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Which Festivals Are Worth Visiting In Myanmar

Myanmar may be a small country but its small size does not compensate for its richness in high cultural and traditional values. There are so many festivals which you can actually enjoy. It gives a lot of insight to their tradition and cultures.



Your luxury tours in Myanmar are incomplete if you are not visiting Myanmar in the festive season. Take a quick look at the festivals which will make your traveling expense better.

Thadigyut Festival of Light

It generally takes place in the month of October. This is a celebration of Buddha’s descending, from the heaven after he preached Maya (his mother), the Abhidhamma. Every house on every street is festooned with colored lights, to welcome Buddha to Earth again. The places are worth visiting as thousands of people come down on the streets to gorge on delicious food. There are several stalls which set up during this festive time. Open concerts are organized everywhere which play traditional music. A lot of music and dances are seen there.

Thingyan New Year Water Festival

Thingyan (means “change”) is a Burmese water festival to welcome the upcoming New Year. It is usually celebrated in the middle of April, for four to five days. This festival is marked on the Burmese calendar as a national holiday. From the second day of this festival, people start throwing water at each other. Water symbolizes purity as it has the power of washing away all sins, diseases and bad luck of the ending year. Throwing water hence means cleansing away the soul. The last day or the fifth day of the festival is the New Year’s Day.

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival

This is one of the largest and most famous Buddhist festivals of Burma. It is celebrated for over 20 days. The four Buddha images that are revered out of the five are paraded elaborately, in a gilded barge pulled by traditional long boats, around the lake, which hundreds of rowers help in manning. During the festival, competitions of rowing are held. Pilgrims from all parts of the country, and also from the world, come here in order to pay the Buddha images homage. The mysterious fifth image is left back to guard the resting place at Phaung Daw Oo during the festival.

Taunggyi Balloon Festival

Taunggyi is famous for Balloon Festival. Balloon competitions take place all day and night. Balloons in the form of animals such as elephants, dragons and ducks, and pagodas are generally flown during the day time. At night balloons are generally like rugby balls, elongated and huge paper balls with small lighted multi-colored paper lanterns are hung around the sides. Fireworks create a wonderful sight in the sky. All the ceremonies are accompanied by traditional music. The parties go on in festival tents till sunrise. This wonderful mood of festivity makes your Myanmar luxury holidays all the more special. This is an opportunity you should not miss.

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