|
|
Kachin State
 |
Manaw Festival
Manaw is the colorful festival of the Kachin people who live in northern
Myanmar. Traditional Manaw was a Nat Festival, honoring guardian spirits,
and the Padain Nat is believed to be the protector and benefactor of the
Kachin. There are many versions of Manaw: a version to celebrate the New
Year, other versions to celebrate victory in battle, house-warmings, and so
on. In earlier times it was a festival for the Duwars, or tirbal chieftains,
but now it is the victory festival for all of Kachin State. A big Manaw Festival is usually held on Kachin State Day, 10 January, in the
state capital, Myitkyina, to usher in the New Year and to celebrate
prosperity and abundance. Traditional Manaw poles, decorated with Kachin
motifs, and are placed in the center of the Manaw grounds. A line of elaborately dressed dancers, led by shamans, approach the Manaw
poles to the sound of brass gongs. As is usual for all mountain people, the
dance is communal and everybody lines up behind the leaders. The dance is a
show of gratitude to their ancestral spirits and their wish for brighter
future. Although most Kachin are now Christians, they are still proud of
their ancestral traditions. |
Inn Dawgyi
Inndawgyi, Myanmar's biggest natural lake, is situated in the Moegaung area
in the Myitkyina district of the Kachin State. The lake is 16 miles long
(north-south) and 7 miles wide (east-west) with a total lake area of is 80
sq miles. Every year in March, the festival of the Shwe- Myintzu Pagoda,
built during the Konebaung era, is held from the 8th waxing day to the 1st
waning day of Tabaung. |
Top
|
Shan State
 |
Ballon and Fireworks Festival
The most significant festival in Taung Gyi is the Tazaungdine Lighting
Festival held in November, During this festival, hot-air ballon competitions
are held. The festival features a colorful display of decorated hot-air ballons in
different sizes and in the shapes of animals including elephants,
pigs,cattle, horses, the mythical hintha bird, and hens. The night sky
lights up with colourful fireworks and lights from the multicoloured hot-air
ballons. The natural beauty of Taung Gyi and its environs can be viewed form
Mya Sein Taung zedi.
Fire Strick Festival
This festival is held in Kalaw in November. Long poles stuffed with fire
works are ceremoniously carried to a pagoda on the outskirts of the town.
They are planted near the pagoda and are burned all night.
Bawgyo Festival
Bawgyo is near the town of Thipaw in Nothern Shan State. The festival is
held around the full moon day of Tabaung ( March). The 700 year old pagoda
is the site of festivities for a week when pilgrims from all over Shan State
arrive to worship the four holy images of the Buddha. The images are locked
in a reliquary for most of the year ,but during the festival days, the
images are taken out for display, for worship and for gilding with gold
foils.
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival
Inlay Lake is the most famous scenic lake in Shan State. The picturesque
lake is 22.4 km long and 10.2 km wide, and is about 900 m above sea level.
It is famous for its unique leg-rowers, floating villages and colourful
makers.
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda in the lake is very famous and its houses five small
Buddha images. The pagoda festival is held every year in the month of
Thindingyut (October) with pageantry. Four of the five Buddha images are
placed on a decorated royal barge and rowed around the lake, stopping at
villages for people to pay homage. There are fun fairs, music, dances and
boat races, and it is the biggest annual occasion in the Lake Inlay
district.
Kakku Pagoda Festival
Kakku Pagoda is in the territory of the Pa O people in Taung Gyi Township.
There are about 2000 stupas packed closely together in ranks, covering an
area perhaps a square kilometer. Legend says that Alaung Sithu, the 12th
century king of Bagan, built the first stupas. The pagoda festival is held
in Tabaung. On the fullmoon day, alms offering is carried out by the Pa- O
people dressed in their traditional black outfits. There also is the
festival market.
Shan State Day
Shan State is situated in the eastern part of the country and has a total
area of 61,091 sq miles which is a quarter of the total area of Myanmar .
The State Day ceremonies are held in Taunggyi, Kyaing Tong , Lashio and many
towns of the Shan State and other ethnic minorities are performed. Shans
celebrate the Feast of Harvest on the 3rd of February, one day before the
Shan State Day.
