Festivals of Myanmar
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April 2008 |
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Thingyan means
transition. During the eve of old to new year,
Myanmar people celebrate water festival merrily
kids to elderly ones. During Thingyan days,
people pour water on each other for believing
that Thingyan water makes to eradicate the bad
deeds of the previous year
more
detail
>> |
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May 2008 |
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Shit Thaung
Festival, Water-pouring Ceremony, Sand Stupa
Event, Shwe Kyet Yet Pagoda’s Festival, Taung-Yo
Festival, Pa-Oh Rocket Festival
more
detail
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June 2008 |
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Pan-aing Tobacco Festival, Thi-Ho-Shin Festival,
and other Seasonal Ceremonies Without fixed
dates such as Robe-offering (Kahtein),
Wedding...
more detail
>> |
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July 2008 |
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Guardian Spirit Ceremony, Shinbin-Sargyo
Ceremony, Waso festival or Dhammasetkya Day,
Fish-feeding Festival, Thread-tying Ceremony...
more detail
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August 2008 |
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Pottery Hiding Day,
Taung-byone Ceremony, Gold pot Burying day,
Yadanagu Ceremony
more detail
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September 2008 |
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Rice Donating
Ceremony, Tooth Relic Procession, Boe-Min-Gaung
Memorial Day, Sutaung-Byi Ceremony, Phaungdaw Oo
Pagoda festival...
more
detail
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October 2008 |
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Pyetkhayway Pagoda
Ceremony, Dummy Elephant Festival, Pa-O Ceremony
of the Tree of Plenty, Thadingyut Festival...
more
detail
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November 2008 |
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Shwe-zi-gon
Festival, Kut-theinna-yon Festival, Flower
Tossing Ceremony, Tazaung daing Festival of
Lights, Hot Air Balloon Festival...
more
detail
>> |
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December 2008 |
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The Spectacled
Image Festival, Sandaw-shin Festival, Zaygalay
Ceremony, Kayin New Year, Tripitaka
Examinations, Christmas
more
detail
>> |
April '08
Thingyan, the Water
Festival
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April 12-16 : |
6th Waxing day of Tagu to
11th Waxing day of Tagu |
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Location : |
Nation-wide |
5 days ceremony.
Thingyan means transition.
During the eve of old to new
year, Myanmar people
celebrate water festival
merrily kids to elderly
ones. During Thingyan days,
people pour water on each
other for believing that
Thingyan water makes to
eradicate the bad deeds of
the previous year. Thingyan
falls on the last four days
before Myanmar New Year day,
which fall in second week of
April usually on the twelfth
or thirteenth, according to
the Gregorian calendar. |
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 May '08
Shit Thaung Festival
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May 19 : |
Full moon day of Kason |
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Location : |
Marauk-U, Rakhine state |
8 days ceremony.
Dummy boat races on land,
real boat contests and water
splashing in Mrauk-U canal
on full moon day, wresting
at the foot of the pagoda,
finals held on full moon
day. |
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Water-pouring
Ceremony
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May 19 : |
Full moon day of Kason |
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Location : |
throughout the country |
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Buddhist ladies pour
water on the sacred Bo
tree in the afternoon of
full moon day.
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Sand Stupa Event
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May 19 : |
Full moon day of Kason |
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Location : |
Min Thar Su Quarter,
Mandalay |
Held in accordance with
Thai tradition.
Believed to have been
inherited from
descendents of Thais,
captured during wars
with Thailand.
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Shwe Kyet Yet
Pagoda’s Festival
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May 18~19: |
Full moon day of Kason |
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Location : |
Amarapura, Mandalay |
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Taung-Yo Festival
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May 19: |
Full moon day of Kason |
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Location : |
Pindaya Cave, Shan State |
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Torch procession by
Taung-Yo tribe in the
early part of the night
to pay homage to the
numerous statues in the
cave. |
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Pa-Oh Rocket
Festival
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May 19 : |
Full moon day of Kason |
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Location : |
Water Hole, Taunggyi and
elsewhere |
Approx one month long
festival.
Locally made rockets
stuffed with powerful
gunpowder are
ceremoniously carried
and launched in
competition. Observed
mostly by ethnic Pa-Oh
people to predict the
weather and crop. Young
men and women use small
mirrors to one another.
