Myanmar Festivals 2011

Festivals in January:

KACHIN MANAW FESTIVAL (Myitkyina & Bahmo)

10th January
Manaw festival is the most renowned as well as the most ancient in Kachin State. It is also the grandest among all the festivals concerned with tradition and culture for Kachin hill tribes, celebrated at least 4 days up to 8 days in regard to ethnic and communal ceremonies such as wedding, funeral, spirits (nats), and the ceremony of tasting the very first crops; a feast with Kachin traditional food and booze (Kaung Ye) made of rice is served to whoever participates the festival. Both locals and foreigners dance together much happily days and nights in wearing traditional Kachin costumes. The festival is joined by those who live in different villages and hill sites. It is perfect time to observe hill tribes and its ways of life and to enjoy the confluence (Myitsone) of Maikha and Malikha, the source of the Ayeyarwaddy River. From Kachin State, one can expend to Putao based town surrounded by snow peaked mountains.Kachins are from one of the main ethnic groups that live in Myanmar. Their home is in the high mountains of the North. The Kachins are most renown for the colourful dresses of their womenfolks, black velvet blouses hung with silver trinkets and red, thick sarong woven in native designs.
Every year in January the Kachins hold a Manaw (a traditional commemorative festival) to welcome in the Kachin New Year. All the Kachin sub-clans gather at the Manaw Grounds at Myitkyina and celebrate this festival. Normally, the Kachn Manaw Festival falls on January 10 every year but they celebrate once in 4th year or 10th year. They festival will be held one day ahead of State day. Please check with us whether celebrate or not. Myitkyina is easily accessible by flight from all over the country and there are adequate accommodations in town.

NAR-GA NEW YEAR’S FESTIVAL (Chin State)

12th – 16th January
Hkam-Ti or the surrounding villages of Hkam-Ti, Nar-ga festivals are held from Jan. 12 to 16. 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.On 12th , an opening ceremony is held in the morning and in the evening there is traditional dance with bonfires. Nagas celebrate their new year 15 of January each year. In this particular day you will see 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. On New Year day they have a competition of traditional sports, and gathering of sub tribes of Narga, once fierce warriors in their bright and exotic dresses, celebrate with rice wine roasted meat and tribal dances performed with loud beating of drums.

ANANDA PAGODA FESTIVAL (Bagan)

16th – 22nd January
Ananda Temple is the masterpiece, the finest and best art in architecture, much well preserved among all the temples in Bagan, its shape and pattern is significantly distinct, built by king Kyansittha (1084-1113 AD). The temple’s name means the endless wisdom of Buddha. Ananda Pagoda is one of the most famous pagodas in Bagan. Built by King Kyansittha of the Bagan Dynasty in late 11th century it is alsoRated as the most aesthetic and artistic structure in Bagan.The Ananda Pagoda Festival is held annually on the Fullmoon of Pyatho (January). This annual festival has been around for more than 2000 years and the most interesting aspect of this festival is the caravan of bullock-carts in the pagoda compound, camp under the shady trees. They also stay the whole 7 days duration of the event, camping under the spreading acacia trees around the pagoda. Bowls of alms filled with crops are offered to Buddhist monks who all wait in a long line. There are evening entertainments such as Zats: (a variety of dance, song, short and long plays),Anyeints: (a performance of a few hours in which number of jokers caricature current situations and or person strung together by a traditional dancer), popular movies shown in open air. It is also a popular sales fair where all kinds of goods, some of them are locally produced, are sold. This festival gives you a great exposure of the Pilgrimage traveling style and holiday outings on country oxcarts.

Bon Fire Ceremony (Pyay)

28th – 29th January
Plants which emit no smoke when lit, are burnt at four cardinal points on the platform of the pagoda in the early morning. Workshippers than proceed to Pho U mountaintop where the Lord Buddha is said to have visited and made preordination of events.

Festivals in February: (Pyartho/Dabodwei)

Shwe Settaw Pagoda Festival (Magwe Division)

8th – 19th February
The festival begins on 5th Waxing Moon day of Tabodwe in Shwe Settaw, Magwe Division, in central Myanmar. During 11 days festival, there are two pagodas which enshrine footprints of the Buddha, the site is on the banks of the Mann Creek, where bamboo cabins are erected every year for local revelers to enjoy cool swims during the heat of summer.

