If you are planning to visit Burma or Myanmar, you can enjoy some excellent festivals but the thing is that you should be aware of the festivals. Here I am trying to give an overview about the most celebrated festivals.
In the month of April, the Water Festival or Thingyan is celebrated. People enjoy for three long days which introduces the Myanmar New Year. People arrange different things such as makeshift pavilions with stages for dancing and singing. The barrels are usually filled with water. Young generation dance and sing on the stages while throwing water on all. It is believed in Burma that being drenched with Thingyan water washes all sins and bad luck of people. In procession you can also see decorative floats.
In the month of May, the Kasone Festival takes place. Buddha was born in the Myanmar month of Kasone that falls on the full-moon day. Buddha also attained Enlightenment and passed away in this month. Buddha had attained Enlightenment when meditating under a Bodhi tree. The grounds of pagodas and monasteries are planted with many such trees. On this auspicious day, people carry water in earthenware pots. They water the Bodhi trees. In the temple ground processions are held in a colorful way.
The Waso Robe-Offering is another festival of Burma. This is performed to mark Buddha’s first preaching. This one falls on the full moon day in the month of June or July. At pagodas, free meals are offered to the monks.
In October, full-moon day of Thadingyut, the Festival of Lights is celebrated. This is done to mark the descent of Buddha from Tavadinsa. On this day, buildings, pagodas, houses, and public parks are decorated with strings of electric bulns. Candles, oil lanterns are also used for the decoration. Young people gift their elders some cakes, fruits, or pieces of textiles.
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