Myanmar is a beautiful country with a unique cultural and boldly oriental tradition. If you love discovering this interesting culture, some following traditional festival in Myanmar are destinations which you cannot miss. Burmese appreciate these festivals and consider them as an indispensable factor in their emotional life. It will be extremely wonderful if tourists have chance to dip into Burmese cultural space, won’t it? Travel Indochina
Thingyan – Water Festival in Myanmar
Thingyan is New Year Festival in Myanmar which occurs in second week of April. Burmese from all over the country organize this festival by splashing others with water. This is considered as cleaning stain which accumulated during the old year and welcoming New Year with purity in mind.
From Bagan period, Water Festival has been very popular in folk and the nobility has also taken part in this festival. Burmese douse apple leaves into perfume and splash onto others to bring blessings and fortune for them. An interesting point is that Thingyan is not mentioned in Buddhism but Burmese organize it with Buddhist ceremony.
Once upon a time, in New Year’s Eve, Burmese prepared perfume which was made from many kinds of flowers and leaves and put it into the bowls or jars. They kept these bowls and jars in their house during the festival. Nowadays, Burmese use taps to spray water all around. Passers are sprayed until being soaked and they consider this as the congratulations.
Phaung Daw Oo Festival
Phaung Daw Oo Festival in Myanmar occurs on full moon occasion of Thadingyut month (July of Burmese calendar, about from last September to early November). It is one of the most important and typical festivals in Shan in private and Myanmar in general. This festival lasts in 18 days with the purpose of expressing the respect to Buddha. In detail, Phaung Daw Oo Festival consists of 2 main parts: ritual and playing part. In ritual part, local people acclaim Buddha around villages and floating farms which are located near Inle Lake. In playing part, sailing competition is organized with some other cultural activities.
The group move in turn, follow clockwise, which makes endless and colorful parade. The most out-standing one in this group is the royal boat which is the representative of Karaweik Royal. This boat was designed uniquely and platinized carefully with prow decorated by the image of bird god Hintha in Burmese legend. Indochina tours Myanmar
Shwedagon Pagoda Festival
Shwedagon Pagoda Festival is opened on February and lasts in a haft of month with many activities and traditional ceremonies of Buddha. Especially, this is the harmonious combination between Buddha and Burmese folklore.
Shwedagon Pagoda is located on the top of hill and considered as the highlight of Yangon city. At night, thanks to the headlights, tower and statue complex become sparkling in the sky. The festival starts in the aurora with the parade in traditional clothing and barefoot. Moreover, that the sound of gongs from everywhere in Shwedagon Pagoda clangs at the same time makes the holy spiritual space. The outside of pagoda’s campus is the space for entertainment and performing art. Tourists can enjoy puppetry or classical dance. Besides, there are many thing interesting such as dining area, fair, craft shop and so on.
No one can deny that taking part in some festivals in Myanmar is a good way for tourists to discover and enjoy the beauties of this country. From that, visitors can understand more and even love passionately this peaceful nation.
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