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Myanmar Festival Calendar
Pyatho (January)
It is the 10th Myanmar month in the middle of the cool season (December-January). In ancient times it was the month for the equestrian festival held for virtually the whole month, as it involved competitions in horsemanship, bowmanship, lancing and sword fighting, shooting and martial arts.
It was in effect an occasion to select heroes.
It was found to have begun in 674 ME under the reign of pinya Thinhathu but researchers in Bodaw Pay's reign held that it began in the reign of King Nyaugyan in Inn-wa Period.Tabodwe (February)
Tabodwe is the 11th Myanmar month, very cool. in January and February. It is the time for seasonal festival of making Htamanei, a food preparation of glutinous rice, oil fried coconut flakes and other condiments. It is prepared in huge pans by young stalwarts in the community under the guidance of master chefs in communal activity. It was found to have started in the latter part of Nyaung-Yan (second Inn-wa period). It is still in vogue at this time of the year today. Often there are competitions in making Htamanei within communities. Another less known festival in Tabodwe is called Mee-pon-pwe to mark the offering of fire for warmth in the extreme cold. It was known to have started in Bagan Period. it is on the wane now, except in some rural areas.
Tabaung (March)
It is the 12th Myanmar month, falling in February March. In ancient days it was a time for what was known as festivals of sand pagodas, in which people built sand pagodas on the sandbanks and hold festivities on the occasion. Now the practice is on the wane, except in some cities and towns in upper part of the country, but the time is still held sacred for holding of Buddha Pujayanti ceremonies, that is, occasions for rededication of the pagodas.Tagu (April)
Tagu is the first month of the Myanmar calendar. It falls in March and April on the Gregorian calendar. Myanmar new year festival is Thingyan Festival. It is held in the month of Tagu every year. That has been the tradition since Tagaung Period and it became prominent in Bagan period.
Water is a symbol of coolness, clearness and cleansing of dirt and grime. The festival of Thingyan that is made most merry and enjoyable with pouring or throwing water on one another is taken as one that cleanses one and all of all dirt and grime of the old year and cools and clears the minds of the people for the new year.
Merry-making at Thingyan festival is intermingled with noble and pure activities of doing meritorious religious deeds in accord with the teachings of Buddha Dhamma.Kason (May)
Kason is the second Myanmar month and comes in April-May. It is a sacred month for Myanmar Buddhist.
The full-moon day of Kason was the day hermit Sumeda heard from Dipankara Buddha that he would one day be a lord Buddha he saw Four Noble Truths; the day Maha Bodhi Tree grew for him and the day of his Pari-Nibbana.
So This day is commemorated by Myanmar Buddhists as Buddha Day.
The main activity on this festival day is pouring water at the 'bo' (Bodhi Nyaung) tree.
From days of yore to this day, to tree watering ceremonies are held at numerous pagodas in the country on this days. It is one of the traditional cultural festivals of Myanmar people.Nayon (June)
Nayon is the third month on Myanmar calendar, in the hot season, and falls in May-June.
In the second Innwa period, under the reign of King Thalun, in the year 1000 began the practice of holding examinations in religious scriptures in Nayon with aims at propagation of Pariyatti Sasana.
It was followed by the holding of novitiation and ordination ceremonies in the next month of Waso.
Nowadays, Pahtamabyan examinations, Dhammacariya Examinations, Tipitaka Dhara Selection Examinations, Abhidhamma and Vissudhi Magga Examinations were held every year with presentation of prizes and certificates, for the flourishing of the Sasana.
Moreover, in this month of Nayon, what is called Maha Samaya Day was observed in commemoration of Lord Buddha's preaching of Maha Samaya Sutta to celestial beings from ten thousand solar systems.
Waso (July)
Waso is the fourth Myanmar month. It is part summer and part monsoon. It falls in June and July.
The full-moon day of Waso is significant as the day the embryo-Buddha was conceived, the day He preached the first sermon of Dhamma Cakka. the day He performed the miracles. The day also marks the beginning of the Buddhist Lent of three months when members of the Sangha go into the rains retreat.
It is a time of ordination and novitiation in to the religious order, with these events held since the days of ancient Myanmar monarchs for the flourishing of the Sasana.
There is also a practice of young men and women going on outings of gathering flowers to be offered at Buddha images.
