myanmar thadingyut festival culture essay

Essay on Thadingyut Festival

Students are often asked to write an essay on Thadingyut Festival in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Thadingyut Festival

Thadingyut is celebrated at the end of the Buddhist lent. It is also known as the festival of light. It is one of the three main festivals celebrated in Myanmar. The festival is celebrated to mark the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the cool season.

Food and Delicacies

During this festival, people offer food to the monks and also share meals with family and friends. These foods include special dishes like nway kan htamin, a variety of rice noodles, and fried snacks.

Thadingyut is a time for joy and celebration. It is a time to reflect on the past year and to look forward to the year ahead. It is also a time to come together with family and friends to share food, laughter, and stories.

250 Words Essay on Thadingyut Festival

What is thadingyut.

Thadingyut, also known as the “Festival of Lights,” is one of the most important festivals in Myanmar. It marks the end of the Buddhist lent, a three-month period of fasting and meditation for monks and nuns. The festival is celebrated over a period of three days.

Thadingyut Traditions

During Thadingyut, people visit temples to make offerings and listen to sermons. They also participate in processions, carrying lanterns and candles to symbolize the dispelling of darkness and ignorance. In the evenings, families and friends gather to enjoy traditional food, music, and dance.

Symbolism of Lights

The lights during Thadingyut symbolize wisdom and enlightenment. They represent the Buddha’s teachings, which help people overcome darkness and ignorance. The festival is also a time for reflection and renewal, as people reflect on the past year and set goals for the future.

Thadingyut is a vibrant and colorful festival that brings people together to celebrate the Buddha’s teachings and the end of the Buddhist lent. It is a time for joy, reflection, and renewal, and it is one of the most important festivals in Myanmar.

500 Words Essay on Thadingyut Festival

Introduction to thadingyut festival.

The Thadingyut Festival, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most beautiful and significant festivals in Myanmar. It marks the end of the Buddhist Lent, a period during which monks remain in their monasteries for meditation and study. This festival is celebrated all over the country with lights, joy, and warmth, bringing people together in a unique way.

The Significance of Thadingyut Festival

The Thadingyut Festival is not just about lighting up the country; it holds deep cultural and religious significance for the people of Myanmar. It celebrates the return of Buddha to earth after he spent three months of the rainy season in heaven, teaching his mother’s reborn spirit. To honor his return, people light up their homes, streets, and public places. This act symbolizes the light of wisdom dispelling the darkness of ignorance.

How Thadingyut Festival is Celebrated

During Thadingyut, the entire country turns into a spectacle of lights. People decorate their houses with candles, colored lanterns, and sometimes, electric lights. Public places and streets are also illuminated, creating a mesmerizing view that attracts not just locals but tourists from around the world. Another important aspect of the festival is paying respect to elders. Young people visit their elders, such as parents, grandparents, and teachers, to pay their respects and ask for blessings. This tradition strengthens family bonds and societal values.

Activities and Entertainment

Thadingyut is not just about lights and respect; it’s also a time for fun and entertainment. Various traditional performances, concerts, and puppet shows are organized throughout the country. Food stalls and funfairs pop up in many places, offering delicious local foods and games. These activities provide a joyful atmosphere and allow people to celebrate their culture and traditions in a communal setting.

The Spirit of Giving During Thadingyut

An essential part of the Thadingyut Festival is the spirit of giving and sharing. People often donate food, clothes, and other essentials to monasteries and less fortunate individuals. This act of giving not only supports those in need but also brings spiritual merit to the giver. It reflects the generous and compassionate nature of Myanmar’s people and their commitment to Buddhist teachings.

The Thadingyut Festival is a time of joy, reflection, and community in Myanmar. It brings together the beauty of light, the warmth of family and community bonds, and the spirit of generosity. Through its celebrations, people not only pay homage to Buddha’s teachings but also strengthen the fabric of their society. For visitors, experiencing Thadingyut offers a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage and the kind-hearted nature of Myanmar’s people. This festival is a beautiful example of how traditions can bring people together, spreading light and joy in the world.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Television Impact
• Essay on Television Boon Or Bane
• Essay on Telecommunication

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

📬 Sign Up for Our Amazing Newsletter!

Writing result-oriented ad copy is difficult, as it must appeal to, entice, and convince consumers to take action.

