Festivals

August (Waso/ Wakhaung)

Taung Pyone Festival (Nat Pwe)
Location : Mattaya Township in Mandalay Devision

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 in Mandalay and Mount Popa during the month of August.
The Nats are believed to be super natural powerful beings, stated between the gods and the spiritual beings.
The Myanmar's 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.

This festival includes the following matters.
1. Preparation for the Ritual
2. The Offerings
3. The Orchestra
4. The Possession

The Nat Pwe is usually held for three days. The first day is for the Summoning the Nats. The second day is the Nats' feast. The third is the day for the Nats' departure.

Devotees from all over Myanmar, comes to this special festival and offer their donations and enjoy themselves with the blessings of the spirits, every year. They pray for prosperity, fame, and luck for the next coming year.
So, if you can have a visit to Myanmar, to learn about new cultures and to have extraordinary experience, we recommend that you should visit this special festival of Mount Popa.

September (Wakhaung/Tawthalin)

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival
Location : Inle Lake in Shan State

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 four Buddha images are rowed around the Lake in a colourful barge.
 
Situated in Inle Lake, one of the most dazzling and magical places in Asia. It is held on a grand scale for 18 days, usually falls in October (someyear in September). Four Buddha Images out of five from Phaung-daw-oo Pagoda are carried on royal barge and conveyed around 14 villages on the Lake. The barge is towed by the boats of leg -rowers and hundreds of boats follow the procession. The large crowds of people gather on the lake-shores to celebrate the occasion. It is really a splendid sight.
 
Among the dance shows and fun-fairs, the most interesting event of the festival, especially for foreigners, is their boat race - due to their unique leg rowing. It is the one and only place in the world that one can see such marvelous act.

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.
 
Inle Boat Competition there are also Shan traditional boat races participated by leg-rowers. People from all the villages nearby come to pay homage to the Images.
 

Manuha Pagoda Festival
Location : Manuha Pagoda In Bagan

Manuha Pagoda Festival is held annually one day before the Full Moon Day of Tawtalin. Depending on the Lunar Calendar, the festival is held in end of September or start of October. Manuha Pagoda Festival is celebrated for three consecutive days.
 
During the festival, rice cakes and pickled winter melon are served to all comers from near and far. The Myinkaba region dwellers donate these to all visitors. This is apart of the traditional practice of this festival. This tradition is also believed to have been descended from the time of the King Manuha.

Monks from many monasteries around the region are invited to the Manuha Pagoda and offered rice on the morning of the Full Moon Day of Tawtalin.

The parade of colourful paper Mache figures roam around the city during the festival. The locals create colourful and beautiful decorations of images such as the Manuha King himself, tigers, cows, elephants, horses, and even some stars of today. The number of representation varies up to hundred. The parade goes on until the end of the day.
 
Locals and foreign visitors enjoy the sight of the colourful paper Mache figures and also the lifestyle of the Bagan locals. There are other entertainments such as Zat Pwe and Anyeint at the night time. Villagers near and far never miss this opportunity of participate the Manuha Festival.
 

October (Tawthalin/Tadingyut)

Festival of Lights (Thadingyut)
Location : Countrywide

Thadingyut is a seven-month of Burmese calendar and the end of lent. Three days of lights festival, namely the day before full moon, the full moon day and the days after. Illuminations are there to celebrate the anniversary of Buddha's return from the celestial abode where He had spent the lent teaching the celestials about His Law. Among the Nat was the one who was the mother of Buddha, reborn there. It was on the full moon day of Thadingyut month that Buddha descended to the abode of humans. He and His disciples were attended by a heavenly host of celestials who created a pathway of star ladder. Buddhist on earth illuminated the homes and streets to welcome Buddha and His disciples. The Full Moon Day of Thadingyut is the Lighting Festival of Myanmar. The festival is held at the end of the lent on the festival day it as a custom. It celebrates the descent of Buddha from heaven after he preached the Abidhama (the most difficult of Buddhist teaching) to his mother reborn in heaven. Younger people pay homage to elders during this season. They ask for forgiveness if they have committed any and in return, the elders give them back love and forgiveness.

Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival
Location : Kyaukse Township in Mandalay Devision

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.. 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)
Location : Kyaikhto Township in Mon State

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 Buddha. 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.

November (Tadingyut/Tazaunmone)

Matho Thingan (Yellow Robe Weaving)
Location : Countrywide

Festival (Countrywide) 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.

Kahtein Thingan Offering Festival
Location : Countrywide

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 Tazaungmon.

Kahtein Festival is held annually, after the duration between the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut and the Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone. The Kahtein robe offering and donation of Kahtein tree or the Padaytharpin are also another famous act in Myanmar.
 

Hot Air Balloon Festival
Location: Taunggyi in Shan State

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 knows as hot balloon festival celebrates.

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.

December (Tazaunmone/Nadaw)

Kayin New Year Festival
Location : Kayin State

Kayin New Year day is a National Public Holiday in Myanmar. Traditional Kayin costume was worn by most of the celebrants at the events. Many young and old Kayins wear their traditional colorful dresses and go around the city, visit relatives and enjoy the festival. In Hpa An, the capital city of Kayin State, dance competitions are held every year.

Christma Celebration
Location :  Among Christian community in Yangon and other cities in Myanmar.
Christianity is the second largest religion in Myanmar after Buddhism. A few days before Christmas day, most Christian people prepare and decorate their house for Christmas celebration.