Special Festivals

Water festival
Phaung daw oo pagoda festival
Hot air balloon competition
Elephant dance festival
Manaw festival
Naga new year festival

Vibrant and Fun filled Water Festival

The fun and thrill of exquisite Water Festival (Thingyan) in 13th -16th April is exclusively Myanmar, unlike any of kind anywhere in the world. Once you experienced, you will not forget: Water splashing, singing, dancing, music and merriment, a uniquely exciting celebration as well as exotic carnival. In Thingyan: Water, Water Everywhere; Meet the unyielding challenge of "Water Wars"; Enjoy Pavilion show and entertainment with the Thingyan Bells, Movie Stars and vocalists under the twinkling sky light; Enjoy City Hall's cultural feast of dancing and singing with Myanmar Orchestra. Touch the grace of April Beauty with its full bloom of many, many seasonal flowers. Have a memorable drama with Thingyan Festival.

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival

The festival of Phaung Daw Oo in Inle Lake held during September/ October is full pageantry and colorful splendors. The golden Karaweik barge pulled by long boats manned by leg - rowers by hundred and the people turning out en masse to pay obeisance to the Buddha Image is a festival of great splendor. Phaung Daw Oo Images placed on the Royal Karaweik Barge make the circuit with great ceremony. There is much reverence and adoration, but there is also much joy and merry making.

Hot-Air Balloon Competition

For festivities, Taunggyi is most well known for its hot air balloon competitions held for four days, the second last of which is the full moon of Tazaungmone (November). At day-time, various designs like elephant, horse, buffalo, bird, pig, fish, brahminy bird, owl (or) parrot are created. At night-time groupss vie for the best display of fire works and rocket shooting. An offshoot of this is "Sein Narban" in which small lantern arranged in various shapes are sent up hanging the balloon.

Elephant Dance Festival

Kyaukse is famous for its annual Elephant Dance Festival held during the Thadingyut Festival of lights (October). Elephant dance has become the main feature of the Thadingyut Lights Festival in Kyaukse. It is accompanied by colorful pageantries: a life size white paper elephant decked with regal trappings is seen carrying religious objects- replica relics of Buddha or Arahats while a black paper elephant follows as the finale of the procession. Each of the paper elephants is intimated by two men inside. The black paper elephant dances most merrily to the procession music, the center of awed attraction during this festival.

Manaw Festival

Traditional Kachin Manaw Festival to celebrate the New Year is held in Myitkyina around December or January. All the Kachin Clans gathered at Myitkyina to celebrate this event. The Kachin or Jingpaw celebrate the New Year, a good harvest or the unity of the different tribes and clans will feast and dance together. At one festival tens of Thousands of people from all villages in the region will be present in all their tribal finery.

Naga New Year Festival

The Naga is a tribe living in the mountains, valleys and plains of one of the most remote places on earth. They are a proud people living in an isolated land, preferring to be left alone in their own region.

Their region is in the northwest corner of Myanmar, close to the Indian border. They celebrate the New Year, 15 of January, every year. There is a great feasting and joy, and tribes walked for days over mountains to join the revelries.

At the New Year celebrations endless cups of rice wine are drunk, bison and wild boar meat roasted and eaten, tribal dances performed with loud beating of drums.Different Naga Clans gathered in their colorful attires to perform ritual dances. Visitors are welcomed. It is good to share the happiness.