Festivals: one for each month and sometimes even more
The Myanmar people, made up of 135 ethnic races, enjoy festivities that are part of their culture…. pagoda festivals that are country fairs, novitiation ceremonies when boys enter the monastery with pomp and celebration, the water festival preceding the Myanmar New Year in April, spirit ceremonies that are more about fun than fear, classical dance performances and traditional marionettes plays. The people with their charm and simplicity, their hospitality and friendliness, their eagerness to help and share, are what makes Myanmar simply wonderful.
Most of the festival dates are according to the Myanmar Lunar Calendar, so please confirm with us.
Independence Day
Where: Main event in Yangon
When: January 4
Duration: 1 day
Nation wide celebration all over the country to commemorate the country’s Independence from the British in 1948.
Kachin Manaw Festival
Where: Myitkyina, Capital of Kachin State
When: Usually in December or January
Duration: 3 days
Traditional festival of the Kachin race, Manaw Festival celebrates the good harvest or the New Year. All the Kachin clans will congregate at Myitkyina to celebrate this event. Other races living in the region also join as guests. Dancing and feasting goes on all night.
Naga New Year
Where: Designated venue
When: Usually in January
Duration: 3 days
One of the most exotic ceremonies where different tribes of Naga (similar to the native Red Indians) walk miles over mountains to converge, meet and celebrate. They have different dialects, customs, and costumes.
Ananda Pagoda Festival
Where: Ananda Pagoda precinct, Bagan
When: Begins one week before the Full Moon Day of Pyatho
Duration: 10 days
One of the most popular pagoda festivals in the country where villagers from far and near come in covered bullock carts and camp for the entire duration.
Shan State Day
Where: Taunggyi, Southern Shan State and Lashio, Northern Shan State
When: February 9
Duration: 1 day
A popular holiday for the Shans, one of the main ethnic races of the country. Dance competitions of all the ethnic groups living in the Northern Shan State are usually held at Lashio.
Union Day
Where: Main event in Yangon
When: February 12
Duration: 1 day
Celebrated all over the country to commemorate the signing of the Panglong (Pinlon) Agreement that paved the way to forge national unity and Independence.
Kyaikkhauk Pagoda Festival
Where: Thanlyin, formerly Syriam a short drive from Yangon
When: Begins on the 1st Waxing Moon Day of Tabodwe
Duration: 7 days
A Buddhist religious festival that is also a typical country fair, the nearest to take place to Yangon the capital city. Many stalls sell traditional goods such as bamboo crafts, fabrics, cane ware, mats, pots, and there are food stalls and entertainment. By age-old tradition, a marionette show is always part of it.
Chin National Day
Where: Haka, Northern Chin State and Mindat, Southern Chin State
When: February 20
Duration: 1 day
A popular holiday for the Chins, one of the main races in the north west part of the country. Folk dances are performed by different Chin groups and communities at both venues.
Shwe Settaw Pagoda Festival
Where: Shwe Settaw, Magwe Division, central Myanmar
When: 5th Waxing Moon Day of Tabodwe to 6th Waning Moon Day of Tagu
Duration: approximately 2 months
Two pagodas by the banks of Mann Stream enshrine footprints of the Buddha, one shrine high on a hill giving a spectacular view of the surrounding forests. New bamboo cabins are erected every year for the local pilgrims.
Maw Tin Zun Pagoda Festival
Where: on the Southwest Seacoast of Myanmar
When: 7th Waxing Moon Day of Tabaung
Duration: 8 days
This is the only seaside pagoda festival of importance. Part of the route from Yangon is by a pleasant boat ride to Pathein, an interesting delta town and Capital of Ayeyarwady Division where they make pretty parasols.
Zalun ‘The Returnee” Pagoda Festival
Where: Zalun, a small town in the delta, some hours from Yangon by car
When: Begins the 9th Waxing Moon Day of Tabaung
Duration: 7 days
The bronze Zalun image was taken by away the British to Bombay in 1855, but while in storage many unexplainable phenomena occurred around the place and many guards died suddenly, so that the image was returned two years later and left on a river bank near the original site.
