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The Nats (spirits) are believed to be super natural powerful beings. stated between the gods and the spiritual beings. Most of the Myanmar people worship the Nats as a religious belief. The Nat Pwe is usually held for three days. The first day is for the Summoning the Nats. This spirits festival is one of the most interested events for tourists. where believers go yearly to Taung Pyone (Mt. Pyone). which is the home of the spirits.
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Thanakha is a cream or make up obtained by grinding Thanakha tree's bark. Females use it as a protection against heat as well as a decoration. However. it is not unusual to see males also wearing them. Thanakha grinding event in Sittwe is a traditional event held on the eve of Water Festival i.e. Thingyan.
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Numerous Naga tribes spread throughout the north-western hills of Myanmar. Most of the Naga are from the Chin State. But the festival place falls in the Sagaing Division. next to the Chin State.
The places where the Naga inhabit are Khamti. Lashe. Lahel. and Nanyun in the Sagaing Division.
There are 64 clans of the Naga tribe.
The Naga festival is social. but it is also to exchange previous year experiences. to make plans for the coming year and to discuss how to overcome difficulties. They pray for abundant crops and domestic animals and to have good weather. Another aspects of this festival is reunion of relatives. who are away from home. They worship to their deities by scarifying the animals. The festival is usually in January. for this year it will be held on the 15th of January. 2006.
To visit this festival. one has to travel from Yangon to Homemalin by air. Then from Homemalin to Htamanthi by cruise up the Chindwin River. After arriving Htamanthi. travel to Lashe by car again. It takes about 2 days on the way to the festival.
Place Chin State
Time During January of every year. depends on Lunar calendar
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Kachin is one of the states which has a delightful festival known as Manaw. Kachin. the hill people or the Scots of Myanmar. celebrate Manaw festival.
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Htamane (Cooking Festival)
The htamane (glutinous rice) cooking festival is a traditional event in Myanmar that occurs around the Full Moon Day of the lunar month of Tabodwe, which usually falls in late January or early February. During the festival, glutinous riceis crushed and kneaded before it is mixed with other ingredients in huge iron vats using big paddles. The first portion of this delicacy is offered to Lord Buddha and Buddhist monks, while participants in the ceremony and
onlookers share what is left over. In some areas of the country, a dobat (traditional drum music) troupe performs to encourage the htamane makers.
The tools required to make glutinous rice include ahuge, wide-rimmed iron bowl, two long-handled stirring paddles, three bricks for the makeshift fireplace and firewood.
INGREDIENTS:
1) 2 pyis (5 litres) glutinous rice
2) 1 viss (1.63 kilograms) peanut oil
3) ½ grated coconut
4) 0.6 viss (1kg) peanuts (without husks)
5) Sliced ginger
6) Salt
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This festival falls on the full moon day of Thabodwe. This festival usually lasts for 2 days. Glutinous rice (which is a delicacy) contests are also held on the pagoda's platform. A variety of incense sticks are burnt for the Myanmar Buddha image
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Htamane festival is held between February and March. throughout the whole country. It is made of sticky rice and sesame seeds.
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Thadingyut (fesival of lights)
October is the time when the people of Myanmar celebrate with joy and lights: the Full Moon of October or the month of Thadingyut according to the local lunar calendar, marks the end of three months of Buddhist Lent when weddings, fairs and festivals are not permitted.
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Tazaungdine Festivle or A time of enjoyment
Myanmar is known as the Golden Land, but it can also properly be called the Land of Festivals, as religious and cultural celebrations take place all across the country and throughout the year.
The biggest and most popular annual festival is, of course, Thingyan, the traditional Myanmar Water Festival that celebrates the coming of the Buddhist New Year in the lunar month of Tagu. In villages and cities throughout the country, many young people celebrate the threeor four-day festival by pouring or spraying water on each other, while the more devout stay home with their families or retreat to monasteries to meditate.
Another popular festival is the three-day Thadingyut Festival of Lights that marks the end of Buddhist Lent in October. This
is followed one month later by the Tazaungdine Festival of Lights, which is accompanied nationwide by donation ceremonies and lighting festivities.
The month between the two Festivals of Light is known as Kahtein, when people donate new robes or other supplies they
think monks might need to local monasteries, including cash, alms bowls, umbrellas, slippers, fans, brooms, cups and furniture. Schools and business offices make donations by collecting contributions from students orstaff. The donations are hung on wooden frames, while cash is folded into different shapes and stapledonto the frames.
During the month, lines of people led by dancing troupes and pretty ladies carry the frames to their chosen monasteries. According to radition, each monastery can only accept one set of wooden frames, whose items are distributed by lottery to the resident monks. Buddhists believe that making these donations will gain them merit towards their next life.
