Festivals are an intricate part of life in Myanmar. Most festivals revolve around the lunar calendar or auspicious Buddhist dates. Below we have listed all of the major festivals taking place throughout the year. Contact our Discovery team to plan your trip around any of these festival dates.
Myanmar Festivals 2024
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival,Inle lake
Date: September/October Waxing Day of Thadingyut)
Location: Inle Lake Region
Duration: 18 days festival
Watch the procession of leg-rowed boats, which are ceremoniously tugging four Buddha statues situated on a royal barge clockwise around Inle Lake. Throughout the event leg-rowed boat races are being held and you will come across them during the excursion on the lake. Hundreds of other vessels travel in the entourage in a general festive atmosphere. Thousands of people from around the Shan State attend this most holy of all Shan celebrations.
Kyauk Daw Gyi Pagoda Festival, Mandalay
Date: September / October (12th Waxing days of Thadingyut)
Location: Mandalay Region
Duration: 8 days festival
It’s situated at the foot of Mandalay hill, within a short walking distance from Mandalay Hill Resort. It is considered popular sales fair where all kinds of goods (some of them locally produced) are sold. Next to that is the usual organization of events similar to other Pagoda Festivals.
Dummy Elephant Festival,Kyauk Se, Mandalay
Date: Tbc October (14th waxing days of Thadingyut)
Location: Mandalay Region
Duration: 1 day festival in October
This unique and exotic elephant dance held at Kyauk Se, a small town not far from Mandalay. A huge but light elephant figure is made with 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 Shwethalyaung Pagoda. It is a dance that requires precise rhythm and timing in order for the elephant dancers to maintain uniformity inside the elephant figure. Numerous life-size paper dummy elephants sing and dance to the accompaniment of music.
The Thadingyut (Festival of the lights), Throughout Myanmar
Date: October (14th Waxing Day of Thadingyut)
Location: Throughout the country
Duration: 3 days festival
To mark the end of the Buddhist Lent, and is also one of the most prominent festivals of the year. Pagodas, houses, public buildings, parks, and monuments are all illuminated and there are various kinds of activities for everyone to enjoy. Thadingyut is not only for joyous but also thanksgiving and paying homage to Buddhist monks, teachers, parents and elders, and asking pardon for whatever misdeeds might have committed.
Shwezigon Festival, Bagan
Date: October to November (8th Waxing Day of Tazaungmone)
Location: Bagan Region
Duration: 14 Days
Shwezigon Festival will be held starting from October to November. There are evening entertainments such as Zats: (a variety of dances, songs, short and long plays), Anyeints (a performance of a few hours in which a number of “jokers” caricature current situations and or person strung together by a traditional dancer, popular movies shown in open air. On full moon day (in Nov.), there is a communal offering of food to the monks from the nearby monasteries (ca. 600) lined up as in usual offerings.
Balloon Festival, Taunggyi
Date: November (9th Waxing Day of Tazaungmone)
Location: Taunggyi, Shan State
Duration: 7 days festival
The fireworks are in the form of rockets. There is always hot balloons competition day and night. Day balloons are usually in the form of Pagodas, and animals such as elephant, dragon or ducks while the night balloons usually in the shape of rugby ball, huge elongated paper balls with small lighted multicolored paper lanterns hung around their sides and balloons would sting along fireworks and fire sticks which are set off mid-air fireworks.
Ta Zaung Dine Light Festival, Throughout Myanmar
Date: November (one day before Full moon of Tazaungmone)
Location: Throughout Myanmar
Duration: 3 days festival
Another festival of light held on the full moon day throughout the country. Home and streets are illuminated and Buddhists are provided robe and various requisites at Ka-htain (Ceremony of offering robes to monks). On this particular full moon day number total 9,999 candles are ceremoniously lit at mid night. Visitors are served with mixed salad of maezali buds, believed to possess powerful, magical and medicinal properties if eaten at this time.
Than Bod De Pagoda Ceremony, Monywa
Date: November (One Day before Full Moon of Tazaungmone)
Location: Monywa
Duration: 2 day festival
Like other pagoda festival with the usual entertainment provided. Myanmar thanaka, sandalwood and woven textiles (cotton blankets and longyis mainly) can be bought at the various stalls around the pagoda area.
