Cultural & Religious Festivals

Myanmar is an amazing place to witness some of the most unique festivals in the world. There is always something taking place in the country. Most of the festivals are cultural and religious, while the majority of festivals take place across the nation. Individual states hold their own festivals and have their own dates for public holidays.

January

MOE-BYAE FESTIVAL, Moe Byae Shan State15 – 19 January 2011
Full moon day of PyathoLasting for seven days, the largest pagoda festival in Shan State is Moe Byae. Moe Byae is a tiny town which borders the states of Shan and Kayah. Thousands of small outlets are set up around the festival grounds which surround this incredible pagoda. Practically everything is sold here, from dodgy motorbikes to needles, to candy and even delicious grilled suckling pig! Many of the mountain tribes come down to visit this remarkable place to sell their wares and take part in colourful dances performances and cultural shows.

ANANDA PAGODA FESTIVAL, Bagan
13 – 21 Jan 2011
One of the biggest events on the Bagan calendar, the Ananda Pagoda Festival features a huge variety of dance, plays, songs, and even the fascinating play of Anyeints: a performance which lasts for several hours and provides an interesting mix of comedy with traditional puppetry. This happening is also a popular place for those who come to buy and sell all kinds of goods.
KACHIN MANAW FESTIVAL, Myitkyina
09 – 10 Jan 2011
Held on the 10th of January, this festival takes place on the day prior to State day. This event only ever happens every fourth or 10th year. Please check with use to see if it takes place.
NAR-GA NEW YEAR'S FESTIVAL, Chin State
14 – 16 Jan 2011
In Chin state, in the heart of the villages of Kham-Ti, Nar-ga festivals take place from January 14 to 16. On the first day, an opening ceremony is held and traditional dancing takes place to the superb backdrop of stunning bonfires. The next day, competitions consist of traditional sports and gathering of Nar-ga sub tribes. The event concludes with a celebration of rice wine roasted meat and incredible tribal dances performed to the booming beat of a drum.

February

MAHAMUNI PAGODA FESTIVAL, Mandalay
04 – 19 Feb 2011
This event takes place on the full moon day of the Burmese month of Thabodwe. This colourful and unique festival generally lasts for two weeks, with a number of glutinous rice contests taking place on the main pagoda of the platform. Incense sticks are burnt to commemorate Buddha. Many Buddhists from around the country make the pilgrimage to Mahamuni Pagoda, with the temple situated at the centre of activities. Visitors to the ceremony will have the chance to see a number of interesting local plays, dances and songs.
NYAN TAW PAGODA FESTIVAL (Shwe Myin Tin Pagoda), Pyin Oo Lwin
11 – 18 Feb 2011
Like most pagoda festivals in Myanmar, the Nyantaw Pagoda Festival features all the colour, life along with song and dance that makes these incredible events so interesting. Many Shan and other hill tribes come down to sell their products.

GOLDEN HILLTOP FESTIVAL, Kyaik Khauk Pagoda
13 – 19 Feb 2011
Located at Kyaik Khauk Pagoda, the atmosphere of the Golden Hilltop Festival is remarkably similar to a fun fair. Visitors will find a large variety of stalls that offer delicious local cuisine, clay pots, furniture, bamboo mats. Performances take place to well after dark, and villagers travel from all around by ox-carts to join in the fun and excitement of this colourful festival.

March

SHWE SARYAN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Patheingyi, Mandalay
12 – 19 Mar 2011
This festival features live performances consisting of traditional song and dance, while many locals sell their products. One of the best sellers in this region are the traditional toys made of dried toddy palm leaves.
INDAWGYI FESTIVAL, Hopin, near Myitkina
12 – 19 Mar 2011
The Indawgyi Festival takes place approximately 100 miles from Myitkyina. This annual festival lasts for ten days, with the sand banks being washed by the waves prior to the commencement of the ceremony. This is done for people to walk from the banks to the pagoda, as it is believed that one passage is for humans and the other for gods. Both of these sand banks disappear after the festival.