Many robes (Kahtein thingan) are also donated to monks during the festival, and on the night before the Full Moon Day of Tazaungdine, robe-weaving contests are held at famous pagodas like Shwedagon in Yangon and Mahamuni in Mandalay. Lasting all night long, these contests feature teams of female weavers competing to finish their projects before dawn. The resulting robes are offered to the Buddha images at the pagodas. The weavers are usually surrounded by crowds of onlookers, who might watch in respectful silence for a while before wandering off to buy food or handicrafts at one of the many vendors’ stalls set up for the festival. On the night of the full moon, lanterns, candles and electric lights are used to illuminate streets, homes and pagodas throughout the country. Pilgrims travel from all over the country to see a special ceremony at Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock) in Mon State, where 9000 candles are lit as an offering to the Buddha. Seeing thousands of pilgrims praying at the pagoda, with the platform surrounding the stupa ablaze with thousands of candles as the cool wind sweeps across the mountaintop, is a sight to behold.
Another special Tazaungdine festival takes place in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, where a hot-air balloon contest is held. Known locally as the Lu Ping Festival, it is thought to have been originated by the local Pa-O people. Competitors put a lot of time, effort and money into preparing for the daytime and nighttime contests. The daytime balloons are mostly made in the shapes of pagodas and animals such as dragons, elephants, mythical hintha birds and ducks, while those shown at night usually take the form of illuminated globes.
In Sagaing Division, Kaungmudaw Pagoda and other pagodas are famous for Tazaungdine festivities that include markets where village products such as hand-woven cotton clothes, rattan mats, sandalwood and thanakhaare sold. Another common practice throughout Myanmar is making mezali bud salad on the Full Moon Night, believed to have the power to cure all ailments if eaten at the proper time. People gather at homes to make the salad under the magical light of the full moon, and it is often handed out for free to pilgrims at local pagoda festivals.
Author by Myo Thiri(SweSone Yangon Inflight Magazine)
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Salone festival is usually held during the month of February. The festival is at Majungalet Village on Bocho Island near Lampi Island in Myeik. Tanintharyi Division. It is celebrated every year. to promote tourism in acquaintance with Salon and Myeik Archipelago as one of the tourism attractions for International Market.
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Lights festival again.!
It's lights and festivals with a vengeance. since the monsoon months come to an end. Close upon Thadingyut festival comes the Tazaungdaing with more lights and festivities. Many households leave the decorations and lanterns on so that they do not have to put them up again in three weeks' time.
We all know that people hang out lighted lanterns in honour of the anniversary of the Buddha's descent from the celestials region. But why again the illuminations in the following month?
I used to think that some people wished to go on with the celebration as the Thadingyut festivities are often spoilt by rain. It is hardly so. although I strongly suspect that to be the reason with most of the merrymaking folk. This festival seems to date back to preBuddhist days.
A folk festival
Tazaungdaing festival is. in fact. called Kattika feast. We find many references in the Jatakas. the. Buddha's birth stories. This month is supposed to be the time thieves ply their trade; astrologers say that certain signs of the Zodiac are in the ascendant so that many people's thoughts are bent on mischief.
It is said that kings declared feasts to be held so that all the jollity and merry-making would take the people's minds away from mischief. a kind of psychological warfare.
It is the wont of the youths to steal things like flower-pots and clothes and pile them at the cross roads. In small towns and villages. where the people know one another. this is done in the spirit of fun.
Whole nights. young men go about stealing women's skirt which they hoist at the top of the pole. Sign boards would be put at the door of privies. In the morning. everyone has a goodlaugh. No serious harms is done and no one is offended. Of course it is different in cities where people are not so close to one another and such things are done more in mischief and even malice.
Illuminations are more elaborate than in Thadingyut. Jataka stories lend romantic and sometimes diverting touches to the celebrations. If you go down the lighted streets you may find a tableau or play in progress. a young maiden. resplendent in jewels. throwing flowers at a magnificently dressed regal person on a chariot.
Stories represented in tableaux
This is a story of a maid named Ummadanti. whose name itself is synonymous with dazzling beauty. She was born of a rich and noble family. One day. the king sent fortune-tellers to read the lineaments of her body. so that he might marry her.
The fotune-tellers. on seeing her. became so intoxicated by her beauty that they made a mess of the food offered to them. Ashamed of their own behaviour. they made a false report to the' king that she was not fit to be the queen.
Ummadanti was given in marriage to the king's general. She never forgot the slight and with the rage of a woman scorned. she waited to take her revenge.
On the day of the Kattika festival. the whole city was illuminated and adorned. The king. in his royal splendour. was to ride the streets on the full moon day. The general. before he left home to go on his duty to guard the city on the occasion said to his wife: "My dear. tonight the king will ride through the city and he will come to our door. Please do not show yourself for he will not be able to control his thoughts."
