Myanmar is popularly know as the Land of Festivals because of the countless religious and cultural festivals that take place all year round.
Myanmar people are known for their desire for fun, which is evident in round-the-year festivities, celebrated and enjoyed throughout Myanmar. Festivals can be divided into two types, nation-wide and regional. As Myanmar culture is closely intertwined with Buddhism, most of Myanmar festivals center around some religious events. The most popular and nation-wide celebrated festival is the Water Festival, which marks the end of present year and coming of a new year on lunar calendar. So the first month of Myanmar Calendar is in April or the month of TAGU. Almost everyone in the country regardless of age, gender, nationality and belief participate in the major event of the year by throwing or dousing water on each other using bowls, buckets or pipes. It usually falls in April and the Festival is called Thingyan, and lasts for three to four successive days.
Another such festival is the Festival of Lights, called Thadingyut which mark the end of Buddhist lent. During the festival, which last for three days, Buddhist people all over the country illuminate decorated lights in the evenings in reverence to the Buddha. It is also accompanied with funfair of open-air public entertainment, roadside shows, games and stalls. Most of Myanmar festivals are designated according to the Myanmar calendar and each of the twelve months coincides with one or more festivals. Apart from festivals of the Buddhists, there are also those for Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Chinese celebrated among their communities and some of the events are announced public holidays

NAR-GA NEW YEAR'S FESTIVAL
Jan.
In Kham-Ti or the surrounding villages of Kham-Ti, Nar-ga festivals are held in January.
Gayals are slaughtered in sacrifice, followed by singing, dancing and the drinking of alcoholic beverages for the whole night at a huge bonfire.

ANANDA FESTIVAL
Jan.
The Ananda Festival in January is a 15-day-festival, the last two days being the most important ones. Alms bowls filled with crops are offered to monks who are all waiting in line. Pilgrims and holidaymakers in country bullock carts can be seen. In the area in front of the temple there are many foodstalls and merchants from the whole region around Bagan.

GOLDEN HILLTOP FESTIVAL, Kyaik Khauk Pagoda
Feb.  
The atmosphere at the Festival of the Golden Hilltop of Kyaik Khauk Pagoda is similar to a fun fair. A multitude of stalls are offering local foods, ceramic and clay pots of all sizes, furniture and bamboo mats. Myanmar musical dance troupes entertain throughout the whole night hundreds of people.

MAHAMUNI PAGODA FESTIVAL, Mandalay
Feb.
falls on the full moon day of the Myanmar month of Thabodwe. This festival usually lasts for 2 days. Glutinous rice (which is a delicacy) contests are also held on the pagoda’s platform. A variety of incense sticks are burnt for the Myanmar Buddha image on the full moon day. During this festival thousands of people from all over the country make the pilgrimage to the Mahamuni Pagoda. The temple is always the center of activities and during this festival it explodes with energy.

SHWE OO MIN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Pindaya Cave
Mar.
During the festival at the Shwe Oo Min Pagoda Cave in Pindaya thousands of devotees throng the cave to pay homage to the pagoda. You will find hundreds of small stalls selling delicious local foods, Shan handicrafts, all kinds of cheroots (Myanmar cigars), Shan umbrellas, and, and, and… Tribes from all over Shan State join this festivity in their colourful costumes.

MAUNG DONG NAT FESTIVAL, Monywa
Mar.
This festival is known to be the most important gathering of witches imaginable. According to the legend, Ye Kin Kadaw, the Queen of the Witches, the favourite wife of King Taung U, had extraordinary powers. The king sent her into exile, as his other wifes did not like her supernatural power. She went to Maung Dong, where she got drowned. Her oldest statue, only 30 centimeters high, can thus be found in Maung Dong. During this festival all 37 kinds of nats will be placed in a shrine, devotees offering them bunches of bananas, green coconuts, betel leaves, colourful arrangements of flowers and ‘money bouquets’.