A significant practice of Waso is the offering of monk's robes to members of the Sangha for use during the Lent and so these robes are called Waso robes. Likewise there are also big candles called Waso candles offered at this time of the year.
Among lay people it is also a time to offer elders cakes, fruits and other offertories.
Wagaung (August)
It is the fifth Myanmar month. It is in July-August, the rainy season, 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. Thus began the practice at this time of the year to hold lot drawing offerings of meals and alms to the Sangha, although the exact time for such offerings is not definitely prescribed.
In ancient times, this month was also time for the festival of propitiation to the two nats of Taungbyone. This nat festival of propitiation to the two nats of Taungbyone. This nat festival has been in vogue since Bagan times to the present day.
This is also the time for holding of boat races in olden days.
Tawthalin (September)
Tawthalin is the sixth month on Myanmar calendar. (August-September). It is a hot month, hot enough to kill small prawns.
The surfaces of water are like mats, free of waves. So it has been a tradition to hold regatta festivals since the times of ancient Myanmar kings.
It was graced by the king himself aboard golden pyigyimon Barge, adorned by figures of fifty kings on each side, as a symbol of a hundred kings owing allegiance to the monarch.
It was not just pageantry but an occasion for demonstrating the naval prowess of the Tatmadaw of ancient Myanmar kings.
The tradition was nearly dying out until the government revived it with traditional regatta festival held on kindawgyi Lake.
Thadingyut (October)
Thadingyut is the seventh Myanmar month (in September-October) towards the end of the rainy season.
Lord Gautama Buddha preached The Abhidhamma to Maidawmi Nat (reincarnate of His Mother) in Tavatimsa Abode of celestial beings for three Lenten moths and returned to the abode of men on the Full-moon day of Thadingyut. The king of Celestials created gold, silver, ruby stairways for him. Buddha took the middle ruby one radiating six hues of aura. The nats came along by the right gold stairways and the brahmas by the left silver stairways.
On account of that, Myanmar Buddhists celebrate the full-moon day with multi-coloured illuminations. It is also called Tavatimsa Festival after the Tavatimsa Abode of the nats and the Myinmo Lights festival after the Mount Myinmo there.
For the Sangha it is the time for what is known as Pawayana, which means inviting, entreating, urging. In practice since the times of Buddha, it is to beg on another for forgiveness of any action that might have displeased any other among Sangha. There is also the practice among laity of paying obeisance to parents and elders.
Tazaungmon (November)
It is the eighth Myanmar month (in October-November) time for Kathina, Matho Thingan 0ffering, Pantthagu offering, lotus robe offering, lighting and Shin Malai festivals.
Kathina monk's robes are offered at this particular time of the year. It is held mostly communally. Matho thingan meaning non-stale monk's's robes are ones made overnight and offered before dawn. Pantthagy offering means leaving offertories at any public place for anyone's taking. Lotus robes mean those with golden lotus designs offered to Buddha or at pagodas. Tazaungmon is for another lighting festival, taken to be astrologically most opportune. Shin Malai festival originated in Shin Malai's Preaching of Wesandara Jataka on the full-moon day. It is marked by making floats in the shape of barges, putting on it a thousand fruits, a thousand flower, a thousand lumps of rics and a thousand lights to go round before offering at pagodas. It is also called the barge festival or thousand-ful festival. It has been on the wane. There is also a practice of eating salads of mezali leaves with belief that it is medicinal particularly at this time of the year.
Nadaw
It is the ninth Myanmar month at the onset of the cool season, with misty mornings in November- December.
In ancient days the seasonal festival was for propitiation to nats, till it waned.
The 1300s saw the coming into vogue of a celebration in honour of the literati (Sarsodaw) at this time of the years.
It might perhaps have some connection with the day dedicated to writer, poet and playwright U Ponnya after Konbaung Period.
The first recoded celebration dedicated to the literati was found in 1944.
In the present day, It is time for presentation of National Literary Awards by the State.