NYAN TAW PAGODA FESTIVAL (Shwe Myin Tin Pagoda)

Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin)
11th – 18th February

Similar to most of the pagoda festivals with most of the ingredients as in the Mahamuni Pagoda Festival. It is a famous pagoda festival in Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin). In addition, you can observe several Shan and other ethnic groups who come from the hills to sell their products.

MAHAMUNI PAGODA FESTIVAL (Mandalay)

17th – 18th February

The pagoda festival celebrates on full Moon day of the Myanmar month of Tabodwe in Mandalay. This festival usually lasts for 14 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 (18 Feb.). During these festival thousands of people from all over the country make the pilgrimage to the Mahamuni Pagoda. The coldest month in Myanmar and during the festival, devotees light bonfires and cook huge pans of sticky rice with ginger, coconut and sesame to offer to monks at the Maha Muni pagoda. In other parts of the country, sticky rice is cooked as a celebration of the harvest and distributed within communities.

GOLDEN HILLTOP FESTIVAL (Kyaik Khauk Pagoda)

Thanlyin (Syrium)
25th February - 2nd March

The atmosphere at the Festival of the Golden Hilltop of Kyaik Khauk Pagoda starts 8th Waxing Moon day of Tabodwe in Thanlyin near Yangon. The nearest pagoda festival of this size closest to Yangon, just 30 minutes away by car. Villagers nearby come to the festival by ox-carts. The duration is 10 days. A free traditional puppet show is always part of the festivities. A multitude of stalls are offering local foods, ceramic and clay pots of all sizes, furniture and bamboo mats. Most of the pagoda festival has evening entertainments such as Zats, Anyeints, some stage show and movies shown in the open air the whole night for everyday. Maintaining the heritage of donating drinking water to all by descendants of first donor family is amazing.

Full Moon Festival (All over the country )

29th February
Traditionally, it is held on the full moon day of this month as the harvest 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.

Rice Cooking Festival (Nation-wide)

This festival is to celebrate the harvest, communities and organizations cook giant pans of sticky rice with ginger, coconut, peanuts and lots of sesame, which is wrapped in banana leaves and given to neighbours and friends.
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.

Festivals in March:

MAHA MUNI PAGODA FESTIVAL (Kyauk Taw,Rakhine State)

5th – 19th March

ZEEDAW NAT FESTIVAL (Monywa)

5th – 11th March

Spirit festival is held at Zeedaw village across Chindwin river.

PINDAYA CAVE FESTIVAL (Pindaya , Southern Shan State)

14th – 21st March 2011

Well known for its extensive limestone caves over millions of years ago. Shwe Oo Min Cave Pagoda festival (Taung Yoe Pagoda Festival) is as well celebrated on full moon day of Tabaung, starts a week before full moon day. During the festival, thousands of devotees from villages around the area come to pay homage to the images of Buddha in the cave. There are some 6000 Buddha images and interesting stalagmites.You will find hundreds of small stalls selling delicious local foods, Shan handicrafts, all kinds of cheroots (Myanmar cigars), Shan umbrellas. Tribes from all over Shan State join this festivity in their colourful costumes.

SHWE MYINT SU PAGODA FESTIVAL (Inn Daw Gyi ,Hopin ,near Myitkyina)

14th – 21st March
Ceremony sponsored by Kachin Buddhist. It is 100 miles far from Myitkyina and drive up to Indawgyi approx. Five hours. This festival is held yearly for ten days. One intriguing fact is that two sandbanks are washed up by the waves before the festival begins so that people can walk from the bank to the pagoda. Usually the pagoda is surrounded by a large volume of water. So people believe that one is for human use and the other is a passage for the gods. These two sandbanks disappear into the lake shortly after the festival.

TAUNG KWE ZAYDI FESTIVAL (Loi Kaw , Kayar State)

14th – 21st March

Thousand Buddhist monks are offered food on the full moon day. Long necked green, red dressed Kayan and black dressed Kayah among other minorities are seen.