AH-LONE FESTIVAL
Apr.
On the Shwe Bo Road, twelve kilometers north of Monywa, the town of Ah-Lone celebrates its festival in March. The heroine of this festival is Ma Ngwe Daung (Ms. Silver Wings) who was a daughter of the Ah-Lone Bodaw, a minor indian prince who came through Tamu and Kaleitmyo to Myanmar. The celebration of this festival is related to the love story of Ma Ngwe Daung. During the festival the pilgrims appeal to Ma Ngwe Daung to give them the opportunity to have as many mistresses as hairs on their head. The festival appeals also to pilgrims wishing to control or to spirit away illness with the lustral waters on offer there.

SHWE KYUN PIN NAT PWE MINGUN (NAT FESTIVAL IN MINGUN), Mandalay
Aug.
during the Myanmar month of Tabaung. According to the legend, the youngest brother of King Mindon fomented a rebellion and succedded in ousting the Sawbawa of Hsipaw. Several of his six children got killed in this confrontation and Mindon’s brother did not rest until he eliminated all potential successors of Sabawa of Hsipaw. One day his two surviving children were struck by a teak trunk and drowned in the Shweli River at Thit Maik Myun while attending a boat race. Their mother died from heartbreak about this loss. The ‘Pagoda of Despair’ (Lwan Hpaya) was built at this place. Since then, the children were delared to be nats and thus became the keepers of the river. After harvest time, hundreds of farmers, wearing colourful dresses, arrive with their beautifully decorated bullock carts at the Myatheindan Pagoda. They build a big tent as temporary housing for the nat images. During these days the mediums perform Nat Dances in order to be granted a good harvest for the next season and to the delight of hundreds of spectators.

TAUNG BYONE NAT PWE MADAYAR (TAUNG BYONE NAT FESTIVAL), Mandalay
Aug.
This festival is known as the major gathering spot for spiritual mediums. According to the legend, Byat Wi and Byat Ta, two Indian brothers, got extraordinary powers after they ate the body of a dead alchemist. Byat Wi, the older brother, lost his supernatural power, after he walked under a clothesline on which women's skirts used in childbed had been hung. He was captured and died after his loved ones offered him a quid of betel and a cup of water. Byat Ta was killed by King Anawrahta's magical lance, after he was again late to bring the fresh flowers from Mt. Popa for the Royal Audience, and thereupon his wife Popa Medaw also died from broken heart.

15 years later, the two sons of Byat Ta and Popa Medaw, which were adopted by King Anawratha, forgot to bring one brick each to build the "Pagoda of Wishes". King Anawratha soon found out, who was responsible for this omission and gave the order to gently hit them with a fillet stick. As they were in the trap which the king's son, Kyansittha, planned from beginning on, they were instead hardly hit with a bamboo stick and died. Hundreds of mediums (Nat-Kadaw) and thousands of pilgrims come once a year to Taung Byone, where the statues of the two brothers are placed in a shrine and there stands still the "Pagoda of Wishes" with the two missing stones. It is the most impressive Nat Festival in Myanmar. Offerings and dances, the inflow of merchants, the constant arrival of pilgrims and the intensive uses of loudspeakers continue day and night.

YADANA GU NAT FESTIVAL, Amapura, Mandalay
Aug.
Known as mother of Taungbyone Festival. Most enjoyable because of the rowing boat trip to the site. The festival is held annually in honor of Mt. Popa. Medaw, Mewanna (Mother of the two Lords) who came back from Taunbyon Festival, halted on her way back to Mt. Popa at the Yadanagu as her transit camp.

BO BO GYI NAT FESTIVAL, Taungthaman Inn, Mandalay
Sep.
Bo Bo Gyi is believed to have high level alchemical and to have expired to become a Nat. On the eve of ceremony pilgrims throw tealeaf packets at one another from racing exacts. It is regarded as a pledge that one who is hit must take a visit next year with out fail.

PHAUNG DAW U PAGODA FESTIVAL, Inle Lake
Oct.
Watch the procession of leg-rowed boats, which are ceremoniously tugging four Buddha statues situated on a royal barge clockwise around Inle Lake. Throughout the event leg-rowed boat races are being held and you will come across them during the excursion on the lake. Hundreds of other vessels travel in the entourage in a general festive atmosphere. Thousands of people from around the Shan State attend this most holy of all Shan celebrations.

