Authorized MyanmarTour Operator & Travel Agent-Tour Mandalay Co.,Ltd

FESTIVAL IN MYANMAR

December/ January

Ananda Temple Festival (Bagan - Ananda Temple)
Festival begins several weeks before the Pyartho Full Moon Day. There are evening entertainments such as Zats: a variety of dance, song, short and long plays, sale of local and traditional products. The most interesting site of this includes the caravan of bullock-carts in the Pagoda compound.

New Year for the Wa, Lishu & Lahu (Kyaingtong)
Celebrate at the same day of Chinese New year day. Hill Tribes near Kyaingtong.

January

Kachin National Day & Manaw Festival (Myitkyina)
Celebrate a sacrificing-cum dancing best known as Manaw to propitiate or exercise numerous. Nat (spirits) the spectacular carnival held in every January is the festival to celebrate a victory or achievement where the young and old, the great and simple gather in true community spirit.

Naga New Year Festival (Saigaing Division)
Village location changes from year to year - An opening ceremony is held in the morning and in the evening there is traditional dance with bonfires. On New Year day they have a competition of traditional sports, and gathering of sub tribes of Naga. In this particular day you will see the most unique Nagas gathering from the entire region with festive mode.

January-February

Kyaik - Khauk Festival Thanlyin (Syriam)
Maintaining the heritage of donating drinking water to all by descendants of the first donor family is amazing.

Lahu New Year Celebration (Kyaingtong-Lahu Hill Tribes)
1day after Dark Moonof Tabodwe

February

Htarmane - Rice Giving (Throughout Myanmar)
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.

Mahamuni Pagoda Festival (Mandalay)
Monks chant Buddhist scriptures nonstop; the evening entertainments such as zats and anyeints, a performance of dances, songs and plays. And stalls selling a variety of Myanmar snacks and a communal offering of dry rational food and essentials are given to the monks in the nearby monasteries.

Full Moon Tabodwe (Throughout Myanmar)
"Traditionally, it is held on the full moon day of this month as the harvest festival when people rejoice in the combined communities preparation and distribution of glutinous rice delicacy or feast of Htamane.”

February – March

Zeedaw Nat Festival (Zeedaw Viilage near Monywa)
Across the Chindwin river

Bawgyo Pagoda Festival (Between Kyaukme & Hsipaw)
Begins 10th waxing day - arrive before FM day - 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. A large volume of Shan and Bamar merchandise is traded. There are boat races on Dottawadi River.

Kak Ku Pagoda Festival (Kak Ku)
Traditional Pa O Theatrical performances and singing contests are included.

Shwe Myitzu Pagoda Festival (Indawgyi Lake)
100 miles far from Myitkyina. Approx. Five hours drive up to Indawgyi. 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.

Pindaya Cave Festival (Pindaya)
Typical Taung Yoe pagoda festival. Different ethnic minorities can be seen.

March

Man Su Pagoda Festival (Lashio)
Before FM. -early morning monk procession

Shwedagon Pagoda Festival (Yangon)
Continues after FM day. It is held on the full moon day of Tabaung (approximately March) and is one of the biggest events. During this festival, visitors can get a feel of the spirituality of the people of Myanmar by participating in the events and temple fairs; and observing the rituals.

Shwesaryan Pagoda Festival (Shwe Saryan Village, Between Mandalay & Maymyo)
45 minutes drive form Mandalay on the way to Maymyo (near Hton Bo), You can also take a small boat on the Douhtawaddy River and visit the pagodas nearby, Myanmar traditional toys, boxes, baskets, mats made of dried toddy palm leaves.

Shwesatdaw Pagoda Festival (Minbu)
Pilgrimage to 2 Footprints of Buddha

Mawdinsun Pagoda Festival (Ngapudaw, near Pathein)
This Pagoda Festival is held once a year; an event for pilgrims to visit the pagoda at the mouth of the Ayeyarwaddy River.

Full Moon Day Tabaung (Throughout Myanmar)
Important Full Moon Day. 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.