Robe Weaving Contest,Throughout Myanmar
Date: November (Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone)
Location: Throughout Myanmar
Duration: 1 day festival
The robe weaving ceremony is held on the eve of the day before full moon day in one night. This is a competition for the weaving skills between teams of women to complete special saffron-colored robes, called “Ma Tho Thin Gan” from the evening onward at dawn. It is still done in the traditional way and lots of people enjoy watching the demonstrations. At dawn, the robes are offered to the great image of Lord Buddha and followed by the prize giving ceremony for the winners.
Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda Festival, Golden Rock
Date: November (Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone)
Location: Golden Rock
Duration: 1 day festival
The boulder, standing on the edge of a peak in the highest mountain range, is said to be freely hanging over the cliff. The place is famous as a pilgrimage and holiday outing spot. On this particular full moon day number total 9,999 candles are ceremoniously lit at mid night.
Shwe Myat Mhan Pagoda Festival, Shwe Taung Near Pyay
Date: December (8th Waxing Day of Nadaw)
Location: Pyay Region
Duration: 8 days festival
This pagoda festival is as same as the others pagoda festival. But one interesting thing is during the British time; Mrs. Hurtno wife of the commissioner was relieved from her eye disease after she offered a pair of glasses to the Buddha. Local people who lives around this area they believe that whoever have a problem with eyes they make novena to this pagoda.
Popa Nat Spirit Festival,Mt.Popa
Date: December (Full Moon Day of Nadaw)
Location: Mt.Popa Region
Duration: 1 day festival
Mt. Popa being considered most important Nat worshiping center, thousands of country folks and town people in their joyous, light-hearten and merrymaking in this particular festival. Thousands of animals were sacrificed to the Nats during the festival however this practice has been stopped since Bagan period. Spirit possession and Overall drunken ecstasy are part of the celebration.
Kachin Manaw Festival
Date: Start of January
Location: Myitkyina and Putao of Kachin state
How does joining a line of people dressed in their best costumes and dancing a spiritual dance around a totem-like pole sound? At the same time, be in awe at the beautiful traditional costumes and the colorful, traditional Manaw poles decorated in Kachin motifs. This is exactly what happens on the 10th of January in Myitkyina and Putao of Kachin state. The Manaw festival is one of the most popular festivals in Myanmar, and has been around for more than three decades. It is a celebration of the New Year by worshiping God Lamu Madai, also known as the God of the Spirits.
Ananda Pagoda Festival
Dates: January (The pagoda festival duration is one month (30 days)
Location: Ananda Pagoda, Bagan
During this festival season, you can experience life as it was before cars were invented and people still used bullock carts. Camp out to a performance of famous local theatrical troupes and other traditional entertainments. Ananda Pagoda Festival is one of the most famous pagoda festivals in Bagan. You will have a chance to try out different savory foods and buy many souvenirs at this festival. At dawn on the Full moon Day of Pyatho, hundreds of monks line up and make their way between donors lined up on both sides. The local people make many offerings to the monks, ranging from food to personal essentials such as toothbrush.
Naga New Year
Date: January
Location: Lathe (Layshi) of Sagaing Region
During this New Year festival, you will be busy taking pictures of Naga warriors wearing hats made from bear fur, horn bill feathers, wild boar tusks, and tiger claws. You will also see men in minimal clothing with tiger fangs hanging from their necklaces. Until recently, Naga people were known to take off heads and body parts of their enemies as a way of sacrificing to the gods and for personal glory. They would also hang these parts from trees to “fertilize” the community. Arrows were placed through the eyes of the heads to ward off evil spirits. Although much has changed since then, the New Year festival allows you to learn about the cultures of a variety of different Naga people.
Union Day
Date: February
Location: All across Myanmar
Union Day of Myanmar is a national holiday that honors the day Bogyoke Aung San helped unify all of Burma. Since five days before the Union Day, a ceremony to mark the annual relay of Union flag begins at the City Hall. During the relay, the flag is passed down from people to people and is carried through 35 townships before arriving at People’s Square on Pyay Road for the actual ceremony on Union Day.
