FESTIVALS CALENDER
JANUARY |
Anada Pagoda Festival Kachin Manaw Festival Naga New Year Festival |
FEBRUARY |
Mann Shwe Settaw Pagoda Festival Kyaik Khauk Pagoda Festival Maha Muni Pagoda Festival ( Mandalay ) Htamane (Glutinous Rice Festival ) |
MARCH |
Ko Gyi Kyaw Spirit Festival Novitiation Ceremony Shwe Nattaung Pagoda Festival Maw Tin Zun Pagoda Festival Inn Daw Gyi Shwe Myitzu Pagoda Festival Bawgo Pagoda Festival Zalun Pyi-Taw-Pyan Buddha Image Festival Pindaya Shwe Oo Min Festival Shwe Myat Mhan Pagoda Festival Kekku Pagoda Festival Shwe Sar Yan Pagoda Festival Shwedagon Pagoda Festival Alaungdaw Khathapa Festival Panguni Utram |
APRIL |
Water Festival and Myanmar New Year Shwe Maw Daw Pagoda Festival |
MAY |
Ritual of Pouring Water on the Bodhi Tree |
JUNE |
Pakokku Thiho Shin Pagoda Festival |
JULY |
Waso Full Moon Festival Waso Chin-Lone ( Cane Ball ) Festival |
AUGUST |
Taung Pyone Spirit Festival Yadana Gu Spirit Festival |
SEPTEMBER |
Manuha Pagoda Festival Hpaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival |
OCTOBER |
Festival of Lights Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda Festival Dancing Elephants Festival Kaungmudaw Pagoda Festival Shwe Kyin Light Festival |
NOVEMBER |
Tazaungmone Full Moon Festival Hot Air Balloon Festival All Night Robe Weaving Contests Shwezigon Pagoda Festival Po-Win-Taung Festival Shwesandaw (Pyay ) Pagoda Festival |
DECEMBER |
Mae Lamu Pagoda Festival Popa Guardian Spirits Festival Kyaik-hti-yo 'Golden Rock' Pagoda Festival ( Nine Thousand Lamps ) |
Myanmar is a Land of Festival ; in every month there is a festival. Most of the Myanmar festivals are cultural and religious in nature, reflecting the country's deep spirituality as well as important social events. Many festivals are related to pagoda festivals that people from the surrounding towns and villages come. Pagoda festivals are meant to commemorate the religious consecration rituals which are observed by the monks and make it into a holy and revered place of worship. During the pagoda festivals, there are local entertainment groups performing for the visitors, foodstalls, other shops selling various products, etc.
As most festivals are held during the fair weather ; i.e. after the rains when the harvest has been done by the villagers and they are free from their daily fieldwork. During the festivals, they meet old friends, engage in commerce, boys meet girls and generally the people enjoy themselves. There are also other festivals by many ethnic groups inhabiting the country connected with either the new year or harvest according to their own calenders. Apart from these festivals there are also many festivals connected with the other religions and Nats or the spirits.