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June
'08
Pan-aing Tobacco
Festival
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June 10 : |
7th waxing day of Nayon |
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Location : |
Pan-aing Village, Mahlaing
township |
16 days festival
Famous wholesale market fair
of native-grown tobacco. |
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Thi-Ho-Shin Festival
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June 4~11 : |
Waxing day of Nayon |
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Location : |
Pakokku |
16 days festival
Paying homage to the
image presented by the
King of Ceylon some 800
years ago.
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Buddhist Recitations
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June 18
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Full moon day of Nayon |
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Location : |
Kaba Aye Hillock |
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Recitation are also held township wise throughout the country by both monks and nuns. |
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Wicker Ball Ceremony
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June 19~Jul 18 |
1st waning day of Nayon |
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Location : |
Mahamyatmuni precinct,
Mandalay |
1-month festival
Traditional wicker ball
players from all over
the country participate
in the month-long
contest that has been
going on for over 70
years. This is the best
event to watch Myanmar
chin-lone game. |
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Seasonal Ceremonies
at no fixed dates
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Robe-offering (Kahtein) |
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Usually held between the
full moon days of
Thadingyut and Tazunmon. |
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Noviciation |
Held when farmers wrap up harvest and children end their academic year.
Usually falls in Feb, Mar, and Apr. |
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Wedding |
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Myanmar shouldn’t have weddings during the 3 month long Buddhist lent. It is considered inauspicious to wed during this period. |
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Pa-htann Chanting |
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Usually held between the
full moon day of
Tazaungmone and eve of
water festival. There is
a belief that the Pa-htann
philosophy will
disappear in the future
and that, by chanting
it, its longevity will
be enhanced and its
great powers toward off
misfortune will be
promoted. |
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July
'08
Guardian Spirit Ceremony
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July 15 : |
First Tuesday and before the full moon day of Waso |
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Location : |
Sittwe, Rakhine State |
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Women of Sittwe annually
gather at the cliff where
they believe the Guardian
Spirit dwells. They stick
yellow papers onto the
boulder with banana paste. |
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Shinbin-Sargyo
Ceremony
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16~17 July,
14~15 Oct : |
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Location : |
Sa-le, Magwe Division |
2 days ceremony
The pagoda is famous for
Buddhist paintings and
carvings. Another
ceremony is held on full
moon day of Thadingyut.
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Buddhist Lent
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July 17 : |
Full moon day of Waso |
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Location : |
Myanmar |
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3 month Buddhist Lent.
Lay people give new
robes to monks,
marriages do not take
place and it is not a
good time to move house. |
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Waso festival or
Dhammasetkya Day
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July 17 : |
Full moon day of Waso |
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Location : |
Myanmar |
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Fish-feeding
Festival
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17 July~14 Oct : |
Pwint Phyu, Magwe |
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Location : |
3 month long festival. |
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Held on the bank of Mone
canal which teems with
large catfish. The fish
are fed throughout
Buddhist Lent, which
many locals believe is
the only time the fish
appear. |
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Flower-picking
Ceremony
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July 18 : |
1st Waning day of Waso |
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Location : |
Inlay and elsewhere |
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Young men and women
cruise about in
motorboats on Inlay Lake
to pick water lilies.
Similar events are seen
throughout the country. |
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August
'08
Thread-tying
Ceremony
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August 2 : |
1st Waxing day of
Wagaung |
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Location : |
Pha-an, Kayin State |
15-day ceremony
Members of all Kayin
clans meet, sing, dance,
pray and tie cotton
threads around their
wrists to ward off evil
and any possible danger.
Date varies from place
to place. |
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Shwe-Kyun-Bin
Ceremony
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August 2
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1st waxing day of
Wagaung |
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Location : |
Mingun, Mandalay |
3-day ceremony ending
Aug 14 Native marine
vessels, big and small
gather to pay homage to
the Nats whilst plying
around on the
Ayeyarwaddy. Spirit
dances included.
