| Date |
Festival Name |
Place |
Comment |
| January |
| 4 |
Independence Day |
|
Myanmar gained Independence from Britain in 1948. Official flag hoisting ceremony is held at People's Park followed by individual hoisting at each household. |
| February |
| 12 |
Union Day |
|
The day is to commemorate the Pin-lon Treaty that had prompted then much-wanted Independence. The Union Flag is ceremoniously carried to the People's Park. |
| March |
| 2 |
Peasant's Day |
|
|
| 7 |
Kakku Pagoda Festival |
Kakku, Shan Stat |
8-day festival
Traditional Pa-o theatrical performances and singing contests are included. |
| 8 |
Pindaya Cave Festival |
Pindaya, Shan State |
5-day ceremony
Typical Taung-yo pagoda festival. Different ethnic minorities can also be seen. |
| 13 |
Tabaung Festival |
|
Ceremonies at pagodas throughout the country. |
| 27 |
Armed Forces Day |
Yangon |
It is to commemorate the day when Burma Independence Army first went to war in 1947. Speech given by Commander in Chief of Defence Services is followed by military parades. |
| April |
13-
16 |
Water Festival |
Throughout the country |
1st day eve
2nd day beginning day
3rd day peak day
4th day receding day
The festival is held prior to Myanmar new year to cleanse away evil deeds of the past year with water. Youths go out for enjoyment while elders take retreat in monasteries and pagoda precincts to perform meritorious deeds. |
| 13 |
Thanaka-grinding Event |
Sittwe, Rakhine State |
A traditional event held on the eve of Water Festival. In the early part of the night, young women grind thanaka barks and roots to a fine cream usually by using water on rounded stone slabs. Young men play musical instruments and dance to support the event. |
| 14 |
Image - bathing Event |
Sittwe, Rakhine State |
Buddha images are cleansed with aromatic thanaka water, made earlier by girls. |
| 17 |
New Year's day |
throughout the country |
Buddhists young and old alike, spend the day performing meritorious deeds such as releasing animals, offering to monks, paying homage to elders, etc. |
| May |
| 1 |
May day |
|
|
| 11 |
Kason Day
(Full moon day of Kason) |
|
Buddha's birthday is commemorated by pouring water onto the sacred Bo tree. |
| July |
| 9 |
Full moon day of Waso |
|
Beginning of Buddhist lent. |
| 19 |
Martyr's Day |
|
|
| September |
| 22-9 |
Inlay Festival |
Inlay, Shan State |
18-day festival
Four Buddha images are ceremoniously tugged clockwise around the lake on the royal barge by leg-rowing boats. They return home on third waning day. Leg-rowing boat races are held throughout the event. |
| October |
| 5 |
Thidingyut Festival of Lights |
throughout the country |
3-day festival ending Oct 7
To mark the day Lord Buddha came down from the Celestial Abode after spending 3 months of the Buddhist Lent there. Buddha's return is remembered and commemorated throughout the country with colourful illuminations. |
| 5 |
Dummy Elephant Festival |
Kyauk-se |
2-day festival ending Oct 6
From 14th waxing day until the full-moon day, numerous life-size dummy elephants sing and dance to the accompaniment of music. |
| 6 |
Tawa-dain-tha Ceremony
(full moon day of Thidingyut) |
Pathein |
The Buddha image is symbolically pulled down a decorated stairway using cables and pullies to mark the day Lord Buddha returned from the Celestial Abode. End of Buddhist |
| 6 |
Kyaik-hti-yo Season
(full moon day of Thidingyut) |
Kyaikhto, Mon State |
Approx.9-month long season
The boulder standing on the edge of a peak in the highest mountain range, is said to be freely hanging over the cliff. Famous as pilgrimage and holiday outing spot. |
| 7 |
Lightfloat Festival |
Shwekyin, Bago |
Dances by day and, on the night, light floats dedicated to Shin Upagutta are put onto Shwekyin canal. |
| 30 |
Balloon-flying Festival |
Taunggyi, Shan State |
6-day festival ending Nov 30
Typical Pa-o festival
Hot-air balloons are released day and night, competing over their beauty and the altitude they gain. Day-time flying is meant for competition of animal figures and night-time is for beautiful fireworks. |
|
November
|
| 3 |
Robe-weaving Contest |
Shwedagon, Botatung, Kyaikkasan and elsewhere |
Groups of young women take part in competitions held on the platforms of the pagodas. The robe is to be finished flawlessly overnight and offered at dawn to the images around the pagodas. |
| 3 |
13th Street Light Event |
13th Street, Lanmadaw, Yangon |
3-day ceremony ending Nov 5
Lanterns with cartoons are displayed along the street. Best cartoonist is chosen and awarded. |
| 4 |
Tazaung-daing Festival of lights
(full moon day of Tazaung-daing) |
|
Having fine weather and clear sky, and having the first crop harvested, Myanmar celebrate the night with various kinds of illuminations. |
| 14 |
National Day |
|
It is to commemorate the day in 1920 when students of Yangon College and Judson College boycotted the University Act made by the British colonialists. |
| December |
| 19 |
Kayin New Year |
Pa-an,
Arlain Ngarsint in Yangon |
Speeches by Kayin elders followed by group dance. |
| 25 |
Christmas |
|
Christianity is the second largest religion in Myanmar after Buddhism. |
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