List of Burmese traditional festivals

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{{EngvarB|date=November 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}

{{Culture of Burma}}{{Incomplete list|date=May 2025}}

Burmese traditional festivals are based on the traditional Burmese calendar and dates are largely determined by the moon's phase.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}} Burmese culture is most evident in villages where local festivals are held throughout the year, the most important being the pagoda festival.{{cite book |author=Tsaya |year=1886 |title=Myam-ma, the home of the Burman |publisher=Thacker, Spink and Co. |location=Calcutta |pages=36–37}}{{cite book |author=Shway Yoe |year=1882|title=The Burman – His Life and Notions |publisher=Norton Library 1963 |location=New York |pages=211–216, 317–319}}

Festivals

class="wikitable"
Month

! Festival(s)

! Day

! Significance

! Events

Tagu (April)

| Thingyan

| Mid-April

| Marks the beginning of the Burmese new year

| Gadaw (paying obeisance to elders), water games, observation of the Buddhist Sabbath (Uposatha), parades

Kason (May)

| Bo tree watering festival

| Full moon of Kason

| Marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha (Vesākha)

| Watering of the Bo tree

Nayon (June)

| Tipitaka Festival

|

| Nationwide Pariyatti Sasana examinations for Buddhist monks[http://www.allmyanmar.com/new%20allmyanmar.com/Myanmar%20Festival%20Nayon.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125083018/http://www.allmyanmar.com/new%20allmyanmar.com/Myanmar%20Festival%20Nayon.html|date=25 January 2009}}

|

Waso (July)

| Robe Offering Festival,[http://www.allmyanmar.com/new%20allmyanmar.com/Myanmar%20Festival%20Waso.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918084131/http://www.allmyanmar.com/new%20allmyanmar.com/Myanmar%20Festival%20Waso.html|date=18 September 2010}} Dhammasekya Day

| Full moon of Waso

| Marks the beginning of the Buddhist lent (Vassa); anniversary of Buddha's first sermon on the Four Noble Truths

| Donation of monk robes, shinbyu ceremonies

Wagaung (August)

| Taungbyon Nat Festival[http://www.allmyanmar.com/new%20allmyanmar.com/Myanmar%20Festival%20Wagaung.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008044052/http://www.allmyanmar.com/new%20allmyanmar.com/Myanmar%20Festival%20Wagaung.html|date=8 October 2010}}

|

|

|

Tawthalin (September)

| Regatta Festival

|

|

| Boat rowing competitions

Thadingyut (October)

| Festival of Lights

| Full moon of Thadingyut

| Marks the end of the Buddhist lent (Vassa)

| Gift exchanges, gadaw (paying obeisance to elders), lighting of candles, pagoda visits

rowspan="3" | Tazaungmon (November)

| Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights{{cite web|url=http://www.modins.net/myanmarinfo/festival/tazaungdine.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804222416/http://www.modins.net/myanmarinfo/festival/tazaungdine.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=4 August 2012 |title=MODiNS [ Myanmar Online Information ] |publisher=Modins.net |access-date=19 March 2012}}

| rowspan="2" | Full moon of Tazaungmon

| Marks the end of the rainy season

| Lighting of hot air balloons by the Shan people in Shan State, and lanterns nationwide

Kyi Ma No Festival

|

| Mischief-making

Kahtein Thingan Offering Festival

| Between Thadingyut and Tazaungmon

|

| Offering of Kathina robes to Buddhist monks

rowspan="2"| Nadaw (December)

| Karen New Year

|

| Marks the new year of the Karen people

|

Nat festivals{{cite web|url=http://www.modins.net/myanmarinfo/festival/nattaw.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904075842/http://www.modins.net/myanmarinfo/festival/nattaw.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=4 September 2012 |title=MODiNS [ Myanmar Online Information ] |publisher=Modins.net |access-date=19 March 2012}}

|

| Ritual feasts honoring Burmese nats (spirits)

|

Pyatho (January)

| Kachin Manaw Festival

|

| Marks the new year of the Kachin people

|

Tabodwe (February)

| Harvest Festival{{cite web|url=http://www.modins.net/myanmarinfo/festival/tabodwe.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030605190436/http://www.modins.net/myanmarinfo/festival/tabodwe.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=5 June 2003 |title=MODiNS [ Myanmar Online Information ] |publisher=Modins.net |access-date=19 March 2012}}

|

| Celebration of rice harvests

| Cooking of htamane, a special sticky rice made with sesame seeds, peanuts and ginger

Tabaung (March)

| Shwedagon Pagoda Festival{{cite web|url=http://www.modins.net/myanmarinfo/festival/tapaun.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804133432/http://www.modins.net/myanmarinfo/festival/tapaun.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=4 August 2012 |title=MODiNS [ Myanmar Online Information ] |publisher=Modins.net |access-date=19 March 2012}}
Nationwide pagoda festivals

|

| Nationwide pagoda festivals

| Celebrations on Singuttara Hill

References

{{reflist}}

{{Burma (Myanmar) topics}}

Category:Culture of Myanmar

Burma