Mahamuni Pagoda Festival
Date: End of February
Location: Mandalay
On the full moon day of Thabodwe, thousands of people from across the country gather up at this pagoda to burn a variety of incense sticks for the Myanmar Buddha image as a way of paying homage. In addition, glutinous rice (sticky rice with ginger, coconut and sesame) are offered to the monks. This festival explodes with fun and energy for two days. Mahamuni Buddha image is highly venerated as it is said to be made in front of Buddha himself. The image is covered with 15 cm thick god.
Shwedagon Pagoda Festival
Date: March, preceding Full Moon Day of Tabaung
Location: Yangon
Shwedagon Pagoda Festival is the largest paya pwe (pagoda festival) in Myanmar. Monks recite the Holy Scriptures continuously for 24 hour every day for the entire week before the full moon day of Tabaung. The Buddhists believe that this will keep the evil away and make the country safer. Donations from those who attend the festivals go towards the preservation of the Pagoda. There will also be competitions of weaving holy robes using traditional looms which will later be offered to the Buddha images at the four corners of the pagoda before dawn.
Thingyan Water Festival
Date: April
Location: All throughout the country
Thingyan festival is the largest and most important public holiday throughout Myanmar. Cool down yourself in this scorching hot weather by participating in the water festival where people throw water at each other in order to wash away last year’s bad deeds. Even ask you walk down a local street, children will splash you with water using small plastic camps and waterguns. However, as you drive through the main streets, you will observe people squirting water with garden hoses and even fire hoses to those who pass by their mandats (stage). Don’t hesitate to participate in this water splashing festival and feel free to splash water at anyone who passes by except monks, nuns, and pregnant women. There will also be performances of traditional dances and songs along with more modern groups. Also, don’t forget to try one of the Mote Lone Yay Paws, Myanmar Glutinous Rice Balls with palm sugar inside. Mote Lone Yay Paw means “round snacks floating on water” and is a traditional food of the Water Festival. Friends and families enjoy their time together as they make the rice balls together, sometimes even putting in a small piece of chili instead of palm sugar in order to prank others. On the last day of the Thingyan festival, people do good deeds by paying respect to the elders. They would have a ceremony where young people would wash hair and cut nails for the elders. They would also gadaw (bowing down three times as a way of showing respect) and offer gifts to the elders. Others also rescue fishes from areas that were drying up or that were captured into larger lakes and rivers with a prayer and a wish saying “I release you once, you release me three times.”
Taung Pyine Nat (Spirit) Festival
Date: Early August, From 8th waxing day to the full moon day of Wakaung
Location: Taung Pyone village, Mandalay
Thousands of worshipers come to the village in commemoration of two brothers (Shwe Phyin Gyi and Shwe Phyin Lay). The two brothers served King Anawyahtar during the Bagan Era (11th century) and were executed in the village. They are now believed to be powerful spirits. Worshipers offer alcoholic drinks and meat for the two spirit brothers for good luck. There are also Myanmar traditional orchestras for those who dance to make the spirits happy.
Bagan Temple Marathon
Date: November
Location: Bagan
Description : Discover the beauty of this quickly developing nation and enjoy running in beautiful landscapes along quiet roads. The highlight of the trip is the Bagan Temple Marathon taking place in November. Imagine cool morning mist floating above paddy fields, and rays of sunrise casting warm golden glow over the amazing temples and ancient kingdom of Bagan. A site of one of the greatest civilizations in Southeast Asia. The Bagan Marathon is truly a run of the Kings, the scenery does not get much better than this. The route is interesting mix of trail running and road. Although being one of the most popular destinations in Myanmar, Bagan retains its rural village feel and charm. This will undoubtedly change in the coming years. Travel here now and part take on this unique marathon run on partially unpaved natural trails and enjoy the magic of this special destination.
