APRIL
Water Festival and Myanmar New Year
Date : Usually 13 April to 17 April ( New Year's Day )
Location : Throughtout the country
Duration : 5 days of throwing water and the last, New Year's Day
Thingyan ( The Water Festival ) is the most interesting and greatest occasion for merry making with the largest number of people taking part in it throughout the country. During the Tingyan Festivl, people pour water over one another to the melodious tunes of singing and dancing at the decorated pavillions. Pouring water signifies cleansing the body and mind of evils of the past year. During these auspicious days, Myanmar people perform a lot of meritious deeds to usher in the New Year such as keeping Sabbath, going to pagodas and monasteries, of fering food and alms to monks, paying respect to parents, teachers and elders, setting free fish and cattle and so on. Thingyan is a distinctive festival which is always awaited with great joy and excitement by Myanmar people every year.
Shwe Maw Daw Pagoda Festival
Date : 8th Waxing to 5th Wanning of Tagu
Location : Bago
Duration : 13 days
The most famous Pagoda Festival in Bago. Classical theatre troupes perform their best here so they will be booked by agents for the next pagoda festival season.