TAGU (March/April)

Tagu is the first month of the Myanmar calendar and usually it falls in March and April on the Gregorian calendar. “Thingyan”- Myanmar New Year Festival is held in Tagu, generally it falls about 13th April or environs. Thingyan was held since the Tagaung Period but it became more prominent in the Era of Bagan Dynasty. As water symbolizes coolness , clearness and cleansing of dirt and grime, by pouring or throwing water on one another is regarded that cleanness one and all of the dirt and grime of the old year and bring coolness and pacify the minds of the people for the new year. The most significant characteristics about Tagu is a merry making festival not only for Myanmar but also for any person who also wish to take part can enjoy the happiness just like Myanmar . Another aspect in connection with Tagu is commencing from the olden days up to the present time is during this period old and aged persons hair were washed and manicured with typical Myanmar shampoo called “Tayaw” ( acacia).

KASON (April/May)

Kason is the second Myanmar month and comes in April-May.It is also a sacred month for Myanmar Buddhists. The full-moon of Kason is a day of threefold significance:-Firstly,is the day that Buddha was born, secondly Buddha attained Enlightenment on this very day , and thirdly this is the day of his Demise. Therefore, this day is commemorated as Buddha Day by Buddhists. Kason is the last period of scorching summer season, so it is very hot. The main activity on this festival day is pouring water at the Bo Tree. Pouring clean and cool water on the Bo Tree is done as a symbol of veneration to the Buddha who attained Enlightenment by meditating under the Bo Tree.

NAYON (May/June)

Nayon is the third month in the Myanmar calendar, in summer, and fall in May-June. With the aims of propagation the Buddhism, especially Pariyatti Sasana the practice of holding examinations in religious scriptures in Nayon was held in the second Innwa period, when King Thalun reigned. Nowadays, the State sponsored Examination were held every year for Pahtamabyan, Dhamma Cariya, Abhidhama, Visudi Magga and Tipitaka .Titles and Certificates for the flourishing of the Theravada Buddhism presentations of prizes and certificates are conferred on the Sayadaw, revered monks and nuns every year. Moreover, in commemoration of Lord Buddha’s preaching of Maha Samaya Sutta to celestial beings from ten thousand solar systems, Maha Sayama Day was also observed in this month .

WASO (June/July)

Waso, the fourth month in Myanmar calendar falls between June and July which is partially summer and partially rainy seasons. The full-moon day of Waso is very significant, because this is the day Buddha was conceived, the day that He renounced the worldly pleasure , and the very day that He preached the first sermon of Dhamma Cakka and the day that He performed the miracles of super natural powers. The day also marks the beginning of the Buddhist lent of three months when members of Sangha go into the rains retreat. A significant and meritorious deed of Buddhists in Waso is offering robes to members of the Sangha for use during the lent, and so these robes are called Waso robes. Moreover, there is a practice of young men and women going on outings of gathering flowers to be offered at Buddha images at pagodas and at homes.

WAGAUNG (July/August)

It is the fifth Myanmar month. It is in July-August, wet days of torrential rains, when rivers are in spate. In the time of Buddha, when the lord was staying at Weluwun Monastery in Yazagyo, some disciples supplicated to him the matter of individual disciples having some difficulty to donate meals and alms for all the Sangha at the monastery at the same time, whereupon Buddha laid down a way of disciples drawing lots to determine which monk to offer meals and alms.

TAWTHALIN (August/September)

Tawthalin is the sixth month in Myanmar calendar (August- September). Tawthalin being around September, the sun’s path is approaching the equator so that it one of the times when the location of the country ( between 10 N and 28 31’N) places its on the belt nearest to the sun. Therefore the dark, weeping clouds are often swept away to be overtaken by bright and clear skies reflected in the smooth vast expanse of the flooded fields and rivers, accented by stately palmyra showing off serried ranks of sun-ripened shiny jet-black fruits. sometimes continuous days of sunshine warms the water in the paddy fields so much that another saying connected with this month says “ The sun in Tawthalin kills off land crabs “. As there is no rain and not windy, the surfaces of water in the rivers are very still and smooth, it is figuratively compared as smooth as the mats used in Myanmar houses. Thus, in ancient times, during the reign of Myanmar kings it has been a tradition to hold regatta festivals due to favorable weather conditions. While the regatta was in procession, the king surrounded by his entourage watched the event from his royal barge called “Pyi Gyi Mon Barge”. Regattas were held not only for fun but also as a test for improving the skills of the Royal Marines. The flower of the month is the fragrant “Yin Mar”, blooming in sprays of pale yellow blossoms with red -tinged stalks on the tree Chukrassia tabularis, the tawny golden hardwood from which is ideal for carving and turney.

