2011 SPECIAL FESTIVALS IN MYANMAR

JANUARY

Manaw Festival in Myitkyina

Ananda Temple Festival in Bagan

Naga New Year Festival

Mahamuni Pagoda Festival
 

APRIL

Thingyan (Water) Festival & Myanmar New Year
 

AUGUST

Taung Pyone Festival
 

SEPTEMBER

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival in Inle
 

OCTOBER

The Thadingyut Festival or Festival of Lights

Elephant Dance Festival
 

NOVEMBER

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Taunggyi

Tazaung-daing or Festival of Lights

Robe-weaving Contest in Shwedagon Pagoda

Shwezigon Pagoda Festival in Bagan

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JANUARY

Mahamuni Pagoda Festival

Place	:	Mahamuni Pagoda Precinct, Mandalay.
Time	:	14 Waxing day of Tabodwe to Full Moon Day (17th - 28th February 2011)
Duration	:	2 days
Glutinous rice delicacy contests are held late on 14th Waxing day. On the morning of 15th Waxing day / full moon day, incense is burnt in large flames in a symbolic gesture of offering heat to the great image.

OCTOBER

The Thadingyut Festival or Festival of Lights

Place	:	Throughout Myanmar
Time	:	14 waxing day of Thadingyut to 1 Waning day (11th - 13th October 2011)
Duration	:	3 days

To mark the end of the Buddhist Lent, and is also one of the most prominent festivals of the year. Pagodas, houses, public buildings, parks, and monuments are all illuminated and there are various kinds of activities for everyone to enjoy. Thadingyut is not only for joyous but also thanksgiving and paying homage to Buddhist monks, teachers, parents and elders, and asking pardon for whatever misdeeds might have committed during the year.

Elephant Dance Festival (Dummy Elephant Festival)

Place	:	Kyaukse in Mandalay Division, about 16 km away from Mandalay
Time	:	14th Waxing day of Thindingyut to Full Moon Day (11th - 12th October 2011)
Duration	:	2 days

Elephants made of paper and cloth on a bamboo frame are animated by two men inside and carried around the town towards the pagoda on the Kyaukse Hill. A dance competition features these elephants. Numerous life-size dummy elephants sing and dance to the accompaniment of music.

NOVEMBER

Shwezigon Pagoda Festival

Place	:	Shwezigon Pagoda, Bagan
Time	:	8th waxing day to the new moon day of Tazaungmon (3th - 25th November 2011)
Duration	:	23 days
Candle lights and fireworks are carried in procession before offering to the pagoda.

Tazaung-daing or Festival of Lights

Place	:	Throughout the country
Time	:	Fullmoon day of Tazaungmone  (10th November 2011)
Duration	:	1 days
Having fine weather and clear sky, and having the first crop harvested, Myanmar celebrate the night with various kinds of illuminations. Treasure hunts (pant-tha-ku) are organized for the children and donors hide and hand out money, sweets and presents.

Robe-weaving Contest

Place	:	Shwedagon Pagoda or elsewhere
Time	:	14 Waxing Day of Tazaungmone (9th November 2011)
Duration	:	1 days

An all-night weaving competition takes place at the Shwedagon Pagoda, on the night before the full moon day. The robe is to be finished flawlessly overnight and offered at dawn to the images around the pagodas.