Burma (since 1998 additionally known as Myanmar) is understood and even well-known for a lot of issues. Unusually sufficient, there’s something Burma and the Burmese persons are typically not identified for, and that’s festivals and celebrating, though Burma might in truth be justifiably known as the nation of festivals.
The Burmese competition calendar is full of events each regional and nation-wide to rejoice. I discover it arduous to say the place this has its origins; in occasions which can be worthy of being celebrated or just the want of Burmese individuals to rejoice and, subsequently, to seek out appropriate events that give ample cause to do that. Whichever got here first the very fact stays that at any time when the moon is full it’s competition time in Burma. Each spiritual and cultural festivals happen year-round and everywhere in the nation. And most festivals are drawn-out and fulfilling affairs right here.
The dominant spirit of the respective competition varies based on the event’s nature from considerably frivolous throughout ‘Thingyan’ or ‘Water Competition’ the ‘Burmese New 12 months’ that’s celebrated within the Burmese month of ‘Tagu’ (March/April) to extra solemn on full-moons such because the ‘Full-moon of Kason’ within the first week of Could, the ‘Full-moon of Waso’ in July and the ‘Full-moon of Wagaung’ in August, to positively joyous when the ‘Full-moon of Thadingyut’ within the Burmese month of Thadingyut (September/October) has arrived and the ‘Competition of Lights’ (that marks the tip of the Buddhist Lent and the monsoon season) is well known in addition to the 4 weeks later following ‘Full-moon of Tazaungmon’ (October/November) when the individuals rejoice the ‘Tazaungdine Competition’.
Along with the various nation-wide held festivals there are additionally quite a few regionally celebrated festivals. For example, Thingyan, Burmese Water Competition is well known nation-wide however there are additionally further New 12 months Festivals of non secular and ethnic minorities. These are the Christian New 12 months (December/January), the Chinese language New 12 months (February), the Karen New 12 months (January) and the purely regionally celebrated Naga New 12 months ‘Kaing Bi’ (January). The competition calendar does furthermore embody different Christian festivals comparable to Christmas, Easter and Pentecost, the Hindu competition ‘Dewali’ in October, the Islamic ‘Bakri Idd’ on the finish of November and lots of different festivals celebrated by minority teams.
New 12 months Festivals, Boat Racing Festivals, Festivals of Mild, Pagoda Festivals, Temple Festivals, Weaving Festivals, Harvest Festivals, Nat Festivals; festivals and celebrating on finish. Happiness and smiling faces are in every single place. An environment of joyousness pervades the entire nation. That’s one in every of Burma’s many loveable elements. At this level I deem it vital to name to your consideration that it is extremely tough – usually even downright unattainable – to separate historic info from the good mass of fantasy and legend. That is significantly true on the subject of e.g. Siddhartha Gautama Buddha and his life each of which play an vital position in opposition to the backdrop that the majority Burmese festivals have its roots in Buddhism (Theravada Buddhism, to be exact) and that about 86% of the Burmese are Buddhists.
When you have the money and time wanted you possibly can journey the nation and start the circle of festivals by celebrating ‘Thingyan’, the Burmese New 12 months in April, proceed with the ‘Full-moon of Kason’ in Could, The ‘Mount Popa Competition’ in June, ‘Dhammasetkyar’/’Dammacakya’, the ‘Full-moon of Waso’ in July, the ‘Full-moon of Wagaung’ in August, the ‘Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Competition’ and ‘Boat Racing Competition’ in August/September, the ‘Thadingyut Competition of Lights’ in September/October, the ‘Lu Ping Competition’ and the ‘Full-moon of Tazaungmon Competition of Lights’ in November, the ‘Ananda Pagoda Competition’ in December, the ‘Naga New 12 months Competition’ in January, the ‘Harvesting Competition’ on ‘New-moon of Tabodwe’ in February and finish with the ‘Full-moon of Tabaung’ in March, the final month of the Burmese yr. Regardless of the nature of the competition and accordingly the spirit wherein you rejoice it is likely to be, I hope you’ll get pleasure from it. Have enjoyable and be completely happy!
I’m German by delivery however am dwelling since 25 years in Burma/Myanmar. I do know the nation, its individuals, its tradition and its historical past very properly what has made me an authority on Burma. When it’s about books on Burma, stick to the skilled. After retiring in 2012 I turned author and am writing books on Burma the nation I’m privileged to name dwelling. Please do additionally see my Skilled Photographs and my profile.