Myanmar Festivals | Tai Star Travel and Tour | Adventure Travel partner in Myanmar (Burma)

Culturally and ethnically diverse Myanmar have festivals all year round. Most of them are regional and if you are in popular tourist destinations at the time of festival, you could easily explore.

Myanmar has a lot of pagoda festivals especially for the famous pagodas. Pagoda festivals through out Myanmar are quite similar. There are market stalls selling local produces, Myanmar traditional sweet and savoury snacks, and some amusement places during the day. There are also at least a few variety of evening entertainments, usually comprise of open air movie showing popular films, open air theatrical performances such as: Zats (a variety of dance, song and short & long plays) and Anyeints (a few hour performance of traditional dances with some intervals of stand-up comedies where the comedians (usually four) caricature current situations).

However, for some festivals you have to make a special effort to get there. Some of such festival itineraries (Golden Rock 9000 Candle Lighting Festival, Nar-ga New Year Festival) are available as a festival tour package on our website or we can help you to create your own festival itinerary of your chosen festivals.

January

9th - 10th January

Kachin Manaw Festival & Kachin State Day

There is usually a big celebration in Myitkyeenar (the capital of Kachin State) and also in other Kachin city, town and villages in Myanmar. Kachin State Day falls on the 10th.

14th -15th January

Naga New Year Festival

It is celebrated in a Naga village in Chin State. The opening ceremony is on 14th in the morning, followed by traditional dance and bonfires in the evening. There are traditional sports competitions, gathering of Naga sub-tribes and showcasing exotic Naga worrier costumes. You can enjoy rice wine, roasted meat, BBQ and tribal dance to drum beats.

15th - 30th January

Ananda Pagoda Festival in Bagan

Just for this period, the Ananda Pagoda compound is occupied by caravan of bullock-cards, fun fare with shops selling all kind of goods most of which are local produce. There were also open air theatrical entertainments comprising traditional dances, songs, plays and stand-up comedy acts.

February

1st February

Feast of Shan Harvest Day

Harvest day is celebrated in cities, towns and villages through out Shan States. Traditional celebration include paying homage to monks at local Buddhist monasteries, offering of delicious Shan food and also some traditional dances with long drum and gong.

7th February

Shan State Day

It is celebrated through out Shan States and other places where there are big Shan community, such as Mandalay and Yangon. The celebration involvs a few speeches or public seminars on Shan State Day with attendees wearing Shan traditional costumes. The entertainment contain Shan cultural materials such as reading poems, singing Shan States Day songs and dancing to the Shan Drum beats and Gong.

14th - 29th February

Mahamuni Pagoda Ceremony

Monks chant Buddhist scriptures non stop from 1st to 9th February. On the 8th (the waxing day), there are public offering of groceries and domestic items to monks in nearby monasteries and also starts the real ceremony. It also has day time market stalls and evening entertainment like Myanmar Pagoda festivals.

7th - 21st March

Shwe Saryan Pagoda Festival

It is held in Shwe Saryan Village - Patheingyi, 45 minutes drive form Mandalay on the way to Maymyo (near Hton Bo). It can also be reached by a small boat on Douhtawaddy River. Main attraction includes visiting pagodas near by and the market stalls selling the village produce including mats made of dried toddy palm leaves, , boxes, baskets and traditional toys.

14th - 21st March

Indawgyi Festival

This 10 day festival is held at Indawgyi in Hopin, about 100 miles (5 hour drive) from Myintkyina every year. The fascinating thing about this festival is that two sandbanks are formed after being washed up by the waves before the festival begins so that people can walk from the bank to the pagoda. People believe that one is for human use and the other is a passage for the gods. These two sandbanks disappear into the lake shortly after the festival.

16th - 21st March

Baw-Gyo Pagoda Festival

The Baw Gyo Pagoda is situated near Hsipaw and the locked up �4 Buddha images� are brought out for display during the festival days for display, worship and gilding with gold leaf. Gambling is allowed during the festival days only. Market stalls are dominated by tea-growing Palaung tribes from nearby hills and jewellers from Kyauk Me selling their produces/ products.

18th � 22nd March

Kakku Pagoda Festival

The festival is in Kakku village, approximately 25 KM away from Taunggyi, the Capital of Shan State. On the full moon day, native Pa-O tribe dressed in their traditional black costumes offer Alms. There are market stalls selling local produce.