KAKKU PAGODA FESTIVAL (Taunggyi, Southern Shan State)

14th – 21st March
Annually, Kakku Pagoda festival is also held on full moon day of Tabaung(March) which is the last month of the Myanmar lunar calendar. 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. The devotees come from Pa-O villages to the pagoda for paying respect and enjoy the days under the very huge banyan trees surrounding the pagodas. There are over 2000 ancient pagodas in Kakku pagoda compound. The native (Pa O) people dressed up their traditional balck out fits and getting to know each other while others come by their bullock carts to the festival. 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. Traditional Pa O Theatrical performances and singing contests are included.There is the festival market also.

SHWEDAGON PAGODA FESTIVAL (Yangon)

14th – 27th March

It is one of the wonders of the world of to-day, was believed to have built over 2005 years ago where the Buddha’s relics were enshrined. The festival is usually held on the full moon day of Tabaung which is being in March. The traditional snacks and local products are displayed and sold in many stalls along the side ways to Shwedagone pagoda. It is worth moment for visitors to see how bustling Myanmar people enjoy their holiday and how they participate in religious activities of festivals. The sight of numerous monks who come in boats to receive food offerings is striking view.

BAWGYO IMAGE FESTIVAL ( Near Tibaw,Shan State)

16th – 19th March

Once a year, only during the festival days, the locked up four Buddha images are brought out for display, worship and gilding with gold leaf. We can see tea-growing Palaung tribes from the hills and jewelers from Kyauk Me who try and sell their products there. Many kinds of gambling are allowed during the festival days only. A large volume of Shan and Bamar merchandise is traded. There are boat races on Dottawadi river.

FULL MOON DAY OF TABAUNG (All over the Country)

18th – 19 th March

This is the last month of Myanmar lunar calendar. The most colorful month of the year with Pagoda Festivals in full swing everywhere. The Shwedagon Pagoda Festival is held on the day of the full moon of Tabaung and is the month's finest event. During this festival, visitors can get to know the true religious feelings of the people of Myanmar by participating in events at pagoda fairs or by observing the rituals of the holiday.

NAY WIN TAUNG PAGODA FESTIVAL (Pyin Oo Lwin)

19th March
Nyan Taw Pagoda Festival is same as the traditional Shan festival. It takes place in the northern part of Pyin Oo Lwin which called other name is Maymyo , about one hour drive from the downtown area.

SHWE SARYAN PAGODA FESTIVAL (Shwe Saryan Village, Patheingyi , Mandalay)

19th – 27th March

Merchandise from northern Shan State and other part of the country are exchanged at Pagoda bazar. 45 minutes drive form Mandalay on the way to Maymyo (near Hton Bo ), You can also take a small boat on the Dou-hta-waddy River and visit the pagodas nearby, Myanmar traditional toys, boxes, baskets, mats made of dried toddy palm leaves are the best selling village products in this festival.

MAW TIN ZON PAGODA FESTIVAL (Pathein)

20th March – 30th March
In the southwest coast of Myanmar, Maw Tin Zon pagoda festival celebrates for 10 days on 1st Waxing Moon day of Tabaung. This is the only seaside pagoda festival of importance. It is accessible from Yangon by a pleasant boat ride to Pathein, an interesting delta town famous for its pretty parasols.

MAUNG DONG NAT FESTIVAL (Monywa)

24th March – 03rd Apr
On the Shwe Bo Road, twelve kilometers north of Monywa, the town of Ah-Lone celebrates its festival in March.This festival is known to be the most important gathering of witches imaginable. The heroine of this festival is related to the love story of Ma Ngwe Daung ( Ms. Silver Wings ) who was a daughter of the Ah-Lone Bodaw, a minor Indian prince who came through Tamu and Kaleitmyo to Myanmar. According to the legend, Ye Kin Kadaw, the Queen of the Witches, the favourite wife of King Taung U, had extraordinary powers. The king sent her into exile, as his other wifes did not like her super natural power. She went to Maung Dong, where she got drowned. Her oldest statue, only 30 centimeters high, can thus be found in Maung Dong. During the festival the pilgrims appeal to Ma Ngwe Daung to give them the opportunity to have as many mistresses as hairs on their head. The festival appeals also to pilgrims wishing to control or to spirit away illness with the lustral waters on offer there.