April

Thanakha Grinding Event (Sittway, Rakhine State)

Buddha Image Bathing Event (Sittway, Rakhine State)

Thingyan Water Festival (Throughout Myanmar)
Celebrated to welcome Myanmar New Year for four days throughout the country during the second week of April. It also marks the end of the old year and beginning of the new. Young people gather together to sing and dance, and to joyfully throw water on each other. 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.

Mt Popa Nat Festival (Bagan - Mt. Popa)
Always during the Water Festival

Kyaingtong Water Fesival (Kyaingtong (Kengtung))
Traditional ceremonies/processions - Very Interesting

Sand Stupa Festival (Min Thar Su, Mandalay)
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.

Full Moon Day Tagu (Throughout Myanmar)
This is the first month of Myanmar lunar calendar. The most colorful month of the year with Pagoda Festivals in full swing everywhere.

Shwemawdaw Pagoda Festival (Bago)

May

Shitthaung Pagoda Festival (Mrauk-U, Rakhine State)
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.

Shwe Kyet Yet Festival (Amarapura, Mandalay)
Bodhi Tree water pouring ceremony and Boat racing.

Taung-yo Festival (Pindaya Cave, Pindaya)
Taung Yoe tribe make Torchlight procession in the early part of the night to pay homage to the numerous statues in the cave.

Pa-O Rocket Festival (Taunggyi)
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.

Full Moon Day Kason - Buddha's Birthday (Throughout Myanmar)
Bodhi Tree water pouring ceremony. Pouring water the Sacred Bo Tree symbolizes the Birth, Enlightenment and Passing away of Buddha. It is an important Buddhist holiday and belles go in procession to the pagoda grounds throughout the country with pots of water and thousands of oil-lamps or candles to be lit.

July

Full Moon Day 1st Waso (Throughout Myanmar)
Start of Buddhist Lent. Donation ceremonies of new robes and other temporal requirements to the monks all over the country at major pagodas, monasteries and even at homes.

Full Moon Day 2nd Waso (Throughout Myanmar)
Depends on the Calender

Shwe Kyun Pin Nat Festival (Near Mingun)
The day Buddha preached his first sermon is commemorated. Monks are confined to the monastery by Buddhist code of conduct during the 3-month long Buddhist lent.

July-October

Fish Feeding Festival (Kyaung Taw Ya Monastery, 33 km north of Minbu)
A famous religious festival also known as "Fish Feeding Festival". People believed that thousands of big fishes, you can see only in this period, come to pay homage to the pagoda.

August

7 Day Nat Festival (Taungbyone ,near Mandalay)
A popular festival held in Taungpyone near Mandalay. According to tradition, the homage-paying festival is held annually to appease the spirits as it is believed that the Nats can fulfill their wishes, protect from ill-fate and danger, and bring good luck, prosperity and progress. Although Myanmar Buddhists are not particularly spirit worshippers, thousands of country folks and town people, their joyous, light-hearted and merrymaking can be found in this particular festival.

August-September

Yadanar Gu Nat Festival (Amarpura, Mandalay)
Traditional Nat festival on the Mandalay-Sagaing road. We can take a small sampan along the lake up to the Nat Shrine hall.

September-October

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival (Around Inle Lake)
The biggest occasion of the Lake Inle. The images of the Buddha from Phaung Daw Oo are placed on a decorated royal barge and taken around the lake, stopping at villages for people to pay homage. The festivals is full of pageantry and colorful.

October

Mya Tha Lon Festival (Magwe)
"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. "

Light Floating Festival (Shwe Kyin, Madaut Township)

Kyauktawgyi Pagoda Festival (Mandalay)
The image was cast out of a single piece of alabaster in1864 under the guidance of king Mindon.

Elephant Dance Festival (Kyauk Se, South of Mandalay)
People dressed as elephants (not real elephants).This unique and exotic elephant dance held at Kyaukse, a small town not far from Mandalay. A huge but light elephant figure is made with bamboo and paper. Men take their places inside the figure and dance around the town to the accompaniment of Dobat and Drums. The elephant dancers circle three times at the foot of the hill to pay homage to the
Shwethalyaung Pagoda. It is a dance that requires precise rhythm and timing in order for the elephant dancers to maintain uniformity inside the elephant figure. Numerous life-size paper dummy elephants sing and dance to the accompaniment of music.