Pindaya Cave Festival
Pindaya well known for its lime stone caves, is about 45 km from Kalaw . The
cave is set deep in the hillsides, and at the entrance there is the 15 meter
high Shwe Oo Min or Golden Cave pagoda. The tazaung or prayer hall was built
by the famous hermit U Khati who also built many of the religious edifices
on Mandalay Hill. The entire length of the cave is 490 feet and there are about 8,000 buddha
images made from various materials like teak, marble, alabaster, brick,
cement and lacquer. All the images are enshrined in the nooks and corners of
the winding caves. There are also numerous interesting stalactites and
stalagmites in these stone caves. A three day pagoda festival is held in Tabaung (March). The native tribes
such as Danu, Pa O, Taung Yoe and Palaung make offerings on the full moon
day. Festivities include performances by roaming artists and there is a busy
market. |
Top
|
KAYIN STATE
|
Kayin State Day
Kayin State comprises 7 township and has a total area of 11,731 sq miles, ie,
4.9% of the Union of Myanmar. November 7 is the Kayin State Day, which is
celebrated in Pa- an, the state capital.
Kayin New Year
The Kayin New Year falls on the 1st Waxing Day of Pyatho (usually in
December, but some times in January). It is celebrated in Kayin State, Kayin
quarters in Yangon and in other cities where Kayin dominate. The
celebrations include folk dances, traditional boxing and fun fairs. |
Top
|
CHIN STATE
 |
Chin National Day
This one day festival is held in Haka (nothern Chin State) and in Mindat
(southern Chin State) on the 20th February. It is a popular holiday for the
Chin, one of the major ethnic groups in Myanmar. Different Chin groups at
both venues perform folk dances.
Naga Festival
The Naga tribes live in the mountains, valleys and plains of one of the most
remote regions on earth, in the northwest corner of Myanmar close to India.
They live on both sides of the border. Their New Year Celebration is from the 14th to 15th January, and held in one
of the towns in Sagaing Division, either Layshi or Khamti. Tribes from all
of Nagaland, from both the Indian side and the Myanmar sports. the different
Naga tribes, once fierce warriors, gather in their bright and exotic dresses
and celebrate with endledd drinking of rice wine, dancing and feasting on
wild boar meat. |
Top
|
MON STATE
 |
Kyaikthiyo Pagoda Festival
Kyaikthiyo Pagoda rests on top of a precariously balanced boulder
overhanging a cliff on top of a ridge more than 3000 feet above sea level.
The stupa itself is about 20 feet tall, resting on top of a 50 foot boulder
balanced on the rocky cliff. The boulder, stupa and part of the cliff are gilded with gold leaf applied
over the centuries by faithful pilgrims. There are many legends about the
Pagoda and the "nats" and "spirits". Access is only by foot, either a steep
45-minutes climb from the new car park or else a more gradual 7 miles walk
taking four hours from the base camp of Kinmum, east of Kyaikthiyo, about
160km from Yangon. The pagoda festival is held from Dabodwe to Tagu. |
Top
|
MANDALAY DIVISION
 |
Mandalay
Mandalay the last capital of the Myanmar Kings, is located in central
Myanmar, 668 km north of Yangon. Alsp known as Yadanabon - nepyidaw ( Gem
City ) it was built in 1857 by King Mindon, the father of the last king
Thibaw. Mandalay is the largest city boasting a rich cultural heritage, and it is
also a commerical center with rail, road, river and air links to all parts
of the country.
Mahamuni Pagoda Festival
King Bodawphaya built this pagoda in 1784 to house the Mahamuni Buddha
Image, brought from Rakhine State. The image originally was of alloy but now
it is heavily gilded with fine foils of gold, and is estimated to be over
one ton in weight. Being the most revered Pagoda in Mandalay, the early
morning ritual of washing the face of the Buddha's image draws a daily crowd
of devotees. The Pagoda Festival is held in the month of Dabodwe . In the first ceremony
from the 1st Waxing Day to the 9th Waxing Day of Dabodwe (February), a number
of monks chant Buddhist scriptures nonstop. On the 8th Waxing Day, there are
communal offering of dry rations and other necessities to the monks from
nearby monastries. The evening entertainment includes zats ( a variety of dances, songs, short
& long plays ), anyeints (comedic dances), open-air movies, and many stalls
selling various traditional snacks and other utilities.
