Festival in 2020
| DATE | FESTIVAL | PLACE | EVENTS |
| Kachin Manaw | Myitkyina, Kachin | Speeches by Kayin elders followed by group dances | |
| Naga New Year | Leshi ,Chin State | Gayals are slaughtered in sacrifice followed by singing, dancing and drinking of alcholic beverages the whole night by a huge bonfire | |
| 2 Jan – 24 Jan. ‘20 | Ananda Pagoda | Bagan | Bowls of alms filled with crops are offered to monks who all wait in a long line. Pilgrimage and holiday outings on country bullockcarts can be seen. |
| 9 Jan – 15 Jan.’20 | Maelamau Pagoda | Yangon | |
| 29 Jan – 26 Apr. ‘20 | Shwe-set-taw Pagoda | Minbu, Magway. | pilgrimage is only possible in the dry season 2 footprints are said to have been left by Lord Budha when he visited there. |
| 1 Feb – 9 Feb. ‘20 | Kyaik-Khauk Pagoda | Thanlyin | Like all Myanmar pagoda festivals, local products and snacks are sold, people visit by wearing colorful dresses and ornaments.
Traditional dances are performed at make shift theaters during the festival. |
| 7 Feb – 8 Feb. ‘20 | Mahamuni Ceremonies | Mandalay | On the morning of 15th waxing day, incense is burnt in large flames in a symbolic gesture of offering heat to the great image. |
| 23 Feb – 8 Mar. ‘20 | Maw-tin-sun Pagoda | Ngapudaw, near Pathein | Long and secluded beach stretch between Pagoda Point and Cape Negrais is haven both for beach lovers and beach bums alike. |
| 25 Feb – 3 Mar. ’20 | Pakhan Ko Gyi Kyaw Nat (spiritual being) | Shwe-Gu-Ni village,Yezagye
(Between: Pakoku & Myingyan) |
1st day – Ko Gyi Kyaw is coaxed and he ascends the throne, 2nd day – nat figures are cleansed with water and regilded , 3rd day – drum-thumping for the nat and cock-fighting, 4th to 7th day-designnated for pacifying Ko Gyi Kyaw, 8th day-Re-enactment as told in legends. |
| 1 Mar – 8 Mar.’20 | Indawgyi Pagoda | Hopin, Moe-Nyin, Kachin | Usually the pagoda is in the lake surrounded by water. In summer, a footpath leading to the pagoda surfaces enabling pilgrims to walk to the pagoda. |
| 2 Mar – 9 Mar.’20 | Pyidaw-byan Image | Zalun, Ayeyarwady Division | First taken to Mumbai, India by colonialists but later regained. Famous as the “returnee image”. Robe-weaving contest and bowl of alms offering are major highlights. |
| 2 Mar – 9 Mar.’20 | Kakku Pagoda | Kakku, Taunggyi | Traditional Pa-o theatrical performances and singing contests are included. |
| 3 Mar – 8 Mar.’20 | Baw-gyo Pagoda | Thibaw | A large volume of Shan and Bamar merchandise is trade.Boat races on dote-hta-wa-di river. |
| 3 Mar – 8 Mar.’20 | Pindaya Cave | Pindaya, Shan | Typical Taung-yo pagoda festival. Different ethnic minorities can also be seen. |
| 5 Mar – 9 Mar.’20 | Nan-pan Ceremony | Nan-Pan village, Inle lake | The sight of numerous momks who come in boats and receive food offerings is striking. |
| 8 Mar.’20 | Shwedagon Tabaung Festival | Shwedagon pagoda, YGN | Ceremonies at Shwedagon pagoda. Vendors of all kinds and visitors from various part of Myanmar. |
| 9 Mar – 16 Mar.’20 | Shwe Saryan Pagoda | Shwe Saryan Village,Patheingyi, Mdy | Merchandise from northern Shan State and other parts of the countrry are exchanged at the pagoda bazaar. Toys made of palm leaf are a speciality of the festival. |
| 24 Mar – 28 Mar.’20 | Ka Do Poe | Loikaw (Padaung village) | Loikaw is the capital town situated in South Eastern part of the country & the state is bordering with Thailand. It is the state of Kayan people (one of the Myanmar Nationals) and Ke Hto Bo are religious flags that they believe as scared poles. Around Loikaw built many small villages where Padaung people (long neck women) live. One can also tell the age of a village by checking at Ke Hto Bo. |
| 31 Mar – 12 Apr.’20 | Shwe-maw-daw Pagoda | Bago | Theatrical artists perform on stage with full force to show their competitive edge over their counterparts and to win future performance contracts. |
| 20 Apr. ’20 | Popa Nat Ceremony | Mt. Popa, near Bagan | During Thingyan, pilgrims from the country over pay respect to Popa Nat shrines. |