THADINGYUT (September/October)

Thadingyut is the seventh Myanmar month in (September- October) towards the end of rainy season. Lord Gautama Buddha preached The Abhidamma to His reincarnated mother in Tavatimsa , abode of celestial beings for three Lenten months and returned to the abode of men on the full- moon day of Thadingyut . The King of the celestials created three stairways, gold, silver and ruby for him. Buddha took the middle ruby stairways radiating six hues of aura. The celestials came along by the right gold stairways and the brahmas by the left silver stairways . On account of that, Myanmar Buddhists celebrate Tavatimsa Festival on the full-moon day of Thadingyut by lighting multi-coloured illuminations. For the Sangha it is the time known as Pawayana, which means inviting, entreating, urging. In practice, since the times of the Buddha, it is to beg on another monks for forgiveness of any deed that might have displeased any other among Sangha. Like wise, there is also the practice among the laity of paying obeisance to parents and elders.

TAZAUNGMON (October/November)

It is the eighth Myanmar month ( in October-November) time for offering of Kathina, Matho Thingan , Panthagu offering , lotus offering and lighting . Kathina monk’s robes are offered at this particular time of the year. It is held most communally . In connection with the offerings of monk’s robes for a Buddhist , the donation of this kathina robe at this particular time is regarded as the most meritorious , as the monk who received this robe was chosen in accordance with the unanimous decision of Sangha after the plenary session of Sangha were held . There is also a practice of eating salads of Mezali leaves with the belief that it is medicinal if it was taken at this special time (i.e. at mid- night ) on the full-moon day of Tazaungmon .

NADAW (November/December)

It is the ninth month in Myanmar calendar at the onset of the cool season, with misty mornings in November-December.In ancient times, the seasonal festival was offerings of Nats, but this tradition had vanished in 1885. In the year 1944, a special kind of festival emerged, i.e. a celebration in honour of the literati (Sarsodaw). In the history of Myanmar literature, a day which is dedicated to U Pon Nya, who was a very famous, prominent and renowned writer, post and playwright in Konbaung Dynasty was held annually in this month. So, the present Sarsodaw or literati day has some connections with this past event. At the present day, it is the time for presentation of National Awards by the State for the writers, poets and translators in various fields for their talented and superb tasks.

PYATHO (December/January)

It is the tenth month in Myanmar calendar during the cool season (December-January). Pyatho, formerly was a time when Myanmar royalty displayed its strength with military parades. Nowadays, however, this particular period is reserved mostly for local pagoda festivals. During the reign of Myanmar kings it was the month for the equestrian festival held for virtually the whole month. Indeed, this festival is closely related with military affairs or martial arts, because various kinds of competetions in horsemanship, sword fighting, lancing, bowman-ship and manoeuvring with elephantsare involved. Indeed it is an occasion to select heroes for the defence of the country. A few major paya-pwes (pagoda festival) are held in Pyatho. The famous Ananda Temple festival of Bagan falls at this time.

TABODWE (January/February)

Tabodwe is the eleventh month of the Myanmar calendar, as this is the last period of cool season it is very cold, in January and February. The month of Tabodwe is the harvest festival, all the products of the farm and garden go in to make ‘’htamane’’a concoction of glutinous rice, sessamum seeds, peanuts, shredded coconut, flavoured with ginger and mixed with cook oil. Htamane feast is either celebrated communally or done just in the private circle of family and friends. The nature of the feast is such that, in whatever way the feast is celebrated, it means a big gathering because many hands are needed. In a communal feast people come around with contributions of glutinous rice and other ingredients. It is an option though; one can just give his service, if not anything else.