Taung Pyone Festival
This is the most famous Nat Festival ( appeasing of spirits) in Upper
Myanmar. It is at Taung Pyone village, in Madaya Township, one hour drive
from Mandalay. The festival is held in August, around the full moon day of Wahgaung, and lasts five days, with special programs each day.
Yanadagu Festival
This is another Traditional Nat Festival held in also in August, around the
no moon day of Wahguang. The festival is on the Mandalay- Sagaing road in
Amarapura township, half an hour drive from Mandalay.
Kyauk - Taw - Gyi Pagoda Festival
King Mindon built Kyaukrawgyi pagoda ( the Pagoda of the great Marble Image)
in 1865. The huge Buddha image was cast out of a single alabaster boulder
and brought from the Sagyin hills, about 50 miles from Mandalay. Ten
thousands labourers are said to have been employed for 13 days to transport
the boulder along a specially dug canal o the site of the pagoda at the foot
of Mandalay Hill. The festival is from 8th waxing day to the full moon day of Thindigyut
(October). The event is similar to other pagoda festivals.
Shin Mar Le Pagoda Festival
The Pagoda festival is celebrated during the Tazaungdine festival. People
throw lotus flowers to the top of the stupa, located at the north entrance
of the Mahamuni Pagoda, as homage to the Lord Buddha.
Shwekyunpin Festival
It is a traditional "Nat" festival from 30th July to 5th August, similar to
other "Nat" festivals, where people from surrounding areas came for the
festival.
Pahtodawgyi Festival
The uncompleted mammoth pagoda was built by King Bodawphaya (1781 - 1819 A.D)
in Mingun, Sagaing area. It was built on 5th waxing day of Tabodwe of
Myanmar Era, but it was left uncompleted due to a prophesy that once the
pagoda is completed the country will break up. Had it been completed, it
would be a height of some 500 feet and would have been a wonder. It was
stopped at 162 ft (up to the first terrace) and its girth is about 450ft.
Hta Pwe or Mogok Gem Market
Mogok is famous for its rubies and , hence, is called ruby-land. It is the
center for mining and sale of quality rubies and aother precuious stones.
During the days of the supervision of the appraisers in the royal city.
Nowadays private gem traders open sale shops in Mogoke, and there are also
venues called "Hta Pwe" in reference to keeping gems in brass trays known as
"Hta". The gem trading is carried out during the time where there is enough
light; trading is done twice a day, in the morning and in the afternoon. One
of the sweetcustoms of Mogok is that nobody sells fake gems; when one dealer
is bargining the price no other person would barged in to out bid him.
Nay Win Taung Festival
A traditional Shan Pagoda Festival held in the nothern part of Pyin Oo Lwin,
about an hour's drive from the centre of the town, on and around the full
moon day of Tabaung. It is similar to other traditional festivals.
Shwe Myin Tin Pagoda
This pagoda festival is held around the full moon day of Tabaung in Nyan Taw
quarters in Pyin Oo Lwin.
Shwe Saryan Pagoda Festival
This pagoda is at Shwe Saryan village, near Htonbo in Patheingyi Township,
45 minutes from Mandalay enroute to Pyin Oo Lwin. The festival is celebrated
around the full moon day of Tabaung (March). Myanmar Traditional Toys,
boxes, baskets, and mats made from seasoned toddy palm leaves are the best
selling village products.
Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival
This is the yearly cultural highlight of Kyaukse, 26 miles south of
Mandalay. The entire town participates in a competition, not only for the
best elephant dance, but also for the best decorated elephant effigy. Two men have to get inside the life-size hollowed-out papier-mache elephants
and imitate the movements of a real elephant. A lead man coordinates the
movement of the dancers and he is assisted by a small group of musicians.
The festival is celebrated on the day before full moon day of Thadingyut.