BAW-GYO FESTIVAL, near Hsipaw, Shan State
14 – 19 Mar 2011
Taking place once a year, the locked up “four images of Buddha” are displayed for the public to worship. Gilded with gold leaf, many Buddhists come from around the country to witness these images. Villagers from Palaung and the many hill tribes scattered around the area come here to sell their tea, jewellery and various other hand-made products.
KAKKU PAGODA FESTIVAL, Pindaya
14 – 19 Mar 2011
The Kakku Pagoda Festival is a showcase of vibrant colours like the many other pagoda festivals which take place around the country, Kakku Pagoda Festival is unique for the unique black outfits of the Pa-O people.

PINDAYA CAVE FESTIVAL, Pindaya
14 – 19 Mar 2011
Throughout the festival at the Pindaya Caves, thousands of pilgrims come to worship to the pagoda. Here, practically hundreds of small stalls line the entrance with local foods, handicrafts, Burmese cigars and much more. Shan tribes also parade their immensely colourful costumes.

NAY WIN TAUNG PAGODA FESTIVAL, Pyin Oo Lwin
19 Mar 2011
This is a traditional Shan festival which takes place in the north of Pyin Oo Lwin. This event is full of stall selling practically everything imaginable and traditional performances.

SHWEDAGON PAGODA FESTIVAL, Yangon
19 Mar 2011
This festival is for all citizens from every country in Myanmar, providing water, light and flowers to the endless displays of Buddha. The day concludes with people praying and worshiping Buddha.
MAUNG DONG NAT FESTIVAL, Monywa
24 Mar – 03 Apr 2011
This unique festival is believed to be the most prominent gathering of witches on earth. Legend has it that Ye Kin Kadaw, Queen of Witches, had extraordinary powers. The King forced her into exile at Maung Dong where she drowned. She is commemorated during the festival by 37 various nats placed around her shrine, along with offerings of bananas, betel leaves, coconuts and flowers.

AH-LONE FESTIVAL, Shwe Bo Raod Monywa
26 Mar – 03 Apr 2011
Located 12 km north of Monywa, the small village of Ah-Lone celebrates during the month of March. The festival commemorates Ma Ngwe Daung who was the daughter of Ah-Lone Bodaw, an Indian prince who came through Tamu and Kaleitmyo to Myanmar. The celebration is based on a love story, where pilgrims come to appeal to Ma Ngew Daung to give them the opportunity to have as many mistresses as the hair on their head. Locals also take the chance to wash away the evil spirits with the water on offer.

April

SHWEMAWDAW PAGODA FESTIVAL, Bago
11 – 20 Apr 2011
Featuring the vibrancy and life of most other pagoda festivals, evening entertainment includes Zats, Anyeints, stage shows and fairs selling all kinds of goodies.

THINGYAN WATER FESTIVAL, throughout Myanmar
13 – 17 Apr 2011
Similar to Thailand’s Songkran Festival, the Burmese New Year is celebrated in April and everyone has a great time splashing each other with water. While the young and young at heart head out to the douse each other in water, the older take retreat in pagodas and monasteries to perform meritorious deeds. A time of year which is very difficult to stay dry, as everyone throws water at everyone!

May

POPA CEREMONY, Mt. Popa
01 – 02 May 2011
This unique festival comprises of various Nat dances on Mt Popa. It can become very crowded and accessing the mountain at this time of year can prove to be somewhat difficult. Travellers to this annual event will find a unique cultural experience that will never be forgotten.

SHITE-THAUNG PAGODA FESTIVAL, Mrauk Oo
14 – 17 May 2011
Features the colour and excitement of all of the other pagoda festivals, but has a traditional boxing show.

SAND STUPA FESTIVAL, Pa Le Ngwe Yaung / Mandalay
16 – 17 May 2011
Stupas are built across three different Mandalay quarters with sand within a night. The stupas are constructed with five segments which converge at the top. Each layer is made up of bamboo supports. Celebration dates change according to the quarters.