1st day –
attending a Nat audience
2nd day – having
a royal bath
3rd day – cutting
down Htein trees |
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Pottery Hiding Day
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August 9 : |
8th Waxing day of Wagaung |
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Location : |
Myauk-pyin, Mandalay |
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Pottery sellers tease on
another by keeping other's
pottery hidden while staying
overnight on their way to
Taung-byone spiritual event.
Hidden pottery is later
returned. |
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Taung-byone Ceremony
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9 ~ 16 August : |
full moon day of Wagaung |
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Location : |
Taungbyone, 30km north
of Mandalay |
6-day ceremony
Held for Worshipping two
Taungbyone spiritual
figures. Major gathering
sport for spiritual
mediums. Spirit dances
are rampant. A noisy 7
day festival to keep the
Nats which is put on to
keep the Nats (spirits)
happy.
10th Waxing day –
attending a Nat audience
11th Waxing day – having
a Nat audience
12th Waxing day –
ascending the throne
13th Waxing day -
presenting rosast rabbit
15th Waxing day –
cutting down Htein
trees. |
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Gold pot Burrying
day
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August 16 : |
Full moon day of Wagaung |
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Location : |
Ye Mon State |
Offertories are put
inside a container
painted in gold.
Which is then taken to
nearby monastery and
offered to the residing
monks. It is believed to
be an investment for a
better next life. |
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Yadanagu Ceremony
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17 ~ 23 August : |
waning day of Wagaung |
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Location : |
Yadana Cave Nats
Festival (Amarapura,
Mandalay) |
5-day ceremony ending
Known as Mother
Taungbyone festival.
Most enjoyable because
of the rowing boat trip
to the site. Spirit
dances are rampant.
10th Waning day –
attending a Nat audience
11th Waning day – having
a royal bath
12th Waning day –
ascending the throne
13th Waning day –
daughter of Mahagiri
reels on the ground in
grief.
14th Waning day –
cutting down Htein
trees. |
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September
'08
Rice Donating Ceremony
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September 13-14: |
14th and 15th waxing days of
Tawthalin |
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Location : |
Padamya pagoda, Sagaing |
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Sacks of white rice donated
from around the country are
given away in large volume.
Nuns are presented on the
14th Waxing day and monks on
full moon day. Children play
of stone apples, 3 days
before the ceremony is also
a growing interest. |
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Tooth Relic
Procession
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September 14 : |
Full moon day of
Tawthalin |
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Location : |
Paungde |
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The Tooth Relic, mounted
on an elephant, is taken
round the town on full
moon day. During 3 days
of festivities it is put
on display for
worshippers. After the
ceremony, the relic is
kept inside a heavily
guarded place. |
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Boe-Min-Gaung
Memorial Day
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September 16 : |
2nd waning day of
Tawthalin |
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Location : |
Boe-Min-Gaung shrine,
Popa |
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Boe-Min-Gaung is
remembered for his
higher attainment in
meditation practices. He
was said to have found
the way out of the
worldly sufferings. |
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Oil Donating
Ceremony
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September 22: |
8th waning day of
Tawthalin |
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Location : |
Phar-aut, Mawlamyine |
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A traditional Mon
ceremony. Monks move
around villages to
receive oil donations at
the time of the first
harvest. The oil is used
for lamps. |
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Sutaung-Byi Ceremony
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September 24 : |
10th waning day of
Tawthalin |
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Location : |
Monywa, Sagaing Division |
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Over a thousand monks
are invited and
offertory bowls are
given away on a grand
scale. |
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Myo Daun Zedi
Festival
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September 24 : |
10th waning day of
Tawthalin |
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Location : |
Shwebo |
6 days festivals
A famous market fair for
the trading of native
tobacco, earthen wares,
hand-woven cotton
materials and other
products from upper
Myanmar. |
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Inle Phaung Daw Oo
Pagoda Festival
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30 September – 17 October
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01 waxing day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Inle lake, Shan State |
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4 Buddha images out of
five are taken on the
decorated royal barge
towed by the boats rowed
by leg rowers (Inthas)
around the lake to
accept offerings from
the villagers. The most
highlight is boat race
competition held during
the last days of the
festival. |
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October
'08
Performing Arts
Competitions
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3 October
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4th waxing day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Yangon |
Approx : 15 days of
competitions
Participants aged 5 and
above take part in
contests of singing,
dancing, composing and
playing traditional
musical instruments.