| 13 – 17 Apr. ‘20 | Water Festival | Through-out the Country | 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 premises to perform meritorious deeds. |
| 17 Apr. ‘20 | Myanmar New Year | Through-out the Country | People did meritorious deeds throughout the day by releasing life fishes in the ponds, wash hair and clean the old aged people. |
| 5 – 6 May.’20 | Shwe-kyet-yet Pagoda | Mandalay | Full-dress, large-scale procession followed by water-pouring on the sacred Bo-tree significantly, on the 14th waxing day of Kason, a day before normal watering day (i.e Full-moon day of Kason). |
| 6 May.’20 | Kason festival | Through-out the Country | Pouring water onto the sacred Bo tree commemorates Buddha’s birthday. |
| 6 May.’20 | Shit-thaung Pagoda | Mrauk-U, Rakhine | Dummy boat races on land, real boat races and water splashing in Mrauk-U canal on full-moon day. |
| 6 May.’20 | Kyaik-pon Pagoda | Bago | Merry makers and pilgrims from Bago area visit this auspicious day. |
| 11 May – 14 May.’20 | Shwe Guni Pagoda | Monywa | Bazaar for Thanaka and lacquer ware from Kyauk-kar is the specialty of the event. |
| 22 May – 20 Jun.’20 | Wicker Ball Ceremony | Mahamuni , Mandalay | Traditional wicker ball players from all over the country participate in the month-long contest that has been going on for over 70 years.This is the best event to watch Myanmar chin-lone game. |
| 29 May – 13 Jun.’20 | Thihoshin Pagoda | Pakkoku | Paying homage to the image presented by the King of Ceylon some 800 years ago. |
| 2 – 3 Aug.’20 | Shinbinsagyo Pagoda | Salay | The pagoda is noted for Buddhist paintings and carvings that are reted finest. Another ceremony is held on full-moon day of Thidingyut. |
| 3 Aug – 31 Oct.’20 | Fish Feeding Ceremony | Kyaung-taw-ya, near Magwe | Held on the bank of Mone canal which teems with large catfish. The fish are fed throughout the Buddhist Lent, when many locals believe is the only time the fish appear. |
| 3 Aug.’20 | Ponnyashin Pagoda | Sagaing | Both pilgrims & merry makers from nearby villages spend their day at the Pagoda. |
| 19 Aug – 21 Aug.’20 | Shwe Kyun Pin Nat ceremony | Mingun | Myanmar’s last barter market where natives trade by exchange of commodities. Marine vessels, big and small, gather to pay respect whilst plying around on the Ayeyarwady. Spirit dances included. 1st day – attending a nat audience, 2nd day – having a royal bath, 3rd day – cutting down htein tree. |
| 28 Aug – 2 Sept.’20 | Taung Byone Nat ceremony | Matara, near Mandalay | Held for worshipping two Taungbyone spiritual figures. Major gathering spot for spiritual mediums. Spirit dances are rampant. 1st day – attending a nat audience, 2nd day – having a royal bath, 3rd day – ascending the throne, 4rd day – presenting roast rabbit, 5th day – cutting down htein tree |
| 12 – 16 Sept.’20 | Yadanar Gu Nat ceremony | Amarapura | Held for Mother of two Taungbyone brothers. Most enjoyable because of the rowing boat trip to the site. Spirit dances are rampant. 1st day – attending a nat audience, 2nd day – having a royal bath, 3rd day – ascending the throne, 4rd day – daughter of Mahagiri reels on the ground in grief, 6th day – closing by cutting down htein tree. |
| 23 Sept – 24 Sept.’20 | Bupaya Pagoda Festival & local boat racing ceremony | Bagan | Local boat racing ceremony in the Ayeyarwaddy River is held during the festival. |
| 29 Sept – 1 Oct.’20 | Tooth Relic Procession | Paung-de, near Pyay | The Tooth Relic mounted on an elephant, is taken the town on full-moon day in full-dress ceremony. During 3 days of festivities it is put on display for worshippers. After the ceremony, the relic is kept inside a heavily locked chamber for the rest of the year. |
| 1 Oct.’20 | Boe-min-gaung Memorial | Boe-min-gaung shrine, Popa | Boe-min-gaung is remembered for higher attainment in meditation practices. He was said to have found the way out of the worldly sufferings. |
| 17 Oct – 3 Nov.’20 | Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Fest & Leg rower Boat racing | Inlay Lake | Four Buddha images are ceremoniously tugged clockwise around the lake on the royal barge by leg-rowing boats. They return home on third wanining day. Leg-rowing boat races are held throughout the event. |
