the brother and sister spirits
Lord of the Mountain and the
Lady Golden Face who protect
home or country. A festival
takes place at Mountain Popa in
their honour. |
|
DEC |
21-27 Dec 2010 |
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 |
31 Dec 2010 |
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) |
January 2011
| MONTH |
DATE |
FESTIVAL
NAME |
PLACE |
|
JAN |
12 Jan 2011 |
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. |
|
|
 |
|