Kekku Pagoda Festival
Where: Kekku Pagoda precinct, Taunggyi Township
When: Begins the day before the Fullmoon Day of Tabaung
Duration: 3 days
Tens of thousands of Pa O hilltribe people come in their best costumes to pay homage to the usually deserted pagoda. In the evenings, they sing and perform folk dances. Some come in bullock carts and make camps under the huge banyan trees there.
Pindaya Pagoda Festival
Where: Pindaya Township, Southern Shan State
When: Begins on the 11th Waxing Moon Day of Tabaung
Duration: 7 days
Traditionally a pagoda festival held in honour of the countless Buddha statues inside the Pindaya caves it is a country fair where various races of the region meet to pray and trade.
Thingyan Water Festival
Where: All over the country
When: Begins April 12
Duration: 5 days
Traditional Myanmar New Year Celebrations when people pour and throw water on each other in a symbolic gesture of cleansing oneself of sins from the past year. The most festive places are Mandalay and Yangon.
Myanmar New Year Day
Where: All over the country
When: April 17, 2004
Duration: 1 day
Celebrated all over the country to commemorate the Myanmar Traditional New Year with good deeds, food offerings to monks, friends, and visits to pagodas and monasteries.
Shwe Maw Daw Pagoda festival
Where: Bago
When: Begins on the day after the New Year
Duration: 10 days
At this pagoda festival, theatre troupes all gather to perform for the benefit of contractors who would book them for the next season. With the advance payment received, they would rehearse during the coming monsoon months to be ready by October, which is the end of the Lent period and the beginning of the dry season when pagoda festivals begin.
Kason Fullmoon Day
Where: All over the country
When: Full Moon Day of Kason
Duration: 1 day
Buddha attained Enlightenment meaning endless wisdom under the Bo Tree on this day and Buddhists flock to pour water on this sacred tree to gain merit. The rituals are held at most prominent pagodas and monasteries all over the country.
Pakokku Thiho Shin Pagoda Festival
Where: Pakokku, Magway Division
When: Begins on the 8th Waxing Moon Day of Nayon
Duration: 16 days
The Thiho Shin Buddha image is one of the most revered in central Myanmar and its festival is a typical Myanmar occasion of devotion, trade, and enjoyment.
Waso monks’ robes offering ceremonies
When: Usually in July, lasting throughout the month
Location: all over the country
This festival commemorates the time that Buddha gave His first sermon to 5 chief disciples. Devotees gather wild flowers to offer at pagodas, and new robes to monks. The Buddhist Lent period is from the Full Moon Waso to the Full Moon of Thadingyut.
Fish feeding ceremony
Where: Pwint Byu Town, Minby Duivision
When: Begins on the Full Moon Day of Waso
Duration: 3 months
The giant catfish in the Mone Canal are ceremoniously invited every year by the pagoda trustees to come near the pagoda where they will remain for three months. Pilgrims hand-feed them and often place gold leaf on their foreheads. They are protected.
Taungpyone Nat Festival
Where: At Taungpyone village near Mandalay
When: Begins on the Full Moon Day of Wagaung
Duration: 12 days
The most famous of the Nat or Spirit festivals in Myanmar, paying homage to two brother spirits. This event is attended by all mediums and believers especially the traders and merchants who want help for profitable business. Colourful dancing, loud music and feasting are part of the rituals.
Ratanagu Nat Festival
Where: Ratanagu Pagoda, Amarapura Township
When: Begins on the 8th Waxing Moon Day of Wagaung
Duration: 5 days
This is a festival to honour the mother of the two Nat brothers of Taungbyone, the Popa Goddess who resides on Popa Crest near Bagan.
Manuha Temple Festival
Where: Bagan
When: Begins the day before the Full Moom Day of Tawtha Lin
Duration: 2 days
This is a small but exciting festival, where by tradition the people parade with immense papier-mâché figures in the forms of heroes, mythical creatures, animals and even popular movie stars and vocalists. The pagoda trustees and devotees offer rice to hundreds of monks on the morning of the second day.
