Traditional Festivals
The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is a country with the biggest cultural heritage in Southeast Asia. The Burmese calendar is populated with the "12 seasonal festivals", born from the religious, social, political and educational customs and traditions of the ancient Myanmar people. These festivals are Myanmar's sacred thousand-year-old legacy, preserved throughout the ages. They also have various beneficial effects such as encouraging an influx of academics, propagating Buddhism, and bringing about prosperity for the nation.Tagu (March/April)
Tagu is the first month of the Myanmar
calendar and usually it falls in March and April on the Gregorian
calendar. "Thingyan"- Myanmar New Year Festival is
held in Tagu,generally it falls about 13th April or environs. Thingyan
was held since the Tagaung Period but it became more prominent in the
Era of Bagan Dynasty. As water symbolizes coolness, clearness and
cleansing of dirt and grime, by pouring or throwing water on one another
is regarded that cleanness one and all of the dirt and grime of the old
year and bring coolness and pacify the minds of the people for the New
Year. The most significant characteristics about Tagu is a merry making
festival not only for Myanmar but also for any person who also wish to
take part can enjoy the happiness just like Myanmar. Another aspect in
connection with Tagu is commencing from the olden days up to the present
time is during this period old and aged persons hair were washed and
manicured with typical Myanmar shampoo called "Tayaw"; ( acacia).
Kason (April/May)
Kason is the second Myanmar month and
comes in April-May. It is also a sacred month for Myanmar Buddhists. The
full-moon of Kason is a day of threefold significance:- Firstly, it is
the day that Buddha was born, secondly Buddha attained Enlightenment on
this very day, and thirdly this is the day of his Demise. Therefore,
this day is commemorated as Buddha Day by Buddhists. Kason is the last
period of scorching summer season, so it is very hot. The main activity
on this festival day is pouring water at the Bo Tree. Pouring clean and
cool water on the Bo Tree is done as a symbol of veneration to the
Buddha who attained Enlightenment by meditating under the Bo Tree.
Nayon (May/June)
Nayon is the third month in the Myanmar
calendar, in summer, and fall in May-June. With the aims of propagation
the Buddhism, especially Pariyatti Sasana the practice of holding
examinations in religious scriptures in Nayon was held in the second
Innwa period, when King Thalun reigned. Nowadays, the State sponsored
Examination were held every year for Pahtamabyan, Dhamma Cariya,
Abhidhama, Visudi Magga and Tipitaka .Titles and Certificates for the
flourishing of the Theravada Buddhism presentations of prizes and
certificates are conferred on the Sayadaw, revered monks and nuns every
year. Moreover, in commemoration of Lord Buddha's preaching of Maha
Samaya Sutta to celestial beings from ten thousand solar systems, Maha
Sayama Day was also observed in this month.
Waso(June/July)
Waso, the fourth month in Myanmar
calendar falls between June and July which is partially summer and
partially rainy seasons. The full-moon day of Waso is very significant,
because this is the day Buddha was conceived, the day that he renounced
the worldly pleasure, and the very day that he preached the first sermon
of Dhamma Cakka and the day that he performed the miracles of
supernatural powers. The day also marks the beginning of the Buddhist
lent of three months when members of Sangha go into the rains retrea. A
significant and meritorious s deed of Buddhists in Waso is offering
robes to members of the Sangha for use during the lent, and so these
robes are called Waso robes. Moreover, there is a practice of young men
and women going on outings of gathering flowers to be offered at Buddha
images at pagodas and at homes.
Wagaung (July/August)
It is the fifth Myanmar month. It is in
July-August, wet days of torrential rains, when rivers are in spate. In
the time of Buddha, when the lord was staying at Weluwun Monastery in
Yazagyo, some disciples supplicated to him the matter of individual
disciples having some difficulty to donate meals and alms for all the
Sangha at the monastery at the same time, whereupon Buddha laid down a
way of disciples drawing lots to determine which monk to offer meals and
alms.
Tawthalin (August-September)
Tawthalin is the sixth month in Myanmar
calendar (August- September). Tawthalin being around September, the
sun's path is approaching the equator so that it one of the times when
the location of the country (between 10 N and 28 31'N) places its on the
belt nearest to the sun. Therefore the dark, weeping clouds are often
swept away to be overtaken by bright and clear skies. Sometimes
continuous days of sunshine warms the water in the paddy fields so much
that another saying connected with this month says " The sun in
Tawthalin kills off land crabs ". As there is no rain and not windy, the
surfaces of water in the rivers are very still and smooth. Thus, in
ancient times, during the reign of Myanmar kings it has been a tradition
to hold regatta festivals due to favorable weather conditions. While
the regatta was in procession, the king surrounded by his entourage
watched the event from his royal barge called "Pyi Gyi Mon Barge".
Regattas were held not only for fun but also as a test for improving the
skills of the Royal Marines.
Thadingyut (September/October)
Thadingyut is the seventh Myanmar month
in (September- October) towards the end of rainy season. Lord Gautama
Buddha preached The Abhidamma to His reincarnated mother in Tavatimsa ,
abode of celestial beings for three Lenten months and returned to the
abode of men on the full- moon day of Thadingyut . The King of the
celestials created three stairways, gold, silver and ruby for him.
