Destination Myanmar

Holidays and Festivals

Thingyan ‘Water Festival’

The Myanmar New Year is celebrated in April with a 4 day water festival. During this time the streets become crowded with Burmese washing away the bad sentiments of the previous year by pouring water over each other. Nowadays, the tradition of gently pouring water over one another has been exaggerated by fun and festivities which involve getting as wet as possible. Major cities such as Yangon and Mandalay become very crowded with many erecting stages to soak passers by and the streets become crowded with cars filled with both young and old enjoying what is the most fun filled festival in Myanmar. All businesses close during this four day period and if not participating in the festival, travel within cities is time consuming. One ting is for sure, if you are in Myanmar during this festival, you will get wet!

Festivals

Mid January

  • Naga New Year Festival in Sagaing Division.
  • Ananda Temple Festival at Ananda Temple in Bagan.

Mid March

  • Pindaya Cave Festival at Pindaya, Shan State.

Mid April

  • Thingyan Water Festival throughout Myanmar.
  • Mt. Popa Nat Festival at Mt. Popa in Bagan.
  • Buddhist New Year Day (April 17)

Early July

  • Maha Myat Muni Pagoda Festival including rattan ball competition in Mandalay

Early August

  • Nat Festival, Taung Byone (near Mandalay)

October

  • Inle Lake Festival (Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival) around Inle Lake.
  • Inndein Pagoda Festival in Inle Lake.

Early November

  • Shwezigon Pagoda Festival in Bagan.

Mid November

  • Robe weaving competition at Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon & Maha Muni Pagoda in Mandalay.
  • Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda (The Golden Rock) Festival in Kyaikhtiyo.
  • Fire Balloon Festival & Competition at Taunggyi.
  • Thaung Tho Pagoda Festival in Inle Lake.

Mid December

  • Mt. Popa Nat Festival at Mt. Popa near Bagan.

Other Public Holidays

Public Holidays are celebrated as follows, however most shops and sights operate fairly normally during this time and these should not be a deterrent to visiting.

  • Independence Day (4th Jan)
  • Union Day (12th Feb)
  • Peasants Day (2nd Mar)
  • Armed Forces Day (27th Mar)
  • Myanmar New Year (13th - 17th Apr)
  • Workers Day (1st May)
  • Martyrs Day (19th July)
  • Christmas Day (25th Dec)