18th - 22nd March

Pindaya Cave Festival

Pindaya Cave is about a 3 hour drive from Heho. On the full moon day, native Danu, Pa-O, Taung Yoe and Palaung tribes made offering in Pindaya. There are festive market stalls selling local produce and performances from roaming artisans.

March (date to be confirmed)

Mu Se Kyaikhteeyoo - 9000 candle lighting Festival

This three day festival is held at Mu Se Kyaikhteeyoo. People from nearby villages joins people from other parts of Myanmar to celebrate the event. It is about 90 minute drive from Mu Se � the border town of Myanmar and China. The only accommodation at the festival is to camp or your guide or local travel agent may be able to arrange an accommodation at village houses. The celebration involves offering food, beautifully crafted fruits and flowers to the great image of Lord Buddha and then light 9000 candles and scents. Great for trekking, camping as well as observing the way locals celebrate festivities.

12th - 16th April

Thingyan Water Festival (Songkran Festival in Myanmar)

Myanmar People celebrate Thingyan festival from 13th to 16th of April. From 14th to 16th of April, everybody throw water at everyone, so it is inevitably to get wet when going out on these days. Around town, there were many temporary station built for people to throw water and there are people who roam around the town in open truck or open roof cars from one water throwing station to another. Offices, markets, most shops and restaurants closed during that period.

17th April

Myanmar New Year

It is celebrated through out the country. It is the end of water festival and the Myanmar New Year Day according to Buddhist calendar. Almost everything is closed nationwide.

18th - 19th May

Kasoan Fullmoon Day at Shwe Kyet Yet Pagoda

Although Kason Full moon day is celebrated widely with small scale ceremony through out the country. Shwe Kyet Yet Pagoda is particularly crowded with people who pour water to the sacred Bo Tree on the Kasoan fullmoon day.

19th May

Shite-thaung Pagoda Festival

It is held on 3rd full moon day at Shite-thaung Pagoda in Mrauk U. In addition to market stalls and evening entertainment in any other Myanmar pagoda festivals, it also showcases traditional boxing show.

26th - 18th June

Chin Lone Festival ( Mahamuni Waso festival)

Myanmar traditional Cane Ball (Chin Lone) tournament was held in Mandalay Mahamuni pagoda compound everyday and night for about one month. Players from all over the nation participate in this event. The tournament also showcases server different ways of playing cane ball and the rallying between individuals or teams, accompanied by the folk music or the traditional orchestra.

17th July

Waso Fullmoon Day

The start of Buddhist Lent is celebrated through out the country. People donate new robes and temporal requirements to monks individually at home/ at the monasteries or collectively in Donation ceremonies at the monasteries or pagodas.

3rd - 9th August

Shwe Kyun Pin Festival

Regional Nat (Spirit) festival in Mingun near Mandalay. Unlike some other festival market stall, this showcases a variety of ceramic wares from Kyaukmyaung and Singaing laid out at the river bank for sales.

9th - 16th August

Taung Byone Festival

The most famous Nat (spirit) festival in Myanmar is held in Madayar, about 1 hour drive from Mandalay, for 5 days. Special programs are presented every evening. It is usually very crowded and took a long time to get into the village through the crowd. People of all ages can join in the Nat dance and many young people enjoy drinking at the festival.

24th - 30th August

Yadanar Gu Festival

This traditional Nat (spirit) festival is held in Amarapura, situaged on Mandalay-Sagaing Road, 30minute drive from Mandalay. From Mandalay side of Amarapurah, you can get on a small sampan on the lake or walk on the famous U Payne Bridge to the Nat Shrine Hall.

22nd September

Shwe Kyet Yet Boat racing festival

Boat racing at Shwe Kyet Yet Jetty, near Mandalay.

30th September to 17th October

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival

This long festival is the biggest occasion of the famous Inle Lake. During the festival, the sacred Buddha images from Phaung Daw Oo are placed on a decorated royal barge and taken around to the lake, stopping at villages for local to pay homage. The images of the Buddha from Phaung Daw Oo are placed on a decorated royal barge and taken around the lake, stopping at villages for people to pay homage. The festival is characterised with spectacular procession and very colourful. Boat races and fun fairs are also held during the ceremony.

7th - 14th October

Kyaukdawgyi Pagoda Festival

Kaydawgyi Pagoda is at the foot of Mandalay Hill in Mandalay. The festive market sells a variety of goods including the local produces.

7th October - 5th November

Magwe Myathalon Festival

It is held in Magwe Myathalon Pagoda in Magwe.