Buddha took the middle ruby stairways radiating six hues of aura. The
celestials came along by the right gold stairways and the brahmas by the
left silver stairways . On account of that, Myanmar Buddhists celebrate
Tavatimsa Festival on the full-moon day of Thadingyut by lighting
multi-coloured illuminations. For the Sangha it is the time known as
Pawayana, which means inviting, entreating, urging. In practice, since
the times of the Buddha, it is to beg on another monks for forgiveness
of any deed that might have displeased any other among Sangha. Likewise,
there is also the practice among the laity of paying obeisance to
parents and elders.
Tazaungmon (October/November)
It is the eighth Myanmar month ( in
October-November) time for offering of Kathina, Matho Thingan , Panthagu
offering , lotus offering and lighting . Kathina monk's robes are
offered at this particular time of the year. It is held most communally.
In connection with the offerings of monk's robes for a Buddhist , the
donation of this kathina robe at this particular time is regarded as the
most meritorious , as the monk who received this robe was chosen in
accordance with the unanimous decision of Sangha after the plenary
session of Sangha were held . There is also a practice of eating salads
of Mezali leaves with the belief that it is medicinal if it was taken at
this special time (i.e. at mid- night ) on the full-moon day of
Tazaungmon.
Nadaw (November/December)
It is the ninth month in Myanmar
calendar at the onset of the cool season, with misty mornings in
November-December. In ancient times, the seasonal festival was offerings
of Nats, but this tradition had vanished in 1885. In the year 1944, a
special kind of festival emerged, i.e. a celebration in honour of the
literati (Sarsodaw). In the history of Myanmar literature, a day which
is dedicated to U Pon Nya, who was a very famous, prominent and renowned
writer, post and playwright in Konbaung Dynasty was held annually in
this month. So, the present Sarsodaw or literati day has some
connections with this past event. At the present day, it is the time for
presentation of National Awards by the State for the writers, poets and
translators in various fields for their talented and superb tasks.
Pyatho (December/January)
It is the tenth month in Myanmar
calendar during the cool season (December-January). Pyatho, formerly was
a time when Myanmar royalty displayed its strength with military
parades. Nowadays, however, this particular period is reserved mostly
for local pagoda festivals. During the reign of Myanmar kings it was the
month for the equestrian festival held for virtually the whole month.
Indeed, this festival is closely related with military affairs or
martial arts, because various kinds of competitions in horsemanship,
sword fighting, lancing, bowman-ship and maneuvering with elephants are
involved. Indeed it is an occasion to select heroes for the defence of
the country. A few major paya-pwes (pagoda festival) are held in Pyatho.
The famous Ananda Temple festival of Bagan falls at this time.
Tabodwe (January/February)
Tabodwe is the eleventh month of the
Myanmar calendar, as this is the last period of cool season it is very
cold, in January and February. The month of Tabodwe is the harvest
festival, all the products of the farm and garden go in to make
''htamane''a concoction of glutinous rice, sessamum seeds, peanuts,
shredded coconut, flavoured with ginger and mixed with cook oil. Htamane
feast is either celebrated communally or done just in the private
circle of family and friends. The nature of the feast is such that, in
whatever way the feast is celebrated, it means a big gathering because
many hands are needed. In a communal feast people come around with
contributions of glutinous rice and other ingredients. It is an option
though; one can just give his service, if not anything else.
Tabaung (February/March)
It is the twelfth Myanmar month and the
last month in the Myanmar calendar and usually falls in February-March.
It is the time of transition from the cold to the hot season. It get
hotter during day time while the mercury drops down at night , so that a
saying comments " Hot days and chilly nights, making way ward Tabaung
month". Meanwhile, deciduous trees lose their foliage to be taken over
by tender leaf-buds, their waxen glossiness contrasting against the
delicate tracery of twigs and branches. Gossamer clouds drift over clear
blue skies and streams and rivers have changed over from their rolling
boisterous role in monsoon to a sedate, limpid demureness in accordance
with their losses in volume and rates of flow. Thus, it is no wonder
that poets through the ages have waxed eloquent in praising the scenic
beauty associated with this month. With the fall in the water levels of
rivers and streams, sand banks appear on this pristine sand. In the
ancient times of Myanmar Royalty, as there were a lot of splendid sand
banks emerged during this period and as the weather is very pleasant and
favorable for recreation . The king, queens and their entourage
surrounded by guards went to these lovely sand banks in the rivers and
create Stupas which are made glittering white sand. The raising of
stupas made of sand and festivities surrounding this activity used to be
a prominent feature of this month. This consisted basically of moulding
river sand into the shape of a stupa using concentric rings of bamboo
matting or rattan cane to form the outline and decorating with various
religious motifs such as pennants, banners, real and artificial flowers.
To day, this festivity is to much more likely to be celebrated in song
and literature rather than in actual fact. Now, the practice is on the
wane, except in some cities and towns in upper part of Myanmar., but the
time is still held sacred for holding of Buddha Pujayanti ceremonies,
that is , occasionally for rededication of the pagodas. The most salient
fact about this very month is that most of the prominent Paya-pwes (
Pagoda Festivals) are held during this month, for instance, Shwedagon
Pagoda Festival at Yangon.
Reference - YCDC Website