Thingyan, the Water Festival
 Thingyan, the Water Festival is the
unique and colourful with the merriest occasion in Myanmar.
During Thingyan days, the people throw water each other
since the Myanmar people believe that Thingyan water has the
power to cleanse the evil and sins of the old year. Thingyan
falls on the last four days before Myanmar New Year day,
which is in the second week of April roughly on the twelfth
or thirteenth, according to the Gregorian calendar.
Almost the whole population is in the most joyous mood; roam
around the city in cars or on foot to throwing and splashing
water each other. Elaborately decorated pavilions and
pandals called Mandats are built beside of almost every
street in front of government offices and private business
establishments. The young women gather dressed in their
best. It is the time when Thingyan sprit is in the air and
Thingyan fever grips the heart. To every people, no
 matter
what religious belief, Thingyan brings joy, happiness,
relief and hope. For the young and the young-at-heart, it is
the merriest time of the year when they literally let
themselves go splashing and pouring water on friends and
strangers, wait to throw water with water pipes. Special Thingyan songs play all the time. Some pavilions have raised
platform for traditional dance performance.
While Thingyan is a time for fun, it is also a time for
religious reflection. People go to Pagodas and Monasteries
to do merit and offer food to monks, pay homage to elders
and bathe Buddha images. Snacks and refreshments are
prepared and served to everyone.
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Hot Air Balloon Festival
 November is the best time to travel as
there is no more rain and the environs are still green, no
muddy and not yet dusty everywhere in the region. At that
time of the year, the Hot Air Balloon Festival is usually
celebrated on a grandeur scale. The festival has now become
a proud tradition of the Shan people and is a major tourist
attraction.
In Taunggyi, the capital of the southern Shan State, the
festival is celebrated annually on a grand scale for 6 days.
Lu Ping festival commonly known as hot balloon festival is
said to have been the origin of Pa-O minority, one
 of the
many ethnic groups in the region. There, the word Lu Ping
generally means eliminating all evil by giving alms and
offertories to Buddhist monks. On the occasion, people also
enjoy fun and merriment by holding firework and hot air
balloon launching competitions, competing over their beauty,
lasting hours in the air and attitude they can gain.
Day balloons are usually in the form of Pagodas and animals
such as elephant, dragon or duck while the night balloons
are usually in the shape of rugby ball, huge elongated paper
balls with small-lighted multicolored paper lanterns hung
around their sides.
Every balloon is hand-made using bamboo
frames and locally produced paper, made from the mulberry
plant.
Night balloons are larger and more elaborate, equipped with
firecrackers and fireworks. The pyrotechnic display starts
at a pre-determined height. All the fireworks are
traditionally made, using gunpowder, charcoal and a little
bit of magnesium.
On this great occasion, over 350 balloons are released
throughout the festival every year. It is a great
opportunity to observe this marvelous festival held once a
year in Myanmar.
(The exact dates of the festival vary from year to year
according to the Myanmar lunar calendar.)
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Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival
 The greatest event of the Phaung Daw Oo
Buddha images is held on a grand scale in the month of
October (sometimes in September). It is the time of
transition from the rainy to the cold season. The monsoon is
gone and the whole country everywhere looks pleasant. It can
be regarded as pagoda festival season as famous pagoda
festivals are held and Phung Daw Oo pagoda festival is the
most colorful and spectacular festival in Myanmar. It is the
biggest occasion at the Inle Lake because it is not only
held at the place where the pagoda is situated.
 Four Buddha images out of five from Phaung Daw Oo pagoda are
taken on a gilded Karaweik royal barge and conveyed around
14 villages on the lake during 18 –festival days. The barge
is towed by decorated canoes paddled by leg-rowers and
hundreds of boats follow the procession. The large crowds of
people gather on the lakeshores to celebrate the occasion.
The pagoda festival is held in every village, where the
barge makes stopover. People pay homage and offer flowers,
alms, water and a variety of fruits to the Buddha images.
The most interesting event of the festival, especially for
foreigners is their boat race due to
 their unique leg
rowing. Boat races are held during the festival and on the
last day. Usually a race is taken place with three long
boats, containing one hundred people each, standing upright and rowing with their legs in the traditional Inle style. It
is the one and only place in the world where one can see
such marvelous act.
Even when it is not festival time, it is very interesting to
observe the Intha's lifestyle on the lake, floating farms
and the most famous floating market which being held at
Ywama village every five days.
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Taung Pyone Nat Festival (near Mandalay)
 Majority of Myanmar people are Buddhists. However, some of
them have any other traits of believe such as worshipping
some deities for devotion or for consolation. Most of the
people generally consider that it is not a peculiar thing to
revere a Nat (Spirit).
About 20 km north of
Mandalay lays a small village called Taung Pyone, resting
quietly among the green fields. This place becomes the focus
of the Taung Pyone Spirit Festival held every year in the
Myanmar month of Wagaung (August) to honour the Nats at that
place. This area had been awarded to the Nats as a special
province of their own by Myanmar Kings since Bagan dynasty
in 11 century. According to tradition, Nats are spirits that
must be appeased or they will wreak havoc in
 peoples' lives.