MYA THA LUN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Magwe
Oct.
Buddhist chanting, early morning offering to 1,700 monks, and the lighting of 9,000 candles are major activities. The scenic beauty of the pagoda, situated on the riverbank, is dramatic.

THE THADINGYUT (FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS), Throughout Myanmar
Oct.
To mark the end of the Buddhist Lent, and is also one of the most prominent festivals of the year. Pagodas, houses, public buildings, parks, and monuments are all illuminated and there are various kinds of activities for everyone to enjoy. Thadingyut is not only for joyous but also thanksgiving and paying homage to Buddhist monks, teachers, parents and elders, and asking pardon for whatever misdeeds might have committed.

DUMMY ELEPHANT FESTIVAL, Kyauk Se, Mandalay
Oct.
This unique and exotic elephant dance held at Kyaukse, a small town not far from Mandalay. A huge but light elephant figure is made with bamboo and paper. Men take their places inside the figure and dance around the town to the accompaniment of Dobat and Drums. The elephant dancers circle three times at the foot of the hill to pay homage to the Shwethalyaung Pagoda. It is a dance that requires precise rhythm and timing in order for the elephant dancers to maintain uniformity inside the elephant figure. Numerous life-size paper dummy elephants sing and dance to the accompaniment of music.

INDEIN PAGODA FESTIVAL, Inle Lake
Oct.
Buddhist ceremony held at unique site of old sharine complex in Inle Lake.

SHWEZIGON FESTIVAL, Bagan
Nov.
Candlelights and fireworks are carried in procession before offering to the pagoda.

BALLOON FESTIVAL, Taunggyi
Nov.
The fireworks are in the form of rockets. There is always hot balloons competition day and night. Day balloons are usually in the form of Pagodas, and animals such as elephant, dragon or ducks while the night balloons usually in the shape of rugby ball, huge elongated paper balls with small lighted multicolored paper lanterns hung around their sides and balloons would sting along fireworks and fire sticks which are set off mid-air fireworks.

ROBE WEAVING CONTEST, Throughout Myanmar
Nov.
On this particular full moon eve groups of young women take part of competition held on the platforms of the pagodas. The robe is to be finished flawlessly overnight and offered at dawn to the Buddha images around the pagodas.

KYAIKHTIYO PAGODA FESTIVAL, Golden Rock
Nov.
The boulder, standing on the edge of a peak in the highest mountain range, is said to be freely hanging over the cliff. The place is famous as a pilgrimage and holiday outing spot. On this particular full moon day number total 9,999 candles are ceremoniously lit at mid night.

POE WIN TAUNG CEREMONY, Monywa
Nov.
The one and only market where leaves, fruits, roots, thorns, tubera, stems of any herbal value from the wilderness west of the Chindwin River are sold on a large scale.

TAZAUGDINE LIGHT FESTIVAL, Throughout Myanmar
Nov.
Another festival of light held on the full moon day throughout the country. Home and streets are illuminated and Buddhists are provided robe and various requisites at Kathein (Ceremony of offering robes to monks). On this particular full moon day number total 9,999 candles are ceremoniously lit at mid night. Visitors are served with mixed salad of maezali buds, believed to posess powerful, magical and medicinal properties if eaten at this time.

KAUNG HMU DAW FESTIVAL, Sagaing
Nov.
The best spot to watch Myanmar puppets. Pilgrimage and holiday outings on country oxcarts can be seen.

SHAN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION, Kyaingtung
Nov.
Many different Shan tribes are celebrate with offering to the Buddha and traditional dance and feast.

MT. POPA NAT SPIRIT FESTIVAL, Mt. Popa
Dec.
Mt. Popa being considered most important Nat worshipping center, thousands of country folks and town people in their joyous, light-hearted and merrymaking in this particular festival. Thousands of animals were sacrificed to the Nats during the festival however this practice has been stopped since Bagan period. Spirit possession and overall drunken ecstasy are part of the celebration