Thadingyut Light Festival
Where: all over the country
When: Begins the day before the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut
Duration: 3 days
This event marks the end of Lent and the commemoration of the time Buddha ascended from heaven after preaching to his mother from a previous existence and the other celestials for three months of Lent. Candles and oil lamps are lit by the thousands at pagodas all over the country.
Kaung Hmu Daw Pagoda Festival
Where: Sagaing
When: Begins the day before the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut
Duration: 7 days
The dazzling white dome of this pagoda built in 1636 is based on the design of the Maha Cheti of Sri Lanka. People flock to the Pagoda to offer food to Lord Buddha on the night before the Fullmoon day.
Hpaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival
Where: Inle Lake, Nyaung Shwe Tsp, Southern Shan State
When: Begins on the first Waxing Day of Thadingyut
Duration: 22 days
Very colourful festival when four Buddha Statues out of five from Hpaung Daw Oo Pagoda are taken around the lake on a gilded Karaweik barge in the shape of a mythical bird. The procession stops overnight at each of the twenty main villages where the images are welcomed with devotion and joyous celebrations. Teams rowing with their legs compete in regattas that are part of the festivities.
Kyauktaw Gyi Pagoda Festival
Where: Mandalay
When: Begins the day before the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut
Duration: 4 days
Kyauktaw Gyi Image was carved from one immense block of marble. Festivities include a Chin Lon competition, which is the traditional cane ball game where the play is judge by how long the team can keep the ball up in the air without touching it with their hands and the grace of the movements.
Elephant Dance Festival
Where: Kyaukse, Mandalay Division
When: Begins the day before the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut
Duration: 2 days
Elaborately decorated papier-mâché elephants are carried around the town towards the pagoda on Kyaukse Hill. A dance competition features these elephants with two men side. Young boys take part in the baby elephant dance competition.
Kahtein Robe Offering Ceremony
Where: In all monasteries all over the country
When: All through the month of Tazaungmon
Duration: the whole month but mostly around the Full Moon Day of Tazaungmon
Buddhist devotees offer robes to the monks after the monsoon rains as an act of merit.
Hot Air Balloon Festival
Where: Taunggyi
When: Begins one week before the Full Moon Day of Tazaungmon
Duration: 7 days
To pay homage to the Sulamuni Pagoda, which is in the abode of the Celestial Beings, hot air balloons festooned with lights are sent up at night. Now this traditional has been combined with a competition to send up the most elaborate and beautiful balloons of every shape and size.
Lights Festival and weaving competition
Where: All over the country and the Shwedagon Pagoda of Yangon
When: Begins the night before the Full Moon Day of Tazaungmon
Duration: 1 night
To pay homage to the Sulamuni Pagoda, which is in the abode of the Celestial Beings, lights are lit at pagodas and homes. At some major pagodas, competitions are held for weavers to complete a set of monk’s robes in the night before the Fullmoon Day of Tazaungmon to offer to the Buddha images on this day. Teams of five girls weave the whole night and must finish by dawn.
Parade of Lights
Where: Taunggyi
When: Full Moon night of Tazaungmon
Duration: 1 night
The people of Taunggyi and its environs march through the town with decorated floats and lighted lamps and candles to the Sulamuni Pagoda at the edge of the town.
Shwezigon Pagoda Festival
Where: Nyaung U, near Bagan
When: Full Moon Day of Tazaungmon to 14th Waning Moon Day of Tazaungmon
Duration: 15 days
On the morning of the Full Moon Day there is a ritual of offering a filled alms bowl to a thousand and more monks and novices.
Popa Nat Festival
Where: Popa, near Bagan
When: Begins the Full Moon Day of Nadaw.
Duration: 6 days
This celebration is in honour of the Lord of the Mountain and his family of Spirits who have their shrine at the foot of Popa Mountain.
Kyaik Htiyo (Golden Rock Pagoda) Light Festival
Where: Golden Rock Pagoda
When: night of the 31st December
Duration: 1 night
Devotees light nine thousand nine hundred and ninety nine lamps on the pagoda platform
