Thadingyut Festival (Festival of Lights):
This festival held on the full moon day of Thadingyut in October marks the end of the Budditst Lent. It lasts for three days during which houses and streets in cities and towns are brilliantly illuminated. Pagodas are also crowded with people doing meritorious deeds. It is not only a time of joy but also of thanks giving and paying homage to teachers, parents and elders.
October marks the end of the Buddhist Lent. After three months of quiet, Myanmar takes on a festive mood again. The three-day Festival of Lights during Thadingyut symbolizes the return of the Buddha from heaven and angels lighting the path of his descent to earth.
Thus, wherever you go in Myanmar, you will be greeted by strings of lights, oil lamps, candles and fire balloons. Each house commemorates the occasion with a lighted paper lantern hung outside.
Elephant Dance Festival:
En route from Yangon to Mandalay, there lies a thriving town called 'Kynuk-se in Upper Myanmar -- situated some 26 miles to the south of Mandalay. This town is noted particularly for the elephant dance which is performed at annual Light Festival in the month of Thadingyut (October). The main feature of this festival is the elephant dance accompanied by colorful pageantries -- on live size white paper elephant decked with regal trappings carries on its back a replica of the sacred Tooth of Buddha or some relies of an Arahat while a black paper elephant follows as the finale of the procession. Each of these paper elephants is borne and animated by two men inside. The black paper elephant dance merrily to the procession music and thus it is the centre of attraction during the carnival.
Nowadays, the elephant dance no longer sticks to its native town alone. It has become one of the highlights in many auspicious celebrations throughout the country. The other important festival outside Yangon is the exotic Elephant Dance held in Kyaukse, a small town not far from Mandalay.
A huge elephant figure is made from bamboo and paper. Men take their places inside the figure and dance around the town to the accompaniment of Dobat and Drums. The elephant dancers circle three times at the foot of the hill to pay homage to the Shwe Tha Lyaung Pagoda. It is a dance that requires precise rhythm and timing in order for the elephant dancers to maintain unity inside the elephant figure.
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival (Inle Lake)
The festival of Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda in Inle Lake, is held with great magnificence and pageantry fun fairs and dances. The holy images of the Buddha from Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda are placed on a decorated royal barge call Karaweik (Mythical Bird) and towed by leg-rowers around the lake, stopping at each village to each village to let people pay homage. In the festival, one can find food stalls, toy shops selling sundry consumer goods, magic show, puppet show and dramas.
People, young and old, simply love to have a stroll around the place where there is pagoda festival. The unique of this festival is traditional leg-rowing boat races, crew by both men and women.
| October 1 |
Performing Arts Competitions |
| October 2 |
Sand Stupa Event |
| October 7 to 26 |
Mya-tha-lon Festival |
| October 10 to 12 |
Pyekthayway Pagoda Ceremony |
| October 11 to 14 |
Kyauk-taw-gyi Festival |
| October 11 |
Floating Alms-bowl Ceremony |
| October 11 to 12 |
Dummy Elephant Festival |
| October 11 |
Buddhas Precessing |
| October 11 to 16 |
Pa-o Ceremony of the Tree of Plenty |
| October 11 to 13 |
Thidingyut Festival of Lights |
| October 12 |
Za-yat-gyi Event |
| October 12 |
Kyaik-kti-yo Season |
| October 12 |
Tawa-dain-tha Ceremony |
| October 12 |
Thanakha-dabbing Event |
| October 12 to 14 |
Shaking Pagoda Festival |
| October 13 |
Light float Festival |
| October 13 to 21 |
Ramayana Festival |
| October 13 to 26 |
Su-taung-byi Pagoda Festival |
| October 15 |
Shin-bo-mae Ceremony |
| October 16 to 19 |
Pendant Socks Festival |
| October 17 |
Chinese Floats Ceremony |
| October 26 |
Dipawli |