The homage-paying festival is now held annually to appease
the spirits as it is believed that the Nat Brothers can
fulfill one's wishes, protect one from ill fate and danger,
and bring good luck, prosperity and progress. It is one of
much glories and distinguish spirit festival occurs annually
on August.
Nowadays, Taung Pyone is
the most famous one among the Nat festivals countrywide. All
the Nat medians and those who believe and worship Nat gather
at that village. Thousands of
 people are attending at the
hundreds of Nat Pavilions to discuss the median for their
future plans and prosperities. Series of 37 Nat statues on
the stands are offered food and flowers, cash, alcohol, and
the medians amuse Nat with dance and the traditional Nat
music day and night. As Nat song and music is very
fantastic, whoever heard this song want to participate in
their dance. Thousands of people are coming in and out
everyday until the end of the festival.
The Taung Pyone Nat
Festival is a place of must for those who want to observe
the spirit-worship in Myanmar and it is a sort of merry
making trip.
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Popa Nat Festival (Mt.Popa)
 Popa Nat (Spirit) festival is held on
full moon day of Tagu, the first month in Myanmar calendar
during summer (April). Large numbers of worshippers, who
believe in spirits pay respect to the Nats at their shrines
on the top of Mt. Popa.Visitors will have a chance to
witness the Nat (Spirit) dances, which are very crowded with
the audience. In addition to this main festival, there are
also festivals held on full moon day of Warkhaung, the fifth
month of Myanmar calendar (July-August) and full moon day of
Nadaw, the ninth month in Myanmar calendar
(November-December).
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Ananda Pagoda Festival
 Ananda Pagoda festival in Bagan takes
place a few days before the full moon day of Pyatho, which
falls on December/January. Pagoda festivals give farmers the
chance not only to worship at a famous pagoda but also make
a little extra cash selling handicrafts.
Entire villages near and far arrive in caravans of bullock
carts and camp around the temple. People bring bedding,
cooking pots, dry rations and even their pet dogs, which
trot beside the oxen with a look of importance on their
faces.
 Pottery rafts come down stream from the famous pottery town
of Kyaukmyaung, some kilometers upriver from Mandalay during
the Ananda festival. The riverside at Bagan is lined with
rafts and boats bringing these jars and smaller unglazed
pottery. They are piled high on the sandy banks, while near
the temple they squat in row upon glistening row, like fat
beetles in the sun.
At dawn on the day of the full moon, alms bowls filled with
rice are offered to monks who all wait in a long line, and
special offerings at the Buddha with rice, fruit, cakes,
flowers, candles and scent sticks.
At all Pagoda festivals in Myanmar, local people have a
great chance to watch the performing arts of Zat Pwe
(traditional dance and drama) and movies in open theatre
from dusk to dawn every night throughout the festival days.
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Shwezigone Pagoda Festival
 Shwezigone pagoda festival is held in
Tasaungmone, the eight month in Myanmar calendar during
winter (October-November). The bell shaped stupa Shwezigone
pagoda can be regarded as Major attraction in Bagan since it
is the prototype of later Myanmar stupas.
It was first built
in AD 1075 by King Anawrahta and completed in AD
 1090 by his
son, King Kyansittha. The holy tooth relic and the
collarbone of Buddha that were brought from China and Sri
Lanka respectively are enshrined in the pagoda. The festival
held annually and lasts for 23 days. Like other pagoda
festivals, there are food stalls, shops selling local
products, magic shows, puppet shows, theatrical shows, Zat
pwe and Anyeints.
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Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival
 This festival is celebrated on the full
moon day of Thadingyut (October) and a yearly cultural
highlight of Kyaukse, 26 miles south of Mandalay. The
life-size elephants are made of bamboo frames and paper. Two
men get inside of the hollow elephant and dance like lively
elephants, followed by some traditional musical troupes is
very exiting and amusing. The whole inhabitants compete, not
only for the best elephant dance performance, but also for
the most beautifully decorated elephant. The festival is
crowded with people from surrounding villages of Kyaukse and
also from Mandalay. Visitors will have an opportunity to
witness the Myanmar Art of Papier Mache Toy.
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Mathoe Robe Weaving Contest
Mathoe robes weaving ceremonies are held
at various prominent pagodas in big cities like Yangon and
Mandalay. Mathoe robes weaving contests on the Massive
Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon are the most significant in
Myanmar.
Mathoe robe means the weaving of the robe must be completed
within same night and must be offered to the Buddha before
dawn. Preparation for Mathoe Robes weaving contests is taken
place on the platform of the Shwedagon Pagoda in the evening
of the eve of the full moon day of Tazaungmone. Nine teams of
60 Religious Associations of the Shwedagon Pagoda take part
in the contests. The weavers are from various parts of the
country. The weaving women are kept ready for weaving prior
to the contest. The Mathoe Robes weaving contests open at
5pm. A contesting team has six members including the team
leader. Weavers are selected based on stamina, energy and
thoroughness and the other members stand by for assistance.
Visitors can witness the communal work in this contest and
contestants make great endeavour in weaving the robes.
