Festivals of Burma

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Burmese traditional festivals are based on the traditional Burmese calendar and dates are largely
determined by the moon's phase.

Month Festival(s) Day Significance Events

Gadaw (paying obeisance
to elders), water games,
Marks the beginning of the
Tagu (April) Thingyan Mid-April observation of the
Burmese new year
Buddhist Sabbath
(Uposatha), parades
Marks the birth,
Bo tree watering Full moon of
Kason (May) enlightenment and death of Watering of the Bo tree
festival Kason
Gautama Buddha (Vesākha)
Nationwide Pariyatti Sasana
Nayon (June) Tipitaka Festival examinations for Buddhist
monks[1]
Marks the beginning of the
Robe Offering
Buddhist lent (Vassa);
Festival[2], Full moon of Donation of monk robes,
Waso (July) anniversary of Buddha's first
Dhammasekya Waso shinbyu ceremonies
sermon on the Four Noble
Day
Truths
Wagaung Taungbyon Nat
(August) Festival[3]
Tawthalin
Regatta Festival Boat rowing competitions
(September)
Gift exchanges, gadaw
Thadingyut Full moon of Marks the end of the (paying obeisance to
Festival of Lights
(October) Thadingyut Buddhist lent (Vassa) elders), lighting of
candles, pagoda visits
Lighting of hot air
Tazaungdaing
Marks the end of the rainy balloons by the Pa-O in
Festival of
Full moon of season Shan State, and lanterns
Lights[4]
Tazaungmon nationwide
Tazaungmon
Kyi Ma No
(November) Mischief-making
Festival
Between
Kahtein Thingan Offering of Kathina robes
Thadingyut and
Offering Festival to Buddhist monks
Tazaungmon
Marks the new year of the
Karen New Year
Natdaw Karen people
(December) Ritual feasts honoring
Nat festivals[5]
Burmese nats (spirits)
Pyatho Kachin Manaw Marks the new year of the
(January) Festival Kachin people
Cooking of htamane, a
Tabodwe special sticky rice made
Harvest Festival[6] Celebration of rice harvests
(February) with sesame seeds,
peanuts and ginger
Shwedagon
Tabaung Pagoda Festival[7] Celebrations on Singuttara
Nationwide pagoda festivals
(March) Nationwide Hill
pagoda festivals