In Myanmar, A String of Festival bring joy and celebration all through the year

There are about 135 ethnics group in Myanmar, so not surprisingly, hundreds of festivals are held each year according to the different cultures and traditions.

Among them, Thingyan, the water festivals, is the most exciting and marvelous one as it is the coming of Myanmar New Year. It falls on the second week of April, and is celebrated all over Myanmar and in some foreign countries too. The Water festival continues for four days, but the children in some villages shower water on unwary travelers on the trains or cars before the festivals begins. Almost all Myanmar people takes park in the water festivals, taking with different appearances; pouring water one another, partaking in the dancing group, and wandering around town, traveling to other towns and going to monasteries, keeping Sabbath and novitiating to so on. The essence of water festivals is to sanctify the defilements they have made during the year. The venerable scene in this period is the novitiation of the boys, which according the Buddhist belief, gives great merit; that is, offering themselves to the Buddha during their stay under the way of Buddha’s teaching at the monastery.

And another famous festivals is Taungpyone Nats or Sprites Festivals, which is held at Taungpyone village near Mandalay from August 16 to 23. Those who believe in Nats consider the Spirits festivals as the happy gathering of 37 Nats and give offerings to Nats during that period. And the majority of comers are those who worship Nats, and traders and merchants, who believe Nats can help their business achieved. People can get there by boats, by wagons, by motor vehicles and the private trains.

And Thidingyut festivals of Lights, the three days light festivals, is held throughout the nation at the end of October. It is not just a festivals of rejoicing, but of respect: young people show their respect and gratitude to elders such as parents, teachers, grandparents, relatives and so on by going around to their houses and offering such delights as cakes and fruits. One associated custom that makes the young happy as the makes their rounds is receiving pocket money from the elders.

The Inlay Phongdawoo Pagoda festival held in Inlay, Shan State, is a popular one among the locals and tourists too. It falls in the middle of October. The leg-rowing boat races are the fantastic view that can draw the people’s attention throughout the event. In that festivals, the four Buddha Image are put on the royal barge and tugged clockwise around the lake.

There is another interesting event held at Kyaikhtiyo Mountain in Mon State, on 01 November. The Mountain-top Pagoda is famous for a powerful boulder that, despite being unattached to the cliff on which it is located, remains stable. People usually offer 9000 oil cups of lights and 9000 flowers to Buddha on the night of the full-moon day of Thadinkyut (at October), and rice, sweets, snacks are offered to Buddha early the next morning. Most young people prefer going up to the mountain at December, around Christmas and New Year.

And another splendid festival is Tazaungdaing festivals held annually at Taunggyi in Shan State in late November. It Start from one week before the full-moon day of Tazaundmon of the year, and the competitions between hand-made paper hot-air balloons are very attractive in Myanmar. People create various appearances of the hot-air balloons according to their different ideas and then they are sent off with colorful fire works, a ceremony that attracts many foreign tourists.

And Naga New Year Festival, on 15 January, celebrates the New Year for Naga tribes. There are four township in Naga region, the northwest corner of Myanmar, close to the India border- Layshi, Lahe , Khanti and Nanywun- and the festivals is begin held in alter native township. Naga New Year festival was held at Lahe Township in 2002. Foreign tourists are surprised Naga men have been preserving their customs and traditions until now. They celebrate the old customs their ancestors did, including the use of priceless robes and fantastic headdresses. During that festivals, Naga tribes attend a feast that include rice wine and roasted bison and wild boar meat and perform ritual dance and playing drums.

And Manaw festivals the New Year festivals of the Kachin race held at Myintkyina in Kachin State for eight days in January. There are several aspects to this festival. The festival includes victory celebrations, housewarming parties, funeral rites and the blessing of new farmlands for good luck. Many interesting events, Customs and traditions belong to Myanmar. If you are able to catch any of these terrific festivals, you will come away with a profound feeling of appreciation for the original customs of Myanmar. You cannot miss one, there are two or three festivals a month, twelve months a year.

The major eight races Myanmar — Bamar, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin Mon, Rakhine & Shan are shown in eight photos below couples in their traditional colorful costumes.

Myanmar Festivals in 2006