SHWE KYET YET EVENT, Amarapura
16 – 17 May 2011
This unique event is full of pouring water to the sacred Bo tree.

SAND STUPA FESTIVAL, Min Thar Su Quarter / Mandalay
17 – 19 May 2011
Stupas are built across three different Mandalay quarters with sand within a night. The stupas are constructed with five segments which converge at the top. Each layer is made up of bamboo supports. Celebration dates change according to the quarters.

SAND STUPA FESTIVAL, Yahai Quarter / Mandalay
17 May 2011
Stupas are built across three different Mandalay quarters with sand within a night. The stupas are constructed with five segments which converge at the top. Each layer is made up of bamboo supports. Celebration dates change according to the quarters.

June

THI-HO-SHIN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Pakokku
11 – 16 June 2011
Lively festival and market taking place around Ho-Shin Pagoda. Entertainment consists of Zats, Anyeints and even movies.

July

CHIN-LONE FESTIVAL, Mahamuni / Mandalay
05 - 25 July 2011
This fascinating festival includes the Chin Lone (Cane Ball) tournament in Mandalay and takes place in the Mahamuni Pagoda for almost a month, day and night. Cane ball players make their way from all over the country to take part in this unique competition. Visitors can see Chin Lone played a number of ways, either as a team or individually. Local folk music is played during the competitions.

SHWE KYUN PIN NAT PWE MINGUN (NAT FESTIVAL IN MINGUN), Mandalay
30 July – 05 Aug 2011
This festival takes place in the Burmese month of Tabaung, and commemorates the youngest brother of King Mingdon who succeeded in rebellion ousting the Sawbawa of Hispaw. A number of his children were killed in the incident and Mindon’s brother did not rest until he eliminated all potential successors. This event pays tribute to this event and features nats, colourful dresses and amazing bullock carts along with traditional performances.

August

TAUNG BYONE NAT FESTIVAL, Taung Byone village near Mandalay
07 – 14 Aug 2011
The Taung Byone Nat Festival is a prominent gathering spot for mediums to contact spirits. One of the most colourful and important festivals for the worshipping of Nats in the country, this festival comes complete with dances and traditional performances.

September

YADANA GU NAT FESTIVAL, Amapura, Mandalay
22 – 28 Aug 2011
Known as the mother of the Taung Byone Festival, this unique event is famous because of the enjoyable rowing trip to the site. The festival is held in honour of the Mother of the two Lords, Mewanna, who returned from the Taung Byong Festival on her way to Mount Popa, while stopping at Yadana along the way.

BOE BOE GYI NAT FESTIVAL, Taungthaman Inn, Mandalay
17 Sep 2011
The festival is held to celebrate the high level alchemical Boe Boe Bye. Pilgrims at the ceremony throw packets of tea leafs at one another. Those who are hit by the packets must visit the following year without fail.

PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA FESTIVAL, Inle Lake
28 Sep – 15Oct 2011
Visitors to the Phaung Dau Oo Pagoda Festival can watch the procession of leg-rowed boats, which are ceremoniously tugging four giant statues of Buddha on a barge across the picturesque Inle Lake. Throughout the event, leg-rowed boat races take place on the lake, and hundreds of other vessels add to the festive environment. Thousands come to join in the celebrations from across Shan state.

October

INDEIN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Inle Lake
19 – 20 Oct 2011
The Indein Pagoda Festival is a prominent Buddhist ceremony that takes place at the fascinating and unique site of old shrine complex in Inle Lake.

KYAUK-DAW-GYI PAGODA FESTIVAL, Mandalay
09 – 15 Oct 2011
Located at the foot of Mandalay Hill is the Kyauk Daw Gyi Pagoda. A festival takes place every year with popular stall selling a variety of locally produced goods. The colour and excitement is quite similar to most other pagoda festivals that take place in Myanmar.
DUMMY ELEPHANT FESTIVAL, Kyauk Se, Mandalay
11 -12 Oct 2011
Situated in a small town that is not far out of Mandalay, an exotic elephant dance takes place at Kyauk Se. A huge and light elephant is made from paper and bamboo, while men take their places inside the float and dance around the town to the beat of the Dobat and Drums. The elephant dancers gather at the foot of the hill to pay tribute to the Shwethalyaung Pagoda.