Thadingyut - Twinkling Festival of Lights in Myanmar

he word "Thadingyut" not only refers to one of the months in the Myanmar Lunar calendar but because lights are the signature of “Thadingyut'' it is also seen in electric lights and colorful lanterns. In festival-prosperous Myanmar, many ethnic groups celebrate their festivals in separate regions and different seasons through multi-colored festivals. Among the 12 months of Myanmar lunar Festivals , Thadingyut is one of Myanmar’s most recognized festivals. It takes place at the end of the rainy season in October at the same time throughout the country. This lighting festival is also the second most popular festival in the Myanmar calendar and is held in all areas after the Thingyan water festival.

Nowadays, the Thadingyut festival is known as the Festival of Lights or Lighting Festival. In previous times it was also known as Myinmo Festival, Myinmo is the name of the mountain where Tavatimsa, one of the heavenly beings' places, is located. The Thadingyut festival is held for 3 days starting from the full moon eve until the day after the full moon. It relates to much of the Myanmar culture, especially Myanmar Buddhism. For religious purposes, the full moon day of Thadingyut is also known as Abhidhamma Day, Abhidhamma is one of the famous Buddha’s preachings, theories, and concepts. Buddhists celebrate Thadingyut joyously to embrace the arrival of the Buddha and his disciples by illuminating and adorning the streets, homes, and public structures with vibrant electric bulbs or flickering candles. These mesmerizing lights symbolize the sacred essence of the three stairways. Although this festival is mainly related to Buddhism, everyone can freely celebrate, including people from different religions, races, and nationalities. 

Origin of Festival 

The origin of the Thadingyut festival is one of the celebration stories of Buddha's life. Legend has it that after Buddha's mother died shortly after he was born, she was reborn as a deva (god) in Tavatimsa, the 2nd place of heavenly beings. Buddha ascended to that spot to offer thanks and deliver discourses on his former mother including other heavenly beings with the Abhidhamma text genre for three months, starting with the full moon day of Waso and ending with the full moon day of Thadingyut. These 3 months are designated as Buddhist lent or Vassa today. In the 3 months of Vessa, monks and other religious people engage in more good deeds, meditation, and fasting than at any other time. 

After three months, preaching was completed and before the Buddha's arrival back to the mortal world on earth, Sakka, the leader of the Devas, built three staircases: a ruby staircase in the center, a gold one on the right, and a silver one on the left. Buddha chose the ruby one for his descent to earth. The glowing lights of the regions are part of the plan to welcome and guide Buddha's arrival back to the human realm. People celebrate the first festival of lights and pay tribute to the Buddha, monks, parents, teachers, and other older generations as a joyous reunion in addition to lighting their homes.

When it is held?

Commemorating the happy event and the end of Lent, the Thadingyut festival is held for 3 days in the 7th month of the Myanmar lunar calendar which usually falls in October. This year, 2022, the celebration days will be on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of October and this 3-day is a public holiday in Myanmar. The Buddhist Lent is commemorated with two full moons. The first, Waso, represents Buddha's ascent to Tavatimsa, while the second full moon, of Thadingyut marks Buddha's return to Earth. For this reason, these days hold great importance in Buddhism. The Waso full moon day is also referred to as Dhammasetkyar day, people say and offer Dhammasetkyar Buddha text extended especially on this day and the later as Abhidhamma day and Adhidhamma Buddha text on the full moon of Thadingyut.

Where it is held?

Because it is a nationwide event, you will notice homes, temples, streets, and little lanes all over the country sparkling. A glowing night adorned with candles, lanterns, electric lights, and fireworks will make you memorize this charming culture and tradition. If you want to be in the biggest and brightest avenues, Yangon, Mandalay, and ShweKyin cities would be the most recommended ones to be best seen. In Yangon, you can just go to Shwedagon Pagoda and take part, offer the oil lights by yourselves, and in Mandalay, you can see ‘Kyauktawgyi' temple which is prepared in twinkling electric lights for two weeks ahead. In Dawei, locals hold a vibrant festival called " Alm Boal Floating Festival " (သပိတ်မျှောပွဲ), whereby alms bowls filled with offerings like flowers, water, oil lamps, candles, and joss-sticks are set adrift at sea as a tribute to Shin Upagutta. Similarly, in Shwegyin, residents partake in the "Mi Hmyaw Pwe" (မီးမျှောပွဲ), where they release colorful oil lanterns into the Shwe Kyin Lights Festival. This incredible festival bears a resemblance to the Dawei Alm Boal Floating Festival.

How to celebrate?