KO KYI KYAW SPIRIT FESTIVAL (Sagaing Division)

Ko Gyi Kyaw is a happy spirit who loves to drink and gamble and see his worshippers sing, dance and be merry. He is the patron of gamblers. This annual festival in his honour is celebrated in his home town, Pakhan, Yayza Gyo Township on 1st Waxing Moon day of Tabaung.

Festivals in April:

SHWE MAW DAW PAGODA FESTIVAL (Bago)

11st – 18th April
This festival begins the day after New Year’s Day in go. It lasts for seven days. Same with the other pagoda festival. There are evening entertainment such as Zats, Anyeints, stage show and also a popular sales fair where all kinds of goods, most of them are clothes, toys & kitchen supplies.

SHITHOUNG PAGODA FESTIVAL (Mrauk U, Rakhine State)

11th to 18th April
This pagoda festival will be held on 3rd (Full moon day) as same as the others pagoda festival but they have one exiting thing is they have traditional boxing show. 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.

MYANMAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL (OR) THINGYAN WATER FESTIVAL (All over the country)

13th – 17th April
Celebrated to welcome Myanmar New Year for four days throughout the country during the second week of April. It features water throwing by the way of relieving of the intense heat of the season and washing away the sins of the passing year. And also marks the end of the old year and beginning of the new. Youths go out for the enjoyment, while elder people take retreat in monasteries and pagodas to perform meritorious deeds. People drive through the city in open cars and there are stages along the street where people throw water. 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. During this time, everything is closed: restaurants, shops, markets, Museum, etc. As a whole, during Thingyan period everything becomes dear. The event is quite obvious and the feeling can’t be described in words. On 17th April (Myanmar New Year Day)
all over the country of 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.

BO MIN KHAUNG MEMORIAL (Mt.Popa, Bagan)

15th – 19th April

Bo Min Khaung is remembered for his higher attainment in mediation practices. Nat dances on Mt. Popa. Very crowded and difficult to get up the mountain.

FULLMOON DAY OF TAGU (All over the country)

17th – 18th April

This is the first month of Myanmar lunar calendar. The most colorful month of the year with Pagoda Festivals in full swing everywhere.

Festivals in May:

KASON FESTIVAL (or) RITUAL OF POURING WATER ON THE BODHI TREE (BO TREE)(All Over the Country)

16th – 17th May

All the pagodas throughout the country celebrate on Full Moon Day of Kason for 10 days. This ritual commemorates the date 2500 years ago when the Buddha gained enlightenment while meditation under a Bodhi tree. Pilgrims pour water on the Bodhi trees in pagoda compounds to keep them fresh in the summer heat of May. It is an important Buddhist holiday and belles go in procession to the pagoda grounds throughout the country with post of water and thousands of oil-lamps or candles to be lit.

TAUNG YOE FESTIVAL (Pindaya Cave,Shan State)

16th – 17th May

Taung Yoe tribe make Torchlight procession in the early part of the night to pay homage to the numerous statues in the cave.

PA-OH ROCKET FESTIVAL (Taunggyi)

16th – 17th May
Locally made rockets stuffed with powerful gunpowder are ceremoniously carried and launched in competition. Observed mostly by ethnic Pa-Oh to predict the weather and crop. Young men and women use small mirrors to tease one another.

SAND STUPA FESTIVAL (Pa-Le Ngwe Yaung,Mandalay)

16th – 17th May

SAND STUPA FESTIVAL (Min Thar Su Quarter & Yahai Quarter,Mandalay)

17th May
In three different Mandalay quarters stupas are built with sand within 01 night. Sand stupas are built up with five segments gradually converging to the top. Each layer of white sand is supported by bamboo-mats and -posts. The celebration dates are not the same and depend on the different quarters where the festival is held.

SHWE KYET YET EVENT (Amarapura,Mandalay)

16th – 17th May

Crowded with people pouring water to the sacred Bo tree.

WAT ZOM KUM RICE OFFERING CEREMONY (Kyaing Tong)

21st – 22nd May

Danu Ceremony Pindaya : Single Danu youth throw roasted lablab beans at one another in a show of love.

Festivals in June:

PAKOKKU THIHO SHIN PAGODA FESTIVAL (PAKOKKU)

11th – 16th June
The onset of monsoon season makes June relatively quiet in Myanmar.Pakokku is an old traditional town on the western bank of the Nyeyarwady River. This pagoda festival is the most important for all towns west of the Ayeyarwady and produce from the region.There is festival market and also evening entertainments such as Zats, Anyeints and Movies.