Myanmar Festival Calendar - 2006
From
To
Events Activities
Area
4 Jan
Independence Day
Country-wide
9 Jan 10 Jan Kachin Manaw Festival (State Day Festival) Kachin State 8 Jan 27 Jan Ananda Pagoda Festival Bagan 13 Jan 15 Jan Kaya State Day Kaya State 15 Jan Nar-ga New Year Chin State 13 Feb 12-Feb Kyaik-Khauk Pagoda Festival Syriam ( Thanlyin ) 12-Feb Union Day Country-wide 15 Feb 18 Feb Salone Festival Salone Village (Kaw Thaung) 27 Feb 13 Mar Maw-din Pagoda Festival Ngapudaw, near Pathein 27 Feb 13 Mar Pakhan Ko Gyi Kyaw Festival Shwe Gu Ni Village 27 Feb 13 Mar Shwe Saryan Pagoda Festival Shwe Saryan Village 02 Mar Peasant’s Day Country-wide 06 Mar 13-Mar Indawgyi Festival Hopin, near Myitkyina 07-Mar
13-Mar Zalun Pyidawpyan Image Festival near Pathein 08 Mar 13-Mar Baw-gyo Festival near Thipaw 09-Mar 14-Mar Pindaya Cave Festival Pindaya 12-Mar 13-Mar Nyan Taw Pagoda Festival Pyin-Oo-Lwin Nay Win Taung Pagoda Festival Pyin-Oo-Lwin 13-Mar Kakku Pagoda Festival Kakku Taboung Full-moon Day Country-wide Alaung taw Kathapa Festival Near Pho Win Taung 27-Mar Armed Forces Day Country-wide 12-Apr Shwemawdaw Pagoda Bago 13-Apr 16-Apr Water Festival Country-wide 17-Apr Myanmar New Year Country-wide 21-Apr 22-Apr Sand Stupa Festival Mintharsu Quarter / Mandalay 25-Apr Popa Ceremony Mt. Popa 01-May Labour (May) Day Country-wide 11-May 12-May Sand Stupa Festival 21st Street, Pa Le Yaung quarter 11-May 12-May Shwe Kyet Yet Event Shwe Kyet Yet, Amarapura 12-May 21-May Shwe Gu Ni Pagoda Kyauk Ka Village (Monywa) 12-May Kason Full-moon Day Country-wide 12-May Shit-thaung Pagoda Festival Mrauk-U 11-Jun
Nayong Full-moon Day Country-wide 09-Jul
10-Jul Shinbinsagyo PagodaCeremony Salay 10-Jul Waso Full-moon Day Country-wide 10-Jul 07-Oct Fish Feeding Ceremony Pwinphyu near Magwe 19-Jul Martyr’s Day Country-wide 02 Aug 09-Aug Taung Byone Festival Matara.near Mandalay 09-Aug Wa Gaung Full-moon Day Country-wide 17 Aug 23-Aug Yadanar Gu Festival Amarapura 07-Sep Tawtalin Full-moon Day Country-wide 23-Sep
03-Oct Phaung-daw-oo Pagoda Festival Inle 30-Sep 07-Oct Kyauktawgyi Pagoda Festival Mandalay 2-Oct 21-Oct Myathalon Festival Magwe 06-Oct 07-Oct Elephant Dance Festival Kyaukse 06-Oct 08-Oct Tadingyut Festival Country-wide 07-Oct Tadingyut Full-moon Day Country-wide 08-Oct Light Floating Festival Shwekyin 22-Oct 20-Nov Shwezigon Festival Bagan 29-Oct 05-Dec Thanbodde Pagoda Ceremony Monywa 31-Oct 05-Nov Phowintaung Festival Monywa 02-Nov 05-Nov Fire Balloon Festival Taunggyi 4-Nov Robe Weaving Contest Big Cities 04-Nov 05-Nov Shin Mar Le Pagoda Festival Mandalay
05-Nov Tazaungdaing Full-moon Festival Country-wide 05-Nov 13-Nov Kaunghmudaw Pagoda Festival Sagaing 28-Nov 5-Dec Shwemyetmhan
(Golden Spectacle )Pagoda FestivalShwe Taung 05-Dec Min Mahar Geri Cermony Popa 06-Dec National Day Country-wide 20-Dec Kayin New Year Kayin State 25-Dec Christmas Day Country-wide Myanmar Festival Calendar - 2007