Kalaw Hill Run
Date: December
Location: Kalaw
Description : Myanmar’s third annual Kalaw Trail Run has opened for registration. The event, featuring a trail half-marathon (21 km) and a 12 km trail run, will offer scenic races through beautiful forests surrounding Kalaw, a hilltop-town 30 km from Inle Lake. The event is scheduled for December.The Kalaw Trail Run provides runners with an opportunity to compete along the hilly terrain of southern Shan State. Established in 2016 the race is now in its third edition and clearly established on the regional calendar of distinctive fun events in Asia. The local association is supporting the event, which should attract 500 participants including international competitors from across the region. The local community of Kalaw is also supporting the event with hotels offering discount rates for runners and groups. Kalaw, at an altitude of 1,320 meters, is one of the highest towns in western Shan State and enjoys cooler weather than at Inle Lake 30 km away in the valley.
Yoma Marathon
Date: January
Location: Yangon
Description :The fifth annual Yoma Yangon International Marathon kick off on Sunday in January, starting and ending at Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium. According to a press release, organisers have improved the path of the course based on suggestions from last year’s marathon. The marathon will pass by sites such as Botahtaung Pagoda, Shwedagon Pagoda and Inya Lake. The event has come a long way since 1000 athletes ran the inaugural course in People’s Park in 2012: This year’s edition will see 8000 runners, according to organisers, which is a third more than were reported last year. January will see 7475 local and 525. International registered runners compete in four categories: the marathon (42 kilometres, 26.2 miles), starting at 5am, the half-marathon (21km, 13.1 miles) at 5:30, the 10km (6.2 mile) challenge at 6:45 and the 3km (1.8 mile) fun run at 7:30. An important part of the YYIM [Yoma Yangon International Marathon] is fundraising for charity. With this year’s theme being ‘Run for Children’, proceeds will be donated to improve the lives of Myanmar’s youths.
Triathlon
Date: February
Location: Yangon
Description : MYANMAR will host a triathlon, a multi-stage competition involving swimming, cycling and running, on February in Yangon, with 50 participants from 14 countries.The contest will take place between Hlegu and Hmawby townships, 50 miles from the northern tip of Yangon. Twenty-three athletes will represent Myanmar at the international event, together with competitors from Australia, Denmark, Norway, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, South Africa, Switzerland, England, the U.S. and Germany. The competition will consist of a 41-kilometer mountain bike race, an 800-meter swimming event and a 10-kilometer road running race. The first prize winner will be awarded US$150, while $75 will go to the second prize winner and $35 to the third prize winner.
Cycling Race
Date: October
Location: Nay Pyi Taw
Description : Like most institutions under this country’s odious military government of decades past, for years the Myanmar Cycling Federation was largely dysfunctional, contributing little to the advancement of the sport and, at times, actively suppressing its development – this latter point was aptly illustrated by a bewildering incident in 2005 when MCF officials actually called in the police to prevent a well-organized and well-sponsored mountain bike race from taking place north of Yangon. But in the past couple of years the federation has turned a page under a new president who is passionate about, and understands, the sport of cycling. More races are taking place each year, and more riders are participating in these competitions. The 10th Asian Continental BMX Championships, held in Nay Pyi Taw on October 31, not only provided a day of exciting international competition – it was also the first cycling event ever held in Myanmar with official endorsement from the sport’s governing body, the International Cycling Union (UCI).
Food Festival
Date: August
Location: Yangon
Description : Naturally, Myanmar food is highly influenced with the neighboring cultures, although there are some unique to Myanmar. Myanmar people, usually have numerous kinds of snacks and traditional foods region wise. Most of them are made, based on rice and glutinous rice. In Myanmar, there is a very greening and pleasant coastal region called Myeik at which the dough with the special taste is very famous regional dessert. Myanmar famous Mohinga is one of the most common typical Myanmar noodle dish in fish soup. Food in Myanmar is usually served with fresh ingredients, often including vegetables used together with tropical fruits. And also Teahouses are a big part of life in Myanmar: they are a place for drinking and eating and having good conversation with friend. Myanmar tea is typically served hot, milky and sweet, with additional and sometimes unending Chinese green tea. In this festival you can so many kind of foods and dishes. The Myanmar food festival is very unique festival with Myanmar culture.