BUDDHIST RECITATION (Kaba Aye Hillock,Yangon)

15th – 16th June

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)

15th – 16th June

For the energetic, it is time to climb the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the hill. Proceed to Salay (52 km, approx 1 and 1/2 hour) along the Ayeyarwaddy rivebank.

Festivals in July:

CANE BALL CEREMONY (Mahamuni Pagoda,Mandalay)

1st – 30th July
Chin Lone (Cane Ball) tournament held in Mandalay. It is used to held in Mahamuni Pagoda compound almost a month for every day and night. Traditional Cane ball players from all over the country participate in the month long contest that tradition has going on over 70 years. We can enjoy seeing several ways of playing Chin Lone and racing by either team or individual together with local / folk music played while entertaining the audience.

WASO FULL MOON FESTIVAL(all over the country)

14th – 15th July
The Waso festival is annually held on the full moon of Waso throughout the country. The festival commemorates the time when the Buddha gave his first sermon, to five monks. Pilgrims throughout the country gather wild flowers to offer at pagodas, and offer new robes to monks. The Buddhist Lent period is from the full moon of Waso until the full moon of Thadingyut. Monks are confined to the monastery by Buddhist code of conduct during the 3-month long Buddhist lent.

SHWE KYUN PIN NAT PWE (Mingun,Mandalay)

18th – 20th July

During the Myanmar month of Tabaung. According to the legend, the youngest brother of King Mindon fomented a rebellion and succeeded in ousting the Sawbawa of Hsipaw. Several of his six children got killed in this confrontation and Mindon’s brother did not rest until he eliminated all potential successors of Sabawa of Hsipaw. One day his two surviving children were struck by a teak trunk and drowned in the Shweli River at Thit Maik Myun while attending a boat race. Their mother died from heartbreak about this loss. The Pagoda of Despair (Lwan Hpaya) was built at this place. Since then, the children were declared to be nats and thus became the keepers of the river. After harvest time, hundreds of farmers, wearing colourful dresses, arrive with their beautifully decorated bullock carts at the Mya Thein Dan Pagoda. They build a big tent as temporary housing for the nat images. During these days the mediums perform Nat Dances in order to be granted a good harvest for the next season and to the delight of hundreds of spectators.

Festivals in August:

TAUNG PYONE NATS FESTIVAL (Spirits Festival) (Taung Pyone Village,near Mandalay)

Tauhgpyone festival is the most attractive and important in a village near Mandalay. Annual festival is held in September or August according to the Myanmar lunar calendar. According to the legend, Byat Wi and Byat Ta, two Indian brothers, got extraordinary powers after they ate the body of a dead alchemist. Byat Wi, the older brother, lost his supernatural power, after he walked under a clothesline on which women's skirts used in childbed had been hung. He was captured and died after his loved ones offered him a quid of betel and a cup of water. Byat Ta was killed by King Anawrahta's magical lance, after he was again late to bring the fresh flowers from Mt. Popa for the Royal Audience, and thereupon his wife Popa Medaw also died from broken heart. 15 years later, the two sons of Byat Ta and Popa Medaw, which were adopted by King Anawratha, forgot to bring one brick each to build the "Pagoda of Wishes”. King Anaw-ratha soon found out, who was responsible for this omission and gave the order to gently hit them with a fillet stick. As they were in the trap which the king's son, Kyansittha, planned from beginning on, they were instead hardly hit with a bamboo stick and died. Hundreds of mediums (Nat-Kadaw) and thousands of pilgrims come once a year to Taung Byone, where the statues of the two brothers are placed in a shrine and there stands still the "Pagoda of Wishes" with the two missing stones. The believers honour the two Taung Pyone brothers, Min Gyi and Min Galay. In Buddhist lore, spirits or nats exit in many forms such as celestials or guardians of the faith, cities or villages or even for each individual.

KYAUNGDAWYAR PAGODA FESTIVAL (Min Bu, Magway)

18th August – 17th November
A famous religious festival also known as "Fish Feeding Festival". People believe that thousands of big fishes, you can see only in this period, come to pay homage to the pagoda.

