FESTIVAL IN MYANMAR FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY

Manaw Festival:

Kachins are from one of the main ethnic groups that live in Myanmar. Their home is in the high mountains of the North. The Kachins are most renown for the colourful dresses of their womenfolks, black velvet blouses hung with silver trinkets and red, thick sarong woven in native designs.

Every year in January the Kachins hold a Manaw (a traditional commemorative festival) to welcome in the Kachin New Year. All the Kachin sub-clans gather at the Manaw Grounds at Myitkyina and celebrate this festival.

Normally, the Kachn Manaw Festival falls on January 10 every year but interested individuals should contact their travel agents ahead to confirm the dates. Myitkyina is easily accessible by flight from all over the country and there are adequate accommodations in town.

Naga New Year Festival:

The Naga people are inhabitants of the high peaks that mark the border between Myanmar and India in the far northwestern corner of the country. There are more than 49 Naga sub-clans and every year they congregate at a designated town in the Naga Hills to mark the New Year. The various Naga sub-clans come to the festival dressed in their exotic costumes; men folks in monkey fur wicker hats stuck with hornbill feathers and wild boar tusks. Some might even have tiger fangs hanging around their necks. In ancient times there were photographs of topless Naga women but now all come dressed modestly in native patterned sarongs and blouses. The Festival will start with the raising of the Ceremonial Pole, beating of the Ceremonial Drum, collective dancing and other traditional entertainments. It ends on the night of January 15 with a conga line dance by all, both natives and visitors, around a huge crackling bonfire inside the festival grounds.

Normally the Naga New Year Festival is from January 14 to 15 and rotates among the three towns in the Naga Hills. This year's Naga New Year Festival will be at Lahe. Many travel agents in Myanmar offer packaged tours for foreigners to visit the Festival. Interested persons should contact their travel agents for full information and details.

Ananda Pagoda Festival:

Ananda Pagoda is one of the most famous pagodas in Bagan. Built by King Kyansittha of the Bagan Dynasty in late 11th century it is also rated as the most aesthetic and artistic structure in Bagan.

The Ananda Pagoda Festival is held annually on the Fullmoon of Pyatho (January). This annual festival has been around for more than 2000 years and even now people from the surrounding villages come to the festival the traditional way-in bullock carts. They also stay the whole 7 days duration of the event, camping under the spreading acacia trees around the pagoda. The villagers come here in accordance with King Kyansittha's edict that everybody who lives by the harvest from the land that falls in the shadow of the Ananda Pagoda must contribute 10% of the harvest as tithe for the maintenance of the pagoda.

There are stalls too, selling everything from daily necessities to cosmetics and food stalls of course. The festival ends with the traditional donation ceremony for the monks on the fullmoon day of Pyatho.

Bagan is easily accessible by all modes from transport from all over Myanmar. There are many accommodation facilities, both at Bagan or nearby Nyaung oo to suit everybody's budget. Tours to nearby Mt. Popa and Salay are added bonus for those travelling to the Ananda Pagoda Festival.

FESTIVAL IN MYANMAR FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY

Maha Muni Pagoda Festival (Mandalay):

The pagoda festival celebrates on 14th Waxing Moon day and 15th full Moon day of Tabodwe in Mandalay. The coldest month in Myanmar and during the festival, devotees light bonfires and cook huge pans of sticky rice with ginger, coconut and sesame to offer to monks at the Maha Muni pagoda. In other parts of the country, sticky rice is cooked as a celebration of the harvest and distributed within communities.

Shwe Settaw Pagoda Festival (Magwe Division):

The festival begins on 5th Waxing Moon day of Tabodwe in Shwe Settaw, Magwe Division, in central Myanmar. During 11 days festival, there are two pagodas which enshrine footprints of the Buddha, the site is on the banks of the Mann Creek, where bamboo cabins are erected every year for local revelers to enjoy cool swims during the heat of summer.

Kyaik Khaut Pagoda Festival (Thanlyin):

This festival starts 8th Waxing Moon day of Tabodwe in Thanlyin near Yangon. The nearest pagoda festival of this size closest to Yangon, just 30 minutes away by car. The duration is 10 days. A free traditional puppet show is always part of the festivities.

Htamanae Festival (Nation Wide):

This festival is to celebrate the harvest, communities and organizations cook giant pans of sticky rice with ginger, coconut, peanuts and lots of sesame, which is wrapped in banana leaves and given to neighbours and friends.

FESTIVAL IN MYANMAR FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH

Shwedagon Pagoda Festival (Yangon):

It is one of the wonders of the world of to-day, was believed to have built over 2005 years ago where the Buddha's relics were enshrined. The festival is usually held on the full moon day of Tabaung which is being in March. The traditional snacks and local products are displayed and sold in many stalls along the side ways to Shwedagone pagoda. It is worth moment for visitors to see how bustling Myanmar people enjoy their holiday and how they participate in religious activities of festivals.

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