Fury of a woman scorned
Ummadanti made a noncommittal reply. As soon as her maid. in obedience to her order. came and informed her that the king's chariot had come to the door. the lady went to the open window.
From the strategic position. the beautiful Ummadanti threw flowers at the king. When he turned his eyes to her. she smiled with the charm of a sylph. The king could not contain himself. Ummadanti. seeing his agitation. withdrew to her chamber. The king. no longer able to continue his triumphant tour. bade his charioteer go back to the palace where he lay on the couch moaning in agony. The general soon knew what had happened. With his wisdom. he made the king see the folly of his passion. Then. like a loyal subject. he offered Ummadanti to his king who was deeply ashamed of himself. Cured of his infatuation. he went on with his just and fair reign.
The story is a favourite with strolling professional troupes and during the Tazaungdaing festival. the amateurs would enact the scene. where the lady threw flowers at the king. The dramatists' ingenuity would make the lady and king bandy wits. The king's part is often clowned to the great enjoyment of the audience.
The patricide king's remorse
There are yet solemn associations with this season. It was on the full moon day of this month that King Ajatasatu. tortured with remorse for having killed his royal father who was good and virtuous. sought refuge in the Buddha's counsel.
Ajatasatu had followed Devadatta. the Buddha's arch enemy and it was at his advice that he had committed patricide. Devadatta plotted against the Buddha's life and he was swallowed up by the earth to roast in hell. The king feared a like fate for himself.
He wished to go to the Buddha and to be reconciled to Him. and to ask his guidance. However. he could not bring himself to go to His presence. so great had been his transgression.
So. when the Kattika festival came round. and by night Rajagaha was illuminated and adorned like a city of the gods. the king sat on his golden throne with the lords of his realm in attendence. Jeveka. one of Buddha's followers. sat among the lords. The king thought it would be a good idea to ask Jevaka to take him to the Buddha.
On such a night as this
Still it was difficult for the king to make this request. So he diplomatically led the conversation on. first praising the beauty of the night; "How fair. sirs. is this cloudless night! How charming! How lovely! What sage or brahmin shall we seek out. to see if he may give our hearts peace?"
The ministers. each in turn. recommended the sages they followed. The king listened in silence. waiting for Jevaka to speak. Jevaka. suspecting that the king. wished him to speak. waiting to make sure.
The king asked him why he had not spoken. Only then did Jevaka rise from his seat and with hands raised in adoration towards the Blessed One. cried "Sir. yonder in my mango grove dwells the All-Enlightened One with Brethren; unto Him the Blessed One. let the king repair. to hear the Truth and put questions."
The king immediately ordered the royal elephants to get ready and went in royal state to Jevaka's mango grove. where he found in the perfumed pavilion. the Buddha amid the Brotherhood.
The king at the Buddha's feet
All was tranquil as the ocean in repose. Look where he would. the king's eye saw only the endless ranks of the Brethren. He bowed low and spoke words of praise. Then. saluting the Buddha. he seated himself and asked Him the question; "What is the fruit of the religious life?"
And the Blessed One gave utterance to the Samaphata Sutta. Glad at heart. the king made peace with the Buddha at the close of the Sutta and departed with solemn obeisance.
Offering of yellow robes
One important rite associated with the season is the offering of the yellow robes to the monks. This offering is considered one of the most meritorious deeds.The robes so offered are called the Ka-htein robes. The offering is made communally with all the trimmings of music. folk dances. professions and refreshments.
The highlight of the Ka-htein offering is the weaving of the non-stale robes - so- called because the robes are not allowed to go stale. that is to say. they are woven within the space of the night.
In rural areas. people organise the ceremony of this weaving. This ritual. apart from gaining merit. glorifies the common labours of the rural folk.
Weaving of non-stale robes
The weaving of the non-stale robes is a gala celebration enjoyed by the young and old. Young men would play drums and flutes as the lasses go into the cotton field to collect the bolls. All through the night they beat. dress and spin to be ready for the loom. All these are done within the night so that the robes would be ready for offering at dawn.
Often there were contests among neighbouring villages. Moonlight. music and dances must have made their toils light and cheerful. It is a great honour for a maid to win the contest of weaving the robes. for in a village it is essential for a maid to be good at weaving.
The tradition of weaving the non-stale robes is still carried on even in the city of Yangon amid the glare of electric lights. through which moonbeams have hardly any chance.
An annual weaving contest is held on the platform of the Shwedagon Pagoda. Of course there could be no actual picking of cotton from the fields but the young ladies weave the robes the whole night. There would be music and dances as befits the joyous occasion. The centuries old tradition is thus kept alive in the truly Myanmar spirit of fun and laughter.
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The festival of the Shwedagon Pagoda is celebrated on the fullmoon day of Tauaung (March) every year. Many people in the country contributes funds for the repairing and a great number of people pay homage every day. There are many festivals throughout the year.