YADANA GU SPIRIT FESTIVAL (Amarapura, Mandalay Division)

22nd – 28th August
The festival is held on 10th Waning Moon day of Wagaung in Amarapura, near Mandalay. 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. Mewanna (mother of the two Lords) who came back from Taungbyone Festival, on her way back to Mt. Popa, she halted at the Yadanagu as her transit-camp.During Five days festival, the festival honours the mother of the two spirit Taung Pyone brothers. She is the Goddess of Popa and her main shrine is on Popa Crest, near Bagan. She is a powerful spirit and protector of women.

Festivals in September:

SHWEZIGON PAGODA FESTIVAL (Bagan)

Its ceremony is on the full moon day, November 4, there is a ritual of offering a filled alms bowl to a thousand and more monks and novices. Lacquer ware, glazed pots and hand woven cotton blankets are sold by villagers living in the region at this great country fair.

MAHA MANUHA PAGODA FESTIVAL (Bagan)

12th September
Maha Manuha Pagoda festival is celebrated on one day before the full moon day of Tawthalin and the full moon day at Myinkaba Village, Bagan. During two days festival, pretty village girls dressed in their best parade with trays of fruit and cakes to offer at the pagoda. During the afternoon, young men parade larger-than-life papier mache figures they have made of heroes, celestials 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.

BOE BOE GYI NAT FESTIVAL (Taungthaman Inn,Mandalay)

15th – 27th September

Boe Boe 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 without fail.

PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA FESTIVAL (Inle Lake,Shan State)

28th September – 15th October
The festival is held annually between on September and October. The duration of the festival is at least 15 days, nation-wide celebrated in Inle Lake, one of the most famous festivals in Myanmar. During the festival, devotees cover the five images of Buddha countless thousands of times with gold leafs; transforming them into round golden spheres, curried by the mythical bird boat and touring around from village to village on the Lake, is the most important and joyous event in Shan State. Watch the procession of leg-rowed boats, which are ceremoniously tugging four Buddha statues situated on a royal barge clockwise around Inle Lake. Throughout the event leg-rowed boat races are being held and you will come across them during the excursion on the lake. Hundreds of other vessels travel in the entourage in a general festive atmosphere. Thousands of people from around the Shan State attend this most holy of all Shan celebrations. The five day market takes place every five days, wondering around the floating gardens, floating islands and villages are not to be missed and provides opportunities to see members of national races, such as Danu, Pa O and Palaung and Inn, coming to trade silversmiths ateliers and silk or lotus weaving cottage industries are among the most fascinating attractions in the area. The rainbow colour fabric woven by lotus stems are not found anywhere else on the earth. This festival is one the most recommended by foreign visitors.

Festivals in October:

MYA THA LUN PAGODA FESTIVAL (Magway)

8th – 12th October

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.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHT AND FIRE BALL (KYAING TONG)

11th – 12th October
THE THADINGYUT FESTIVAL OF LIGHT(Throughout Myanmar)
11th – 13th October
The Light festival is held one day before the full moon day of Thandingyut , the full moon day and one day after throughout the country. It lasts for three days. It is also one of the most prominent festivals of the year. This festival commemorates the time when the Buddha returned to earth after preaching in the abode of celestials during the three months of Lent. He descended at night and devotees greeted Him with lamps and lanterns. People decorate their houses with candles and coloured lanterns to symbolize this event. The festival of Light marks the end of Lent. 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.

ELEPHANT DANCE FESTIVAL (Kyauk Se, Mandalay)

11th - 12th October

The elephant dance festival is held on full moon day of Thadingyut in Kyauk Se, a town (50 Km) away from the south of up-country old capital of Mandalay. With chronicle, Kyauk Se remains a conservative Myanmar town and religious traditions and cultures are still very much a part of the daily life. The life-size of an elephant made of bamboo frame and cloth paper and as much gilt foil and glitter they could put into the construction. The 2 men take their places inside of the hollow elephant and moving like lively elephants, followed by some traditional musicians(Dobat and Drums). The elephant dancers circle three times at the foot of the hill to pay homage to the Shwethalyaung Pagoda. Numerous life-size paper dummy elephants sing and dance to the accompaniment of music. To the annual festival, over 150000 visitors from different regions come to participate for its performance of historical elephant dances.