To participate in this momentous occasion, you won't need much. Perhaps a few light candles a single candle or a colorful lantern might be an ideal addition. All you have to do is switch on your light or light your candle and join people in tiny lanes in quarters who are also using their lights. Some individuals light oil lamps or candles around their homes, including on their balconies, main doors, and so on, while others decorate with colorful lanterns in their homes. In rural areas, small villages, and towns, you may find that houses are lit by blinking multi-colored electric lights or LED lights. You may even be shocked by the fireworks or fire balloons with which the children are playing in the quarter lane. This scene is especially common in rural areas since big cities or urban areas don't normally do such kind of public activities in the lanes, they just decorate with colorful lanterns or light up every house.

Activities made in the festival period 

There are several enjoyable things to do during the Thadingyut Festival days, including paying homage to our elders, providing traditional foods, light meals, or local snacks freely on the side of the streets, and staging a joyous show in public areas with traditional songs, dances, or jokes. Seeing the innocent scene of youngsters playing with colorful lanterns or fireworks is also one of them. Many students and workers get long holidays and go on vacation for weeks at a time. Going to monasteries and taking trips abroad are popular activities at family reunions as well. 

Local and Social Benefits 

As a direct consequence, the social demands will be satisfied during this celebration owing to the traveling, relaxing, and reuniting elements. Residents who celebrate the event will give other gifts and also spend money on food and other objects from shops. Vendors are anticipated to benefit from the tourism and auspicious event as well. Because it is a national-held festival. Incomes will rise, and local businesses or handiwork in particular such as candles, lanterns, and fireworks manufacturing will be promoted, giving local employment. In addition, since the festival reflects the charming culture, it will also help develop the cultural and traditional image of Myanmar people, which will in turn attract more travelers to visit again in the future and support the region's economy.

Other festivals held along with Thadingyut 

Aside from the Thadingyut Lights Festival, there are several other festivals held throughout the Thadingyut. Some examples include the Tanintharyi Division's Dawei alm bowl floating festival, the Shwekyin Light Festival in Bago Division, and the Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival. The first two festivals serve the same purpose and have the same history, and tradition dates while the last celebration is held one day before the full moon day of Thadingyut. Apart from that, the Tazaungdine Fire Balloon Festival takes place one month after this event, which falls in the eighth month of Myanmar's calendar and is usually in November.

COVID, Political Crisis, and the Festival Beyond

The festival is very popular, and many people participate because the days also coincide with public holidays. Everyone celebrated in their way before the outbreak of Coronavirus. Because of the pandemic situation, no public affairs were allowed to take place and people were not allowed to meet up; self-quarantine was mandatory. While the pandemic has become more manageable, people are restricted in how they can celebrate due to the current political crisis. Although the holiday is enjoyed by some of the population, not everyone is included. All people can do is hope for better days ahead that are filled with safety and security. 

If you're in Myanmar during Thadingyut and the political crisis has also finished, be sure to join in the fun and enjoy the beautiful lights!

More Articles from

How the chinese new year transforms yangon, thadingyut festival 2023: your ultimate guide, unforgettable myanmar local experiences to explore, travel or staycation in myanmar, thingyan water festival of myanmar, best time to visit myanmar, articles you might like, the flavor of yangon fried rice, inle phaung daw oo pagoda festival, delightful housewarming festival of kayah ethnic, inspiring story of clay pot shop owner, ultimate guide to taking star ferry yangon, explore local hotels of kalaw with us, shittaung pagoda festival in mrauk u, myanmar , kalaw: the best of myanmar for the xmas getaway , featured articles, a fruit stall in pyin oo lwin, myanmar: the owner's story, a must try dawei traditional foods and snacks, myanmar local snacks you must try, there is more posts from my local passion.

မြန်မာဘာသာဖြင့်ဖတ်ရန်

Supported by

Cbi ministry of foreign affairs netherlands.

Featured Posts

Visit the Health Advisories website for the latest vaccination and mask information and to Report a Case.

SJSU is Open and Operational

Campus will be open January 22–26. Visit our FAQ to learn more .

Privacy Policy

San José State University respects your privacy and is committed to protecting it to the extent possible, subject to applicable state and federal law, through our compliance with our Privacy Policy

International Student and Scholar Services

Professional and global education, the magical thadingyut festival of myanmar.