From
To
Events Activities
Area
29-Dec-05 3-Jan Ananda Pagoda Festival Bagan 4 Jan Independence Day Country-wide 9-Jan 10-Jan Kachin Manaw Festival
(State Day Festival)Kachin State 13-Jan 15-Jan Kaya State Day Kaya State 15-Jan Nar-ga New Year Chin State 25 Jan 2-Feb Kyaik-Khauk Pagoda Festival Syriam ( Thanlyin ) 12-Feb Union Day Country-wide 15-Feb 18-Feb Salone Festival Salone Village (Kaw Thaung) 17-Feb 3-Mar Maw-din Pagoda Festival Ngapudaw, near Pathein 17-Feb 3-Mar Pakhan Ko Gyi Kyaw Festival Shwe Gu Ni Village 17-Feb 3-Mar Shwe Saryan Pagoda Festival Shwe Saryan Village 02 Mar Peasant’s Day Country-wide 24 Feb 3-Mar Indawgyi Festival Hopin, near Myitkyina 25 Feb 3-Mar Zalun Pyidawpyan Image Festival near Pathein 26 Feb 3-Mar Baw-gyo Festival near Thipaw 27 Mar 4-Mar Pindaya Cave Festival Pindaya 2-Mar 3-Mar Nyan Taw Pagoda Festival Pyin-Oo-Lwin 2-Mar 3-Mar Nay Win Taung Pagoda Festival Pyin-Oo-Lwin 3-Mar Kakku Pagoda Festival Kakku 3-Mar Taboung Full-moon Day Country-wide 3-Mar Alaung taw Kathapa Festival Near Pho Win Taung 27-Mar Armed Forces Day Country-wide 2-Apr Shwemawdaw Pagoda Bago 13-Apr 16-Apr Water Festival Country-wide 17-Apr Myanmar New Year Country-wide 11-Apr 12-Apr Sand Stupa Festival Mintharsu Quarter / Mandalay 15-Apr Popa Ceremony Mt. Popa 30-Apr 1-May Sand Stupa Festival 21st Street, Pa Le Yaung quarter 30-Apr 1-May Shwe Kyet Yet Event Shwe Kyet Yet, Amarapura 01-May Labour (May) Day Country-wide 1-May 10-May Shwe Gu Ni Pagoda Kyauk Ka Village (Monywa) 1-May Kason Full-moon Day Country-wide 1-May Shit-thaung Pagoda Festival Mrauk-U 31-May Nayong Full-moon Day Country-wide 30-June First Waso Full-moon Day Country-wide 29-Jul 30-Jul Shinbinsagyo Pagoda Ceremony Salay 30-Jul Second Waso Full-moon Day Country-wide 30-Jul 29-Oct Fish Feeding Ceremony Pwinphyu near Magwe 19-Jul Martyr’s Day Country-wide 22 Aug 29-Aug Taung Byone Festival Matara near Mandalay 29-Aug Wa Gaung Full-moon Day Country-wide 6 Sep 12-Sep Yadanar Gu Festival Amarapura 28-Sep Tawtalin Full-moon Day Country-wide 15-Oct 01-Nov Phaung-daw-oo Pagoda Festival Inle 22-Oct 29-Oct Kyauktawgyi Pagoda Festival Mandalay 24-Oct 12-Nov Myathalon Festival Magwe 28-Oct 29-Oct Elephant Dance Festival Kyaukse 28-Oct 30-Oct Tadingyut Festival Country-wide 29-Oct Tadingyut Full-moon Day Country-wide 30-Oct Light Floating Festival Shwekyin 13-Nov 12-Dec Shwezigon Festival Bagan 20-Nov 27-Nov Thanbodde Pagoda Ceremony Monywa 22-Nov 27-Nov Phowintaung Festival Monywa 24-Nov 27-Nov Fire Balloon Festival Taunggyi 26-Nov Robe Weaving Contest Big Cities 26-Nov 27-Nov Shin Mar Le Pagoda Festival Mandalay 27-Nov Tazaungdaing Full-moon Festival Country-wide 27-Nov 5-Nov Kaunghmudaw Pagoda Festival Sagaing 20-Dec 27-Dec Shwemyetmhan
(Golden Spectacle )Pagoda FestivalShwe Taung 27-Dec Min Mahar Geri Cermony Popa 06-Dec National Day Country-wide 28-Dec Kayin New Year Kayin State 25-Dec Christmas Day Country-wide