KYAUT TAW KYI PAGODA FESTIVAL (Mandalay)

11th – 14th October
Kyauk Taw Kyi Pagoda festival begins one day before the full moon day of Thadingyut and celebrates for 4 days in Mandalay. It’s situated at the foot of Mandalay hill, within a short walking distance from Mandalay Hill Resort. An exciting festival focused on a huge Buddha image carved from a block of marble. The image was cast out of a single piece of alabaster in 1864 under the guidance of king Mindon. It coincides with an annual competition among teams of cane-ball (Chinlon) players. This sport of keeping a rattan ball 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. It is considered popular sales fair where all kinds of goods (some of them locally produced) are sold. Next to that is the usual organization of events similar to other Pagoda Festivals.

INDEIN PAGODA FESTIVAL (Inle Lake)

17th – 20th October
Buddhist ceremony held at unique site of old shrine complex in Inle Lake.

POEWINTAUNG CEREMONY (Monywar)

31st October – 05th November

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.

Festivals in November:

KAHTEIN RITUAL OFFERINGS

This is more likely a kind of charities and donations throughout the country. Sets of new robes and other offerings such as slippers, umbrellas, alms bowls, food, towels, soap and other necessities are presented to monks. Cash offerings for monasteries are also collected and displayed on wooden frames built in the shape of a tree. New cash notes are folded into bird and flower shapes.

SHWEZIGON FESTIVAL (Bagan)

04th -10th November

Shwezigon Festival will be held starting from 04 November to 10 November. Candlelight's and fireworks are carried in procession before offering to the pagoda.There are evening entertainments such as Zats: (a variety of dances, songs, short and long plays), Anyeints (a performance of a few hours in which a number of "jokers" caricature current situations and or person strung together by a traditional dancer), popular movies shown in open air. On full moon day (10 Nov.), there is a communal offering of food and various domestic articles to the monks from the nearby monasteries (ca. 600) lined up as in usual offerings.

TASAUNGMONE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL (Taunggyi,Shan State)

05th – 10th November
As usual, the festival is held on full moon day of Tasaungmone. It takes at least for 5 days and widely famous for its hot air balloons with fireworks and fire crackers, competing day and night during the festival. 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. The fireworks are in the form of rockets. There is always hot balloons competition day and night. 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. Visitors can see competition, how beautiful and smart hot air balloons, fireworks and fire crackers that how high they release into the sky. The competition is celebrated in crowed people while others play happily traditional musical instruments and dance around. People from all parts of the country love to come and enjoy this festival as the festival is one of the most popular festivals in Myanmar.

ALL NIGHT ROBE WEAVING CONTESTS

09th -10th November
The contests begin on third of November, in the evening before the full moon day at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, and other pagodas throughout the country. This is a competition for the weaving skills between teams of women to complete special saffron-coloured robes, called “Ma Tho Thin Gan” from the evening onwards at dawn. It is still done in the traditional way and lots of people enjoy watching the demonstrations. At dawn, the robes are offered to the great image of Lord Buddha and followed by the prize giving ceremony for the winners. It is a major event at the shwedagon Pagoda. This ritual was once practiced both in the palace during the time of monarchy and in villages.

TAZAUNGDAING LIGHT FESTIVAL (Throughout Myanmar)

09th – 10th November

Tazaungdaing Festival, means the offering new robes to monks which celebrated on the eve of full moon day in Oct/Nov every year. Before dawn a competition on weaving the fresh robe is held at every Pagoda and several team participate in the merrymaking competitions which the fresh robe then offered to the Buddha Image early in the full moon day morning. A month earlier, every household buys some soap, washcloths and robes for the monks. Brand New note of money is folded in the shape of peacocks, pigeons or the lotus flower. The gifts are decoratively hung on "pendals" made of wood or bamboo. On this day people carry the pendals on their shoulders (or on cars nowadays). They proceed through town and gather in the city monastery. Homes and offices are colorfully lit and fireworks and hot air balloons at night. On this particular full moon day number total 9,999 candles are ceremoniously lit at mid night. Visitors are served with mixed salad of maezali buds, believed to possess powerful, magical and medicinal properties if eaten at this time. On the morning of the full moon "soons" (meal) and offering are offered to the monks.