Enthusiasts encouraging the contestants include foreign
tourists as well.
After the contest, gluing, sewing, patterning with golden
papers and gluing golden lilies respectively are prepared in
Mathoe robes. At the dawn of full moon day of Tazaungmone,
prize-winning team lead a procession of offering the Mathoe
Robes to four Buddha Images at four archways of the
Shwedagon Pagoda and other prominent pagodas.
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 The Kachin or Jingphaw as they are known
in their own language is one of the largest ethnic races of
Myanmar living in the northernmost region of the country;
belong to Tibeto- Burman tribe. There are different Kachin
tribes like Kharku, Thaisan, Lacheik, Rawang, Thaikhamt and
Lisu. Frankness, friendliness, hospitality and generosity
are some of the lovely characteristics of the Jingphaw.
Manaw is the most remarkable event as well as a unique holy
tradition in Kachin State. The Jingphaw are now either
Buddhist or Christian, and the animist ceremonies of their
ancestors
 are now celebrated as part of upholding their
cultural heritage. They are a people proud of their
traditions, with a richness of culture that befits the
grandest celebrations.Manaw festival to celebrate the New
Year is held in Myitkyina on or around 10th January every
year and it is only for one day. All the Kachin Clans gather
to celebrate this event. It is not only a New Year ceremony
but also a reunion celebration and also a festival to
celebrate a victory or achievement. Moreover, it is a show
of gratitude
 to ancestral spirits. On this occasion, all
participants pray for a bright future.
At one festival, tens of thousands of people from all
villages in the region will be present in all their tribal
finery. Dancing with the rhythmic beat of the ceremonial
gong, moving anti-clockwise in a big circle to the beat of
the gong where everybody can join behind them, waving
ceremonial swords by men and handkerchief by women, your
transient experience with Manaw will surely remain with you
forever.
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Naga New Year Festival
 The Naga are a tribe living in the
mountains, valleys and plains of one of the most remote
places on earth. Naga hill lies in the northwest corner of
Myanmar, close to the Indian border. The snow-capped Mt.
Saramati on Naga hill is 3,828m high. Khamti is the most
famous town of Naga land. The traditional customs and
religious beliefs of the Naga tribes have not died out till
today.
The main Naga tribes have different costumes with fantastic
headdresses of colorful plumes, beads, bone, horn and tusks
as priceless items, which they treasure above gold. Their
robes are closely woven from thick cotton or wool, dyed in
bright colors, and embroidered with cowry shells. Each
pattern has a story that the weaver wanted to record. They
wear everything in every color. The females wear tattoos on
their foreheads and chins.
 In addition, there are some small
differences in customs, but they are still of one main race.
There are 49 sub-tribes differentiated by their spoken
languages. They are a proud people living in an isolated
land, preferring to be left alone in their own region. They
live as strictly according to old customs as their ancestors
did.
Insignias of leaders are apparent: bands of woven armlets
made of cane, or special spears and extra necklaces. Their
finery is not merely for decorative purposes as each piece
has
its own meaning, each piece marks an event or status of
their people.
 Rice wine is always ready in pots at homes. Shared with
others, it is a drink of friendship, of sealing goodwill
between friends and strangers. Naga's biggest festival is
New Year festival, which annually celebrated on 14, & 15
January, called Kaing Bi. There is a great feasting and joy
and tribes gather to join the revelries. On this occasion,
endless cups of rice wine are drunk, bison and wild boar
meat roasted and eaten, tribal dances performed with loud
beating of drums. Visitors are welcomed, for they are
curious about strangers although they prefer to stay home.
The visitors on their part have a chance to see events and
people living in old ways. If strangers join in their
celebrations, they are welcomed; it is good to share the
happiness.
If your travel date falls on January and looking for
something different, please contact to
our office to adjust the date and to be integrated into your
tour program.
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Chin National Day
 It takes place on February 20 every year
in Haka (Northern Chin State) and Mindat (Southern Chin
State). It is a popular holidays for Chins, one of main
races of the country. Visitors can witness the ethnic dances
performed by different Chin groups at both venues. For our
visitors, we would like to recommend a trip to Mindat as one
could visit Natma Taung National Park after (or) before
Mindat. Natmataung also known as Mt. Victoria was given as a
present to Queen Victoria of England in commemoration of
conquest on Myanmar. 10200 ft above the sea level,
Matmataung is the highest in Chin State. It is regarded as
the best bird-wa tching spot among birding enthusiasts. Natma
Taung National Park is centered around the Mt. Victoria, now
known as Kong Nu Peak in
 Chin Language. This Park is
situated in Kanpetlet Township, south of Mindat in Southern
Chin State. On the way to the park, there are numerous
ethnic Chin villages and some other villages belonging to
the Taung Tha people who are said to be ancestors of Bamar
people. This area was once described as "the World's biggest
botanical garden" by the renowned British naturalist Frank
Kingdon -Ward.
The route to Mindat is quite simple. It starts from Bagan
and cross the Ayerwaddy River over the Chauk Bridge, then
about 10hrs. drive along the winding road to Mindat by 4 WD
car.
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