Flowers and Festivals In Myanmar (Burma)

October! season of love and forgiveness

Kyauk Taw Gyi pagoda festival (pagoda festival) Means of Pagoda's name.
"The huge and sacred single stone". Because it was curve out of by a huge single block of stone.

The respective date of curve
It was curve in (1864) by great King Min Done.

Character of Festival
It is not only religious festival, but also it is the social activities of Myanmar people. People can enjoy in pagoda fun fair and people built small building as bamboo stall ,to sell their goods in pagoda's compound. So that the whole compound is lavishly occupied by the sellers, pilgrimages, and observer who want to study about Buddhism and Myanmar's ways of lives.

Most interesting Event in Ceremony,
Fish breeding in Maha (the great) lake
Myanmar Traditional Cane ball competition
Magic Show .and other social activities.

It is worth to visit and search Myanmar's Funny hearts & great joy.

Elephant dance Festival. (Traditional & Pagoda festival)

Historical background of the town and festival
The granny of upper Myanmar situated 50 km far away from Mandalay.
The custom started at the time of King Anawrahta , the King and his royal attendants camp at the sport of the town when the King brought the sacred relic of Buddha from China. Then the King made solemn vow that to built the pagoda where his royal elephant Knelt. The white royal elephant stop and knelt down at two spots one at the top of the hill which is situated in eastern of the town and one at the foot of the town. That's why Shwe Tha Hlaung pagoda is situated at the top; of the hill and the Shwe Mudaw stupa is lies at the foot of the hill.
In ancient time Pilgrimages came to pagodas by riding elephant. So that , this custom was handed down to generations and the native people keep it as their old custom. In every October (Thi Din Gyut in Myanmar calendar), the skilful maker create the imitation of elephant by coiling and weaving bamboo slices Then decorate with colourful ornaments. After that , the two men enter inside of the elephant body and Then they dance in harmonically. The dance is very interested one as the two men dance systematically as inside. Many kinds of instruments also must be playas melody and dance and music must be flexible.
In dance competition , elephants monsters are compete as group and some of those are welcomed to perform in Singapore.
Most of the foreigners are very interesting and some come to Myanmar in every at these period.

You Can know how Myanmar people love and Keep our own culture and custom!
 

Tha Din Gyut Candle light festival (religious Festival)

The traditional festival annually holds in this month is religious in origin , character and significance. The festivals was held in the memory of Buddha' s ascended from Tavatimsa. Buddha journeyed to Tavatimsa to preach his sermon for all celestial being including his previous mother who had became the life of deva ,for her good deeds. This tradition is handed down and passed through many generation and was held about three days for activity. Those three day are for the day before full moon day, the full moon day, and after full moon day.
For the lay men the ceremony is performed according to Buddhism there are five infinite debts of gratitude,
• the gratitude owed to Buddha
• the gratitude owed to Dhama (his teaching)
• the gratitude owed to Monks
• the gratitude owed to parents and
• the gratitude owed to teachers.
The festival of light in Tha Din Gyut is an occasion for rejoicing and merry- making but in essence it is auspicious occasion for spiritual delight and merit-making. The fore runners of this month are the sounds of fire crackers exploding and the sight of paper kites flying against the blue sky.
Visitors can enjoy the brightness of Pagodas , peoples’ houses, and buildings and the colourful activities of the festival.
Houses, streets, and public building are illuminated and festooned with coloured electric bulbs. The lighted oil bowls are placed on the terraces of Pagodas and beauty to the scene steeped in the silvery moon light.

Come! to see how Myanmar people enjoy in religious festival together with social activities.

Light Floating Festival

The festival is very similar to Tha Din Gyut lighting festival, and the festival is specially held in Shwe Kyin town ship in Bago division. The main purpose of the festival is to welcome Buddha who came back from "Tavatimsa" where he had been preaching the profoundest part of his doctrine for the three months of lent to all devas and his special mother ( the mother in the previous existence).
According to their tradition and believe, they light the candles on small earThen plate and floated in to the river. Then they make wishing , that may my life be a shinning life like my floating candle , may my life be peace like the river, my our Buddha sasana spread to the whole world like the floating candles what are floated in the river. So that they celebrate the light floating festival in those purpose and aim to their good will for their next life.

"Let's study to shinning festivals and enjoy in Myanmar's warmest activities"

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival

Location of The Pagoda
It is situated in Inle Lake, Southern Shan State. It is surrounded by the Shan plateau.

Background History of The Pagoda
According to the history, Bagan king Narapati Sithu was made five images. Three are Buddha images and another two are Buddha deciples.

Marvellous Events During The Festival
When five images were visited around the Inle Lake during the festival, immediately, the rain fell heavily. At that time, five images were dropped into the river and everybody searched everywhere in the lake. Although they found four images, one didn't. When they arrived Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, one image that wasn't found reached in its former place in the pagoda.

About The Festival
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival is held for (15) days. The outstanding thing is that festivaL is not held on the land. It is held in the Inle Lake. Five images are carried on the barge and go around the villages in the lake. In the last day of the festival, leg-rowing boat races are held and give award to the winners. It is the time for nervous. At this pagoda festival, one can buy the local products such as traditional Shan costumes, silverwares, ironwares, etc.

Attractions
One can see different kinds of Shan ethnic groups who come from every parts of the Shan State and study their traditional dress and language. Besides, daily activities, ways of lives of intha who inhabit in the Inle Lake, floating island and floting market can be studied. People from all over the country come and join in this pagoda festival.

Let's join us , visitors!