PHO WIN TAUNG FESTIVAL (Monywa)

09th -10th November

Like other pagoda festival with the usual entertainment provided. Myanmar thanaka, sandalwood and woven textiles (cotton blankets and longyis mainly) can be bought at the various stalls around the pagoda area.

SHIN MAR LE PAGODA FESTIVAL (Thazi)

09th -10th November

Celebrated at the time of the Ta-zaung-Dine Festival. People throe with lotus flowers to the top of the stupa, located at the North entrance of the Mahamuni Pagoda, as homage to the Lord Buddha.

KAUNG-HMU-DAW PAGODA FESTIVAL (Sagaing)

09th - 10th November

The most interesting aspect of this festival is the caravan of bullock-carts in the pagoda compound. Some of the carts carry their village products, such as hand-woven cotton cloths and cane mats, to sell them there. They like to camp under the shade of the trees.

KYAIKHTIYO PAGODA FESTIVAL (Golden Rock)

09th – 10th November

The boulder, standing on the edge of a peak in the highest mountain range, is said to be freely hanging over the cliff. The place is famous as a pilgrimage and holiday outing spot. On 9th is particular full moon day number total 9999 candles are ceremoniously lit at mid night.Another festival of light held on the full moon day throughout the country. Home and streets are illuminated and Buddhists are provided robe and various requisites at Kathein (ceremony of offering robes to monks). On this particular full moon day number total 9999 candles are ceremoniously lit at mid night. Visitors are served with mixed salad of maezali buds, believed to possess powerful, magical and medicinal properties if eaten at this time.

THANBOTTAY PAGODA FESTIVAL (Monywa)

10th – 18th November
Like other pagoda festival with the usual entertainment provided. Myanmar thanaka, sandalwood and woven textiles (cotton blankets and longyis mainly) can be bought at the various stalls around the pagoda area.
KAKKU PAGODA FESTIVAL (Lanterns and Lights) (Taunggyi, Shan State)

09th – 11th November

Celebrate by Pa O tribal Buddhist at the unique pagodas complex.

MT.POPA NAT SPIRIT FESTIVAL (Mt.Popa)

09th – 10th November

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.

ANN TRIBE FERTILITY FESTIVAL (Kyaing Tong)

09th – 10th November

TAUNGTO PAGODA FESTIVAL (Inle Lake)

14th – 18th November

A Buddhist festival celebrates and old Buddha statute site.

SHAN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION (Kyaing Tong)

24th November

Many different Shan tribes are celebrate with offering to the Buddha and traditional dance and feast.

NEW RICE HARVEST FESTIVAL (Kyaing Tong)

24th – 26th November

On this particular period Ann hill tribe celebrate fertility festival. Very interesting with traditional group dancing and drinking etc.

Festivals in December:

SHWE MYAT MHAN PAGODA FESTIVAL (Shwe Taung ,near Pyay)

03rd -10th December

This pagoda festival is as same as the others pagoda festival. But one interesting thing is during the British time; Mrs. Hurtno wife of the commissioner was relieved from her eye disease after she offered a pair of glasses to the Buddha. Local people who lives around this area they believe that whoever have a problem with eyes they make novena to this pagoda.

MT.POPA NAT SPIRIT FESTIVAL (Mt.Popa)

10th December

This Spirits festival begins full moon day of Nadaw. During six days festival, 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 Mount Popa, near Bagan in their honour. 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.

KYAIKHTIYO “GOLDEN ROCK” PAGODA FESTIVAL

31st December
Golden Rock pagoda festival is one of the most famous festivals, and nation-wide both for local and foreign visitors. It is held on the evening of December 31 in Kyaik-hti-yo ‘Golden Rock’, Mon State. On the platform of the Kyaik-hti-yo ‘Golden Rock’, pagoda devotees light nine thousand lamps to welcome the New Year and to give thanks to Buddha’s peaceful philosophy. The magical Golden Rock Pagoda, a golden spire, sits on top a huge boulder covered with gold leaf and perched on the edge of a cliff.

KACHIN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION (Kyaing Tong)

25th – 31st December

AKHA NEW YEAR CELEBRATION (Kyaing Tong)

28th December – 03rd January