| 26 Oct – 14 Nov.’20 | Myathalon Pagoda | Magwe | Buddhist chanting, early morning rice-offering to 1700 monks and the lighting of 9000 candles are major activities. The scenic beauty of the pagoda, situated on the river bank, is dramatic. Famous utensils made of iron are sold at a large scale. |
| 30 Oct – 2 Nov.’20 | Kyauk-taw-gyi Pagoda | Mandalay | The image was cast out of a single piece of alabaster in 1864 under the guidance of King Mindon. |
| 30 Oct – 1 Nov.’20 | Thidingyut Lighting Festival | Through-out the Country | 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 colorful illuminations. |
| 30 Oct – 31 Oct.’20 | Elephant Dance | Kyauk-se, Mandalay | From 14th waxing day until the full-moon day numerous life-size dummy elephants sing and dance to the accompaniment of music. |
| 30 Oct.’20
(up to 9 months) |
Kyaik-htiyo Pagoda | Kyaik-htiyo | Approx 9 month long season. The boulder standing on the edge of a peak in the higest mountain range, is said to be freely hanging over the cliff. Famous as pilgrimage and holiday outing spot. 9000 candles are lighted as to offer the Buddha. |
| 1 Nov.’20 | Light-float Festival | Shwekyin, Bago | Dances by day and, on the night of the 1st waning day of Thidingyut. Light floats dedicated to Shin Upagutta are put onto Shwekyin canal. |
| 22 Nov – 14 Dec.’20 | Shwe-zi-gon Pagoda | Nyaung-U | Candle lights and fireworks are carried in procession before offering to the pagoda. |
| 24 Nov – 29 Nov.’20 | Hot-air Balloons Festival
(Fire Balloon Flying Festival) |
Taung-gyi | Special Tazaungdine festival takes place in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State with a hot-air balloon contest is held. Known locally as the Lu Ping Festival, it is thought to have been originated by the local Pa-O people. Competitors put a lot of time, effort and money into preparing for the day time and night time contests. Day time balloons are mostly made in shapes of Pagodas, dragons, elephants, mythical hintha birds etc and nigh-time in the form of a multi tier chandeliers decorated with beautiful fireworks. It is a kind of both day and night procession. Last day is the price giving day. |
| 27 Nov – 29 Nov.’20 | Thanbodde Pagoda | Monywa | The pagoda is famous for its late Myanmar era sculpture |
| 28 Nov – 30 Nov.’20 | Phowintaung Pagoda | Monywa | The one and only market where leaves, roots, fruits, barks, thorns, tubers, stems of any herbal value from the western wilderness of Chindwin River are sold on a large scale. |
| 28 Nov.’20 | Robe Weaving Contest | Shwedagon, Botataing Pagoda, YGN | On the 14th waxing day of Tazaunmon, 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. |
| 28 Nov.’20 | Shin Mar Le Ceremoy | Mahamuni precinct, Mandalay | People toss water-lilies at the image of Buddha while making a wish. |
| 29 Nov.’20 | Tazaung-daing lighting festival | Through-out the Country | Having fine weather and clear sky, and having the first crop harvested. Myanmar celebrate the night with various kinds of illuminations. |
| 29 Nov.’20 | Candle Light Event | Koe-htat-gyi, YGN | On full-moon day. 9999 candles are ceremoniously lit. At midnight, visitors are served with mixed salad of maezali buds, believed to possess powerful, magical and medicinal properties if eaten at this time. |
| 29 Nov – 4 Dec.’20 | Kaung-hmu-daw Pagoda | Sagaing | The best spot to watch Myanmar puppet as at Sutaungbyi pagoda festival in Monywa. Pilgrimage and holiday outings on country oxcarts can be seen. |
| 15 Dec.’20 | Ni-gyaw-da Festival | Pathein | Intresting procession includes denonstrations of the miraculous powers of Lord Buddha, robbing of a Shan merchant caravan etc. |
| 22 Dec – 29 Dec.’20 | Shwemyetmhan Pagoda
(Golden Spectacle) |
Shwetaung, near Pyay | This is the only image that puts on glasses offered by a certain donor in colonial time. |
| Kayin New Year | Hpa-An & Arlain Ngarsint in Yangon | Speeches by Kayin elders followed by group dances |