Popular Summer Festivals in Myanmar That You Should Not Miss

Myanmar is famous for the festive atmosphere of the Burmese people and festivals are held all over the country every year. Below is the list of summer festivals in Myanmar that you should not miss as you plan your trip to Myanmar.One thing to note is that most festivals are held according to the Burmese calendar, so festival dates can vary from year to year. We recommend top summer festivals in Myanmar: 

List of Summer Festivals in Myanmar 

1. Taunggyi Balloon Festival

The last notable summer festival in Myanmar is the Taunggyi Balloon Festival, held nationwide to celebrate the end of the rainy season. As you look up at the sky, you’ll see thousands of paper balloons lit by candles soaring over Myanmar – especially fun if you send a balloon yourself! The purpose of the balloons is to drive away evil spirits and bring happiness and positivity to the people of Myanmar – how sweet is that? It’s one of the most popular festivals in the country because, in addition to balloons, plenty of beer, food, and loud music pump the night out. If you are in Myanmar in November, this should not be missed! Just be sure to book your accommodation in advance as hotels will sell these dates quickly.

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2. Thingyan Water Festival

The most popular and entertaining summer festival in Myanmar should be the Thingyan Water Festival, which is celebrated by getting involved in a huge water fight as you take to the streets! It lasts four to five days before the last Myanmar New Year celebration. Thingyan is basically like Songkran in Thailand. Stages are set up in the streets, truck beds are filled with buckets of water, and wherever we look, the water slides down from the toy guns. Loud music, dancing and a lot of excitement take place at this festival! Throwing water symbolizes cleansing people of the sins of the past, but if you are involved, remember not to throw water at monks or the elderly.

3. Shittaung Pagoda Festival

If you find yourself in Myanmar in April, make your way to Mrauk U to witness the Shittaung Pagoda Festival. This traditional pagoda festival is the most popular for Rakhines. During this time, people go to the pagoda to light candles and offer flowers in honor of their honor. But this best summer festival in Myanmar is really about fun, as the Rakhines hold traditional dances, exciting boat races, and even boxing competitions when they’re not at the pagoda! Reaching the Mrauk U is a long way, but it’s totally worth exploring the pagodas and monasteries in the area while watching the traditional wonders.

 

4. Kason Festival

In Myanmar, you can find people who celebrate the Kason Festival in May and celebrate nothing more than the birth of a Buddha. The festival takes place during the full moon, which was born not only when the Buddha was born, but also when he attained enlightenment. To commemorate these special days, the Bodhi trees in Myanmar pagodas are watered by pilgrims to keep them fresh during the excruciatingly hot summer. During this popular summer festival in Myanmar, you can see all ages, dressed in their finest attire, marching up and sitting on large platforms at their local pagodas. The younger ones walk on the bench, balancing with a pot on their heads, or sitting in their hands, full of water against the tree, right next to the platform. It’s a truly remarkable sight when everyone comes out in their best clothes to simply water trees and walk in processions.

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5. Waso Chinlone Festival

A different kind of festival, Waso Chinlone pays homage to a royal sports game played in ancient times. This famous summer festival in Myanmar has been taking place in the Mandalay region for over 90 years and is an exciting time for both players and spectators. In 2019, more than 1,000 teams from all over Myanmar competed at the festival in the area near Mahamuni Pagoda! So what exactly are they playing? In a game like football, players kick the ball, but instead of giving it back and forth on the ground, they try to keep it in the air as long as possible. 

6. Taungbyone Nat Festival

Although Myanmar is a widely Buddhist country, it still has a large population that believes in Nato, which are spirits that guide people in life. The Taungbyone Nat Festival celebrates two of the most famous spirits by drinking, dancing and consuming delicious local food in the hopes of bringing good luck. It is a lively period when those who believe in Nat bring beer, money and fried chicken to shamans who are vessels of spirits. During the festival, you’ll probably see people dressed in wild clothes depicting the spirits of late-night performances and dance shows. The Taungbyone Nat Festival is certainly one of the most awful and colorful events of the year in Myanmar, with more than 10,000 people (a healthy mix of tourists and locals) attending and a whole week full of celebrations!

 

7. Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival

If Myanmar’s travel plans include hitting Lake Inle in October, it can be entertaining, as this is the time and venue for the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival. The three-week festival was dedicated to Buddha. Four of his pictures are taken from the pagoda and they paddle around Lake Inle on a barge that was moved by foot paddlers (yes, their feet are paddled in the boat!). The ship travels to 14 villages so everyone can get to know the Buddhas and pay their respects. At each stop, the villages meet the boat with insane excitement to greet the night-long barge. Another prominent part of the festival is the rowing competitions, Shan dances and martial arts that are performed on all boats!

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8. Thadingyut Festival of Lights

Although not cold in Myanmar, during the full moon, the three-day Thadingyut light festival marks the beginning of winter and the end of Buddhist Lent. He remembers the Buddha’s return to paradise after living among mortals. It is certainly one of the most beautiful festivals in Myanmar, as the sky is lit by an incredible number of lamps that people have let down below. If you have a chance to enjoy this festival, you can watch the lights of the locals light up, or you can make your own and make your own offer! In addition to the lanterns, the sky is illuminated by fireworks and string lanterns. This is the time to really rejoice in one of Myanmar’s infamous power outages so you can only see the lights of the sky! In addition, when this happens, the windows are lit with candles instead of flashing string lights.

Hope you enjoyed the brief list of the top 5 summer festivals in Myanmar that offer umpteen beach sports and fabulous scenic views of the city. There are various famous spots at the mentioned Festivals of All Seasons Celebrated in Myanmar which delivers many attractions. For more engaging blogs like these head on to our other blogs and ping us in the comment sections below if you hold any queries regarding the travel destinations.

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