People from the surrounding areas, some as far away as Mandalay, participate
in the festivities. |
 |
Ananda Pagoda Festival
The Ananda is King Kyansitthar's masterpiece. It is laid out according to
the plan of a Greek Cross, with arms formed by proticos radiating from the
central square block. Within the tall arched alcoves of its four sides are
the standing images of the Buddha. There are a large collection of green
glazed terracotta plaques in the Ananda, the largest assembly in a single
building. The pagoda festival is held for a fortnight during Pyatho
(January) around the full moon day.
Shwezigon Pagoda Festival
The Pagoda is an example of early Bagan architecture. It was, built by King
Anawrahta started building it, finished by King Kyansitthar, and enshrined
with various relics of Buddha. At each of its four facades ther is a small
square temple housing a 13 feet high standing Buddha in bronze. The pagoda
festival is held for many days in Tazaungmone (November) around the full
moon day.
Mount Popa Nat Festival
Mount Popa, a 1500m high extinct volcano, is about 50-km southeast of bagan.
It is the legendary home of nats of spirits. The mount Popa area has also
been designated as a National Park, a perfect place for eco-tourism and
summer resort. The Nat festival is held on Myanmar New Year Day in Tagu
(April). |
Top
|
SAGAING DIVISION |
Kaung Hmu Daw Pagoda Festival
This huge pagoda is 10 km beyond the town of Sagaing, south west of
Mandalay, across the Ayeyarwaddy River. The enormous dome rises 46 metres in
the shape of a perfect hemisphere and was modeled after the Mahazeti in Sri
linka. Also known as Rajamanisula, the pagoda was built to commemorate Inwa's
establishment as the royal capital of Myanmar. The pagoda festival is held
around the full moon day of Tazaungdine. The most interesting aspect of the
festival is the caravan of bullock carts in the pagoda compound, some
carrying village products like hand-woven cotton cloths and rattan mats for
sale at the festival.
Thanbodde Pagoda Festival (Monywa)
Monywa, the commercial center of the Chindwin Valley, is about 136 km
northwest of Mandalay. A very unusual Buddhist temple complex, Thanboddhe,
is situated about 20 kilometers from the town. The pagoda has a unique
shape. Receding terraces top the square temple, with a myriad of small
stupas surrounding the central golden chedi. The pagoda festival is held
around the full moon day of Tazaungmone (November). |
Top
|
MAGWE DIVISION |
Thihoshin Pagoda Festival (Pakhokku)
This pagoda festival is held for more than one month from the second week of
June to the third of July ( Nayone to Waso).
Shinbinsagyo Pagoda Festival (Salay)
Sale is a small town about 15 km south of Bagan, on the Ayeyarwaddy river.
The Shinbinsagyo Pagoda festival is held around the full moon day of Waso
(July).
Myathalun Pagoda Festival
The Magway Myathalun Pagoda is believed to have been built by Thubawga the
philanthropist in the Maha Sakrit era. The original height was 52ft, but it
was extended to 82ft by King Saw Lu of Bagan, enshrining 120 relics and
seven gold Buddha images. When it was damaged by earthquake in Kawza Sakarit
1290, it was rebuilt to a height of 99ft. King mindon gilded the pagoda in 1214 in the Myanmar calendar. The pagoda
festival is held around the full moon day of Thadingyut for two weeks.
Kyaungdawyar Fish Feeding Ceremony
The Kyaungdawyar pagoda is in Pwint Phyu, and the festival is lengthy, held
from mid july to the second week of October. It is a famous festival known
as Fish Feeding Festival. People believe that hundreds of big fish, which
can only be seen in July, came specially to pay homeage to the pagoda. |
Top
|
AYEYARWADDY DIVSION |
Maw Tin Soon Pagoda Festival
This pagoda is situated at Maw Tin Zun, Ngaputaw Township in the Pathein
District of the Ayeyarwaddy Division. Maw Tin Zun is also called Nagayit
Mountain, Tharana Mountain or Neibban Mountain. The pagoda is believed to
have been built in Sakarit 103 by Zeyathena, the king of dragons, enshrining
two hair relics of Buddha obtained from the two brothers Tapusa and Balika.
It was named Maha Makuta Yanthi Buddhist Synod, and later, in Sakarit 457,
King Alaung Sithu of Bagan renovated the pagoda and renamed it Phaung-daw-Oo
Pagoda. The Pagoda festival is held in Tabaung (March) for 14 days around
the full moon day. People from all over Myanmar country come to the
festival.