Both professional and
amateur classes of
competition are held in
Yangon. Date Subject to
change. |
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Sand Stupa Event
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4
October : |
5th waxing day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Kyaikkhami and set-sei
beaches, Mon State |
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People from nearby
villages gather on the
sea-beach to build sand
stupas, enshrining paper
currency, which are
washed away by the waves
hours later. |
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Mya Tha Lon Festival
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2 October ~
21 October
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3rd waxing day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Magwe |
20-day festival
Buddhist chanting, early
morning rice-offering to
1700 monks and the
lighting of 9000 candles
are major activities.
The scenic beauty of the
pagoda, situated on the
river bank, is dramatic.
Famous utensils made of
iron are sold a large
scale. |
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Kyauk-taw-gyi
Festival
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October 13 : |
14th waxing day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Mandalay |
4 days festival
The image is cast out of
a single piece of
alabaster in 1864 under
the guidance of King
Mindon. |
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Floating Alms-bowl
Ceremony
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October 13 : |
14th waxing day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Da-wei |
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Tradition of the natives
of Dawei. Bowls of alms,
stuffed with vegetarian
food are floated early
in the morning. There is
another similar event
next morning at
Bota-taung, Yangon. |
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Dummy Elephant
Festival
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October 13 : |
14th waxing day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Kyauk-se |
2 day festival
From 14th waxing day
until the full-moon day,
numerous life-size dummy
elephants sing and dance
to the accompaniment of
music. |
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Buddha Procession
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October 13 : |
14th waxing day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Pyinmana |
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3-day procession of
images of the 28
Enlightened Ones on the
town's streets. Similar
procession held in
several other places.
Date varies. |
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Pa-O Ceremony of the
Tree of Plenty
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October 13 : |
14th waxing day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Taunggyi, Shan State |
5 day festival
In this purely Pa-O
ceremony, a mythical
tree of plenty is
erected with a seat atop
for Buddha. The tree is
decorated with fruits
and other offertories. |
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Thadingyut Festival
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October 14 : |
Full moon day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
throughout the country |
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To mark the day Lord
Buddha came down form
the Celestial Abode
after spending 3 months
of the Buddhist Lent
there. Buddha's return
is remembered and
commemorated throughout
the country with
colorful illuminations. |
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Za-yat-gyi Event
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October 14 : |
Full moon day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Za-yat-gyi, Taunggoo
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Dances of Dummy oxen and
buffaloes and flying of
hot-air balloons are
major highlights. A
mixed cultural event of
Pa-O, Shan, Mon and
Kayin nationals. |
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Kyaik-hti-yo Season
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October 14 : |
Full moon day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Kyaikhtiyo, Mon State |
Approx. 9 month long
season
The boulder standing on
the edge of a peak in
the highest mountain
range, is said to be
freely hanging over the
cliff. Famous as
pilgrimage and holiday
outing spot.
Comment : a night of
full moon day of
Thadingyut, people offer
9000 oil cups of lights,
9000 flowers to Buddha
on a square of, in front
of pagoda. i.e. golden
rock pagoda festival,
next very early morning,
they offer rice, sweets,
snacks, to Buddha. |
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Tawa-dain-tha
Ceremony
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October 14 : |
Full moon day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Pathein |
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The Buddha image is
symbolically pulled down
a decorated stairway
using cables to mark the
day Lord Buddha returned
from the Celestial
Abode. |
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Ahbidama Day
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October 14 : |
Full moon day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Myanmar |
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Thanahka-dabbing
Event
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October 14 : |
Full moon day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Saw, Magwe |
During the day, young
men dab girls on the
cheek with a cloth
soaked in Thanakha water
and vice versa, on their
way to pagodas and
monasteries.
Remark : it's very
funny. All pilgrims are
happy with funny faces. |
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Shaking Pagoda
Festival
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October 14 : |
Full moon day of
Thadingyut |
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Location : |
Kyauk-pa-daung |
3 days festival
Famous for the annual
shaking of the upper
part of the pagoda – a
real architectural
wonder. |
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Shwekyin Light
Floating Festival
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October 15 : |
1st waning day of
Thadingyut |
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