Festivals

Myanmar’s lunar calendar is filled with festivals, most of which occur on full moons and are often specific to one particular village or temple. Pagoda festivals are similar to fairs with entertainment, handicraft sellers and food stalls. Nat-pwes (spirit festivals) are dedicated to an assortment of different spirits. The most popular festivals are:

Kachin Manao Festival (January) in Myitkyina, Kachin State

Htamane Festival (January) Nationwide

Ananda Pagoda Festival (January) Bagan

Shwesettaw Pagoda Festival (January) Minbu, Magway

Maw-tn-sun Pagoda Festival (February) Pathein, Ayeyarwady Division

Indawgyi Pagoda Festival (February) Kachin State

Pindaya Cave Pagoda Festival (February) Shan State

Shwedagon Pagoda Festival (March) Yangon

Shwemawdaw Pagoda Festival (March) Bago

Shinpyu Novitiation Ceremonies (March) Nationwide

Thingyan Water Festival (April) This nationwide festival is celebrated for several days in mid-April to usher in the Myanmar New Year. Best known for its water throwing, the holiday is also a time to make merit, and older people go to temples for prayer and alms giving.

Papa Nat or Spirits Festival (April) Mount Popa

Kayson Full Moon Festival (May) This nationwide festival falls on the full moon of Kayson and is significant for three reasons: the day Buddha was born, the day he attained enlightenment and the day of his passing. People of all ages go to pagodas to pour water on sacred Bo trees under which Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.

Taung-yo Torchlight Procession (May) Nationwide

Nayone Festival of Tipitaka (June) Nationwide

Waso Festival or Dhammasetkya Day (July) The moon day of Waso is celebrated nationwide to commemorate Buddha’s first sermon and also marks the beginning of Buddhist Lent, when new robes are ceremoniously offered to monks.

Taungpyone Nats or Spirit Festval (August) Taungpyone, Mandalay

Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda Festival (September/October) Held at Inle Lake, this is the Shan State’s largest celebration when Buddha images are taken from Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, placed on a decorated barge and ferried around the lake. Fairs and boat races are held during the festival.

Thadingyut Festival of Lights (October) This festival takes place on October’s full moon marking the end of Buddhist Lent and lasts for three days during which houses, streets and whole towns are decorated and pagodas are illuminated and crowded with people offering alms and making merit.

Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival (October) Located some 40 kilometres south of Mandalay, Kyaukse is best known for its elephant dance in which two full-size paper elephants, one black and one white, are paraded through town.

Shwezigon Festival (October) Bagan

Tazaungdine Festival of Lights (November) This festival is held on the full moon day of Tazaungdine during which houses and public buildings are decorated and brightly lit. Robes and other requisites are offered to the Holy Order. A special offering of Mathothigan – a robe woven in a single day – is made on the eve of the full moon. Dedicated teams of weavers compete to make the robes, which are then offered to images of Buddha.

Lighting 9,000 Candles (December) Koe Htat Gyi Pagoda, Yangon