13th October

Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival

It is celebrated on the full moon day. People from nearby villages as well as big cities like Mandalay (26 miles north of Kyaukse) will join this yearly cultural celebration. The whole town of Kyaukse compete for the best Elephant Dance performance and also the best-decorated elephant. For an elephant dance, two men get inside a life size hollowed-out papier-m�ch� elephant figure and imitate the movements of a real elephant to a traditional music.

13th - 15th October

Tadingyut Festival and fullmoon day

The nation celebrates the end of Buddhist Lent and by lighting candles at home and on the street. It is also the thanksgiving period and people show respect and pay homage to parents, elders and teachers.

5th - 20th November

Shwezigon Festival

Bagan�s Shwezigon Pagoda Festival contain usual Myanmar Pagoda Festival elements, such as market stalls full of local produce, traditional sweet and savoury snacks and the evening entertainments. There is also a collective offering of food and domestic items to monks from the nearby monasteries.

6th - 12th November

Hotair Balloon Festival

Paper Hotair Balloon Festival is one of the most popular cultural celebrations in Taungyi (the capital of Southern Shan States). Some people from other States and divisions in Myanmar travel to Taungyi for this festival. There is a competition for best decorated paper hot air balloons in different shapes including in forms of animals (elephants, horse, cattle, pig, Hintha-the mythical bird, etc�). There is also fire crackers and firework display during the evening.

7th - 12th November

Monywa Thanbodde Pagoda Ceremony and Monywa Phowintaung Festival

It has usual entertainment package like in other Myanmarpagoda festival. The festive market around the pagoda usually stocks Myanmar thanaka, sandalwood and woven textiles such as sarong (Longyis) and cotton blankets.

7th - 12th November

Sagaing Kaunghmudaw Pagoda Festival

Caravans of bullock carts carrying goods for sales including hand-woven cotton clothes, cane mats camp in the pagoda compound. Festival markets and usually entertainment package are provided.

11th November

Robe Weaving Contest

The robe weaving contest is held in big Myanmar cities on the evening before the fullmoon day. At this competition, teams of women weave �Ma Tho Thin Gan� (a special saffron-colour robe) overnight (from evening to dawn) to offer to the great Lord Buddha Image. People enjoyed watching the demonstration of traditional weaving method during the competition.

12th November

Kathein & Tazaungdaing Fullmoon Festival

People donate what they can to monks from monasteries near by, such as yellow robes, footwares, umbrellas, alms bowls and other domestic items. This ceremony is called �Kathein� and people hope to celebrate every year or at least once in their life. Although Kathein is celebrated nationwide at different scales, Sagaing near Mandalay with a lot more pagodas, monasteries and nunneries attract much larger crowd than else where in the country.

2nd - 19th December

Bagan Alo Taw Pyi Pagoda Festival

This festival comprises usual package of festive markets and entertainment package like in any other Myanmar Pagoda Festivals.

5th - 12th December

Shwetaung Shwemyetmhan (Golden Sceptical) Pagoda Festival

This pagoda has interesting history. During British time, wife of a commissioner was relieved from her eye disease after offering a pair of spectacles to the Buddha Image. Since then, local have believed that they should pray or donate spectacles to the pagoda for any eye problems or diseases they may have. This festival comprises usual package of festive markets and entertainment package like in any other Myanmar Pagoda Festivals.

12th December

Taung Byone Natto (Sit Htwet) Nat Festival

Popa Minmahagiri Nat Ceremony

These are held at two different places Taung Byone and Mount Popa. It is similar to Taung Byone Nat Festival in August, but smaller festival.

31st December - 2nd January

The Golden Rock � 9000 Candle Lighting Fetival

This festival is celebrated at the Golden Rock Pagoda in Mon State. It took about 4-6 hours to get to the base camp. From base camp you could either hike all the way up. Alternatively you can get on a car to the mountain bank close to the summit before walking up to summit where the Golden Rock lies. On 31st of December, there were some Kayin traditional music and dances for entertainment at the square in front of Goldne Rock. You can also observe the volunteers who are cooking for a big crowd, making flower board or fruit crafting to offer it to the great image of Lord Buddha on the gold gilded rock. You can go hiking or trekking to nearby mountains during the day. On 1st January there were some Buddhist monk chanting and Shan ladies present crafted fruit to pay homage. In the evening, 9000 candles are lit and you can participate it. Alternatively you can capture spectacular pictures of people lighting candles and scent sticks. On the 2nd January, there were offering of main meal of the day as well as groceries or domestic items after the meal to Buddhist monks from the local monasteries.