Zalun Pyitawpyan Image Festival
In Maha Sakarit 113 the King and lay disciples of Rakhine cast the Maha
Myatmuni Buddha Image in bronze and three more images were cast our of the
surplus bronze. The fourth statue came to be known as the Man Aung Myin
Statue. This statue was conveyed to Amarapura by the Crown Prince, son of
King Bodawphaya, in Sakarit 1146. The image was housed in the front part of
the royal palace and was called Nan-Oo-Phaya.
In Sakarit 1214 the statue was conveyed to Zalun by the Zalun headman U Shwe
Pwint. The colonialists who had occupied lower Myanmar took the Image to
England with the intention of using the bronze in their mint. According to
legend they could neither melt it nor break it with hammers, and the Queen
was said to have suffered nagging headaches and nightmares. She ordered that
the statue be returned to the place from where it was taken. But because the
British could not remember the original site from where it was taken, they
left it on a sandbank near Hinthada, and the people called it Padawmu Phaya
- the image found on the sandbank. A tug- of -war over ownership took place
between the citizens of Zalun and Hinthada, and Zalun emerged as the
winners. The image has been kept in Zalun ever since. In memory of its
having been taken abroad and having been brought back, it became famous as
the Man Aung Myin Pyitawpyan Image (the statue that was returned from
abroad). This pagoda festival is held in Tabaung (March) for ten days around
the full moon day. |
Top
|
BAGO DIVISION
|
Shwekyin Light Floating Festival
Shwekyin a town in the Bago Division on the back of Sittoung River,
celebrates the light festival on the full moon day of Thadingyut (October).
Thousands of lighted candles on terracotta bowls are floated enmasse down
the river. |
Top
|
YANGON DIVISION
|
Kyaik Khauk Pagoda Festival
Kyaik Khauk Pagoda is built on a hill on the road to the town of Kyauktan in
Thanlyin, about a half an hour drive across the river from Yangon. It is believed that Shin Khawlaka and King Sula Thirimar Thawka of Thaton
built the pagoda to enshire hair relics of the Buddha donated by King Asoka
of India in the 124 Buddhist Era. The pagoda festival is held around the full moon day of Dabodwe (February).
Evening entertainment includes Zats, Anyeints, and stage shows and movies
are shown in the open air.
28 Buddhas Festival
It is common belief that 28 Buddhas, including the last Gottama Buddha, came
into existence and passed onto Nibbana. In the fair weather season, people hold the 28 Buddhas Festival in various
townships around Yangon and in most other parts of Myanmar, according to
their own calendars. The images of the Buddhas are conveyed in a grand
procession around the town for people to pay obeisance, accompanied by music
and dances. |
Top
|
RAKHINE STATE |
Thanakha Grinding Event
This is celebrated in Sittway, the capital of the Rakhine State, on April 12
every year, the eve of Water Festival. In the early hours of the night young
women damsels grind the bark and roots of thanakha, a scented wood, on
rounded stone slabs to make a fine cream. Young men support the event with
music and dance.
Image Bathing Event
This ceremony is held on April 13 to the Buddha images with the aromatic
thanakha cream made earlier by the women.
Shit Thaung Pagoda Festival
This 8 day festival is held at the pagoda's precincts in Mrauk Oo, Rakhine
State, around the full moon day of Kasone (May). The main pagoda was built
in five tiers, surrounding by a variety of stone pagodas. This pagoda
festival is similar to other pagoda festivals, but it also includes exciting
traditional wrestling. Boat races and water splashing in the Mrauk Oo canal
also occur on the full moon day. |
Top
|
|
|
TANINTAYI DIVISION |
Salone Festivals
The Salone are people living on archipalego in Myeik area. The Salone
Traditional Festival (Sea Gyosies Festival) will be held from 14th to 16th
February 2004 at Manjungalet Village on Boncho Island with the aim of
decveloping and promoting Myeik archpelago as a tourist destination and
attraction as unspoiled natural beauty of Myanmar for international market. |
Top
|
|