THE THADINGYUT (FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS), throughout Myanmar
11 – 13 Oct 2011
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.

November

BALLOON FESTIVAL, Taunggyi
04 – 10 Nov 2011
One of the most famous of the festivals in Myanmar is the Balloon festival which takes place in Taunggyi. The festival features fireworks, along with a hot air balloon contest which takes place in the day and night. During the day, balloons are generally formed in the shape of Pagodas, while at night they resemble picturesque lanterns that light up the night sky.

SHWEZIGON FESTIVAL, Bagan
04 – 12 Nov 2011
Like many of the Buddhist pagoda festivals which take place across the country, the Shwezigon Festival features all the colour, life and vibrancy that one would come to expect. Zats plays a prominent role in the festivities, and features a number of dances and songs along with plays. Food and other domestic offerings are also available for purchase.

THAN-BOD-DE PAGODA CEREMONY, Monywa
09 – 10 Nov 2011
Another fantastic pagoda festival that is unique to Myanmar. Colour and excitement take over and a number of plays, songs and traditional dance are performed. Some of the locally produced items available for purchase include local thanaka, sandalwood and woven textiles.

SHIN MAR LE PAGODA FESTIVAL, Thazi
09 – 10 Nov 2011
This unique festival takes place at the time of the Ta-Zaung Dine Festival, where people throw lotus flowers from the top of a giant stupa at Mahamuni Pagoda. Visitors come to pay homage to the Lord Buddha.

TA-ZAUNG-DINE LIGHT FESTIVAL, throughout Myanmar
09 – 11 Nov 2011
The Ta-Zaung light festival is held during a full moon the nation. Streets are filled with lights and Buddhists dress in full robes at Ka-hthain. On this day, a total of 9999 candles are lit at midnight and mixed salads consisting of maezali buds are believed to possess magical and powerful properties when eaten at this time.

KAUNG-HMU-DAW PAGODA FESTIVAL, Sagaing
03 – 10 Nov 2011
This unique festival features a number of bullock carts, which carry products from the various surrounding hill tribes to sell their wares. This festival of colour features a number of stalls selling hand-woven cotton, clothes and cane matts.

ROBE WEAVING CONTEST, throughout Myanmar
10 Nov 2011
An event which takes place throughout the entire country is the Robe Weaving Contest. This event takes place prior to the full noon and is a competition to determine the best weaving skills between teams of women. The robes are called “Ma Tho Thin Gan” and are saffron in colour. This traditional celebration is something that has stood the test of time and remains very similar to what it did for hundreds of years. At the end of the ceremony, the winning robes are offered to an image of the Lord Buddha.

KYAIKHTIYO PAGODA FESTIVAL, Golden Rock
10 Nov 2011
This festival takes place at what is arguably the most spectacular and breathtaking location in the country. The Kyaikhityo Pagoda Festival takes place at the site where a massive boulder hangs delicately over the edge of a peak. Pilgrims travel from all over the country to witness the full moon and 9999 candles lit at midnight.

December

SHWE MYAT MHAN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Shwe Taung near Pyay
03 – 10 Dec 2011
The Shwe Myat Mhan Pagoda Festival features the nats, song and dance and stalls of the multitude of other festivals around the country. It is unique as during the British colonial rule, the wife of a local commissioner was relieved from her eye disease after she gave a pair of glasses to a statue of Buddha. Many Burmese travel to this festival and make similar offerings of glasses to Buddha to cure their eye disease.

MT. POPA NAT SPIRIT FESTIVAL, Mount Popa
10 Dec 2011
Mt. Popa is one of the most sacred religious sites in Myanmar and home to a prominent Nat worship centre. Thousands of Burmese flock to the site and in an atmosphere which is joyous and light-hearted. In ancient times, many animals were sacrificed, but this changed in the Bagan period.