 |
|
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
Myanmar Festivals 2012Festivals in January:ANANDA PAGODA FESTIVAL, Bagan
KACHIN MANAW FESTIVAL, Myitkyina
NAGA NEW YEAR'S FESTIVAL, Sagaing Division
MAHAMUNI PAGODA FESTIVAL, Mandalay NYAN TAW PAGODA FESTIVAL (Shwe Myin Tin Pagoda),
Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin) ^ top ^ Festivals in February:
|
 |
 |
 |
POPA CEREMONY, Mt. Popa
Apr. 19 - 20, 2012
Nat dances on Mt. Popa. Very crowded and difficult to get up
the mountain.
^ top ^
Festivals in May:
^ top ^
Festivals in June:
SHITE-THAUNG PAGODA FESTIVAL, Mrauk Oo
June 01 - 04, 2012
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
June 03 - 04, 2012
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
June 03 - 04, 2012
Crowded with people pouring water to the sacred Bo tree.
SAND STUPA FESTIVAL, Yahai Quarter / Mandalay
June 04, 2012
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, Min Thar Su Quarter / Mandalay
June 04 - 06, 2012
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.
THI-HO-SHIN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Pakokku
June 29 – July 04, 2012
There is festival market and also evening entertainments
such as Zats, Anyeints and Movies.
^ top ^
Festivals in July:
CHIN-LONE FESTIVAL, Mahamuni / Mandalay
July 23 – Aug. 12, 2012
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 seeing 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 August:
SHWE KYUN PIN NAT PWE MINGUN (NAT FESTIVAL IN MINGUN),
Mandalay
Aug. 17 – 23, 2012
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.
TAUNG BYONE NAT FESTIVAL, Taung Byone village near
Mandalay
Aug. 25 – Sep. 01, 2012
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
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. 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.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
^ top ^
Festivals in September:
YADANA GU NAT FESTIVAL, Amapura, Mandalay
Sep. 09 – 15, 2012
Known as mother of Taung Byone 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 Taung Byone Festival,
halted on her way back to Mt. Popa at the Yadana gu as her
transit camp.
^ top ^
Festivals in October:
BOE BOE GYI NAT FESTIVAL, Taungthaman Inn, Mandalay
Oct. 05, 2012
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
Oct. 16 – Nov. 02, 2012
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.
 |
 |
 |
KYAUK-DAW-GYI PAGODA FESTIVAL, Mandalay
Oct. 27 – Nov. 02, 2012
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. 29 -30, 2012
This unique and exotic elephant dance held at Kyauk Se, 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. 29 - 31, 2012
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:
INDEIN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Inle Lake
Nov. 06 - 07, 2012
Buddhist ceremony held at unique site of old shrine complex
in Inle Lake.
KAUNG-HMU-DAW PAGODA FESTIVAL, Sagaing
Nov. 21 - 28, 2012
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.
BALLOON FESTIVAL, Taunggyi
Nov. 22 – 29, 2012
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.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
SHWEZIGON FESTIVAL, Bagan
Nov. 22 – 30, 2012
Shwezigon Festival will be held starting from 22
November to 30 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 (28 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.
THAN-BOD-DE PAGODA CEREMONY, Monywa
Nov. 27 - 28, 2012
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. 27 - 28, 2012
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. 27 - 28, 2012
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.
TA-ZAUNG-DINE LIGHT FESTIVAL, Throughout Myanmar
Nov. 27 - 29, 2012
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 Ka-htain
(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.
ROBE WEAVING CONTEST, Throughout Myanmar
Nov. 28, 2012
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. 28, 2012
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.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
^ top ^
Festivals in December:
SHWE MYAT MHAN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Shwe Taung near Pyay
Dec. 21 - 28, 2012
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. 28, 2012
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 ^
| © Copyright 2006-2010 by Travel-Myanmar.Net | |||
| Home | About us | Clients About Us | About Myanmar | Destinations | Travel Tips | Itineraries | News Letter | General Conditions | Site Map | |||
Developed by Myanmars.NET, Yangon, Myanmar.