Celebration of Lights (Throughout Myanmar)
Especially on Inle Lake

October-November

Thaung Tho Monastery Celebration (Inle Lake)
Gathering of all Pa-O tribes to Monastery

October

Celebration of Lights & Fire Balloons (Kyaingtong & Hill Villages)
Very Interesting Festivities

Full Moon Day Thadingyut (Throughout Myanmar)
Very Important Full Moon Day - End of Buddhist lent. And also the festival of lights. Pagodas, houses and streets are brilliantly illuminated. It is not only a time of joy but also thanksgiving and paying homage to teachers, parents and elders.

October-November

Kahtein Robe Giving Ceremony ( Throughout Myanmar)

Shwezigon Pagoda Festival (Bagan)
Starts 1 week before F.M. Tazaungmon. Candlelights and fireworks are carried in procession before offering to the pagoda.

October

Indein Pagoda Festival (Inle Lake)
Buddhist ceremony held at unique site of old sharine complex in Inle Lake.

November

Pho Win Taung Festival (Monwya)
Across the Chindwin River.

Thanboddhay Pagoda Festival (Monywa)
Arrive day before F.M.

Astrologers Annual Gathering (Shwebonepwint Pagoda, YANGON)

Robe Weaving Competition (Mandalay - Maha Muni Pagoda)
Arrive evening before - weaving throughout the night - The robe weaving ceremony is held on the eve of the day before fullmoon day in one night. This is a competition for the weaving skills between teams of women to complete special saffron-coloured robe.

Robe Weaving Competition (Yangon - Shwedagon Pagoda)
Arrive evening before-weaving throughout the night. On this particular full moon eve groups of young women take part of competition held on the platforms of the pagodas. The robe is to be finished flawlessly overnight and offered at dawn to the Buddha images around the pagodas.

Shin Mar Le Pagoda Festival (Mandalay)
Celebrated at the time of the Tazaung 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.

Kaungmudaw Pagoda Festival (Sagaing ,near Mandalay)
Procession on the morning of F.M. Tazaungmon. The best spot to watch Myanmar puppet.
Pilgrimage and holiday outings on country oxcarts can be seen.

Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda Festival (Kyaikhtiyo, Golden Rock)
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 this particular full moon day number total 9999 candles are ceremoniously lit at mid night.

Fire Balloon Competition (Taunggyi)
Traditional Shan Festival where the various competition of hot-air balloons attached to firecrackers are performed at night time on the full moon day of November. At day-time, there is a competition of decorated hot-air balloons in different shapes and forms of mythological birds as well as animals such as elephants, etc.

Kak Ku Pagoda - Lanterns & Lights (Kak Ku)
Same time as Fire Balloon Festival in Taunggyi

Full Moon Day Tazaungmon (Throughout Myanmar)
Light Celebration at most pagodas - Many locals of different status offer yellow robes & other items such as slippers, umbrellas, alms bowls and other domestic articles to the monks. This offering ceremony is commonly called "Kathein" and every local hope

Thaung Tho Pagoda Festival (Inle Lake)
A Buddhist festival celebrates an old Buddha statute site.

November-December

New Rice Harvest Festival (Kyaingtong)
On this perticular period Ann hill tribe celebrate fertility festival. Very interesting with traditional group dancing and drinking etc. Hill Tribe Village Celebrations.

Shan New Year Celebration (Kyaingtong)
Very Interesting - Hill Tribe Village Celebrations. Many different Shan tribes are celebrate with offering to the Buddha and traditional dance and feast.

December

Mt Popa Nat Festival (Mt Popa near Bagan)
Mt. Popa being considered most important Nat worshipping center, thousands of country folks and town people in their joy us, 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.

Ahka New Year Festival (Kyaingtong)
Ahka Hill Tribe Villages