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Myanmar Festivals 2010Festivals in January:ANANDA PAGODA FESTIVAL, Bagan
KACHIN MANAW FESTIVAL, Myitkyina
NAR-GA NEW YEAR'S FESTIVAL, Chin State
MAHAMUNI PAGODA FESTIVAL, Mandalay NYAN TAW PAGODA FESTIVAL (Shwe Myin Tin Pagoda),
Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin) GOLDEN HILLTOP FESTIVAL, Kyaik Khauk Pagoda ^ top ^ Festivals in February:
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POPA CEREMONY, Mt. Popa
Apr. 12, 2010
Nat dances on Mt. Popa. Very crowded and difficult to get up
the mountain.
SHITE-THAUNG PAGODA FESTIVAL, Mrauk Oo
Apr. 24 - 27, 2010
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.
SAND STUPA FESTIVAL, Pa Le Ngwe Yaung / Mandalay
Apr. 26 - 27, 2010
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
Apr. 26 – 27, 2010
Crowded with people pouring water to the sacred Bo tree.
SAND STUPA FESTIVAL, Min Thar Su Quarter / Mandalay
Apr. 27 – 29, 2010
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.
SAND STUPA FESTIVAL, Yahai Quarter / Mandalay
Apr. 27, 2010
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.
^ top ^
Festivals in May:
THIHOSHIN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Pakokku
May 22 - 27, 2010
There is festival market and also evening entertainments
such as Zats, Anyeints and Movies.
^ top ^
Festivals in June:
CHIN LONE FESTIVAL, Mahamuni / Mandalay
June 17 – 27, 2010
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. Cane ball players from all over the
country come up to Mandalay to enjoy this festival. We can
enjoy to see several ways of playing Chin Lone and racing by
either team or individual together with local / folk music
played while entertaining the audience.
^ top ^
Festivals in July:
^ top ^
Festivals in August:
SHWE KYUN PIN NAT PWE MINGUN (NAT FESTIVAL IN MINGUN),
Mandalay
Aug. 12 - 15, 2010
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 Myatheindan
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.
TAUNG BYONE NAT FESTIVAL, Taung Byone village near
Mandalay
Aug. 12 - 25, 2010
This festival is known as the major gathering spot for
spiritual mediums. 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 Anawratha
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. It is the most impressive Nat Festival in
Myanmar. Offerings and dances, the inflow of merchants, the
constant arrival of pilgrims and the intensive uses of
loudspeakers continue day and night.
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YADANA GU NAT FESTIVAL, Amapura, Mandalay
Aug. 27 – Sep. 08, 2010
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 Mt. Popa. Medaw,
Mewanna (Mother of the two Lords) who came back from
Taunbyon Festival, halted on her way back to Mt. Popa at
the Yadanagu as her transit camp.
^ top ^
Festivals in September:
BO BO GYI NAT FESTIVAL, Taungthaman Inn, Mandalay
Sep. 16 - 28, 2010
Bo Bo 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 with out fail.
^ top ^
Festivals in October:
PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA FESTIVAL, Inle Lake
Oct. 09 - 26, 2010
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.
Time table of Phaung
Daw Oo Festival.
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INDEIN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Inle Lake
Oct. 09 - 12, 2010
Buddhist ceremony held at unique site of old shrine complex
in Inle Lake.
KYAUKDAWGYI PAGODA FESTIVAL, Mandalay
Oct. 20 – 27, 2010
It’s situated at the foot of Mandalay hill, within a short
walking distance from Mandalay Hill Resort. 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.
DUMMY ELEPHANT FESTIVAL, Kyauk Se, Mandalay
Oct. 22, 2010
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.
THE THADINGYUT (FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS), Throughout
Myanmar
Oct. 22 - 24, 2010
To mark the end of the Buddhist Lent, and is also one of the
most prominent festivals of the year. Pagodas, houses,
public buildings, parks, and monuments are all illuminated
and there are various kinds of activities for everyone to
enjoy. 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.
^ top ^
Festivals in November:
BALLOON FESTIVAL, Taunggyi
Nov. 15 – 21, 2010
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.
Time table of Balloon
Festival in Taunggyi.
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SHWEZIGON FESTIVAL, Bagan
Nov. 17 – 23, 2010
Shwezigon Festival will be held starting from 17
November to 23 November. 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 (21 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.
THANBODDE PAGODA CEREMONY, Monywa
Nov. 20 - 21, 2010
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.
PHO-WIN-TAUNG FESTIVAL, Monywa
Nov. 20 - 21, 2010
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
Nov. 20 - 21, 2010
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.
TAZAUGDINE LIGHT FESTIVAL, Throughout Myanmar
Nov. 20 - 21, 2010
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 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.
KAUNGHMUDAW PAGODA FESTIVAL, Sagaing
Nov. 21 – 26, 2010
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.
ROBE WEAVING CONTEST, Throughout Myanmar
Nov. 21, 2010
The robe weaving ceremony is held on the eve of the day
before full moon day in one night. 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.
KYAIKHTIYO PAGODA FESTIVAL, Golden Rock
Nov. 21, 2010
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 9,999 candles are ceremoniously lit at mid
night.
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^ top ^
Festivals in December:
SHWEMYETMHAN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Shwe Taung near Pyay
Dec. 14 - 21, 2010
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
Dec. 21, 2010
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.
^ top ^
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