The Thadingyut Festival, also known as the Lighting Festival in Myanmar, is a cherished cultural and religious observance that takes place on the full moon day of the Burmese lunar month of Thadingyut. This festival is the second most popular festival in Myanmar/Burma after Thingyan which is Burmese Water Festival.

By: Nick Shein - October 13, 2023

This three-day festival marks the end of Buddhist Lent, a period of deep reflection and meditation for monks. Thadingyut Festival is a time when Myanmar truly comes alive. Streets, homes, and public buildings are adorned with colorful electric bulbs and candles, symbolizing the three stairways of the Buddha’s descent from Tāvatiṃsa Heaven after delivering the Abhidhamma teachings to his mother, Maya. Beyond the visual spectacle, Thadingyut carries deep spiritual meaning, celebrating the profound wisdom enshrined in the Buddha’s teachings. During these days, Buddhists pay their respects to monks and offer gifts at pagodas and monasteries. Young people express their gratitude to elders through thoughtful gifts and fruits, fostering a strong sense of unity and reverence within the community. Thadingyut Festival beautifully weaves together tradition, spirituality, and the warmth of familial bonds within the rich cultural fabric of Myanmar.

What do you do at the Thadingyut Festival?

When is the Festival? 

Sign up for an ISSS Advising Session

Have Questions?

• Phone: 408 924 5920
• Fax 408-924-2666
• [email protected]
• follow us on facebook
• follow us on Instagram
• follow us on LinkedIn
• follow us on YouTube

• Accomplishments
• Sustainability
• Metrics & Evaluation
• Innovative Model
• Guiding Principles
• Our Programs
• Why Myanmar
• Legacy Society
• Corporate Sponsorships
• Myanmar Staff
• Board of Directors
• Founder’s Story
• Featured Press
• Newsletters
• RISE Podcast

Single Post

Myanmar’s Thadingyut “Festival of Lights”

Thadingyut Festival took place in Myanmar last week, bringing a sense of gratitude, unity, and celebration to a nation that has undergone tremendous turmoil in the past 3 years. The festival weaves together tradition, spirituality, and the warmth of family within the rich cultural fabric of Myanmar.

Held in the seventh month around the full moon, this 3-day festival marks the end of the Buddhist lent, a period of deep reflection and meditation. Myanmar comes alive with vibrant celebrations, illuminations, and acts of devotion. Houses, streets, and public spaces are adorned with colored lights and candles signifying Buddha’s descent from heaven. Buddhists pay their respects to monks and offer gifts at pagodas and monasteries. Marketplaces brim with activity, food, and concerts.

This vibrant celebration resonates deeply with the people of Myanmar, symbolizing the essence of their culture and spirituality. It’s a time when all people come together to celebrate and pay respect to the elderly. Youth honor their elders with offerings of fruits and gifts. A special bonus to young people is a small envelope of money they receive upon honoring their elders as a sign of gratitude. Along with the brightly lit streets and processions, plenty of fireworks illuminate the sky each evening.

While Thadingyut has certainly not been as spirited as it was pre-military coup, it is a wonderful tradition to bring families, friends, and loved ones together. It deepens one’s spiritual dedication and solidifies a bond that holds the remarkable people of Myanmar together.

Margery Poitras

• Insider Stories
• Advertise with Us

• Insider Review

Thadingyut and Tazaungdaing Festivals

The Thadingyut Festival, also known as the Lighting Festival of Myanmar, is held on the full moon day of the Thadingyut. Myanmar is rich in culture, and has developed its own distinctive culture. Buddhism has great influence on the daily lives of Myanmar people. Myanmar is said as “Land of Festivals” because there is at least one festival is held every month. Well-known traditional festivals are Thingyan (New Year Water Festival), Thadingyut, Tazaungdaing and Waso.

Thadingyut, the seventh month of the Myanmar calendar, is the end of the Buddhist lent. Thadingyut festival lasts for three days: the day before the full moon day, the full moon day (when Buddha descends from heaven) and the day after the full moon day. It is the celebration to welcome the descent of Buddha from heaven after he preached the Abidhama to his mother reborn in heaven. When Lord Buddha descended from heaven, people all over the country light candles to welcome back. As it is held every year since then, it became a traditional festival.

In small towns, there are small earthen saucers filled with sesame oil where pieces of cotton are used as wicks. In cities, houses, public buildings, parks, monuments and some roads in downtown are all illuminated and  decorated with electric colorful lights. One of the famous Pwe Zay (street fair with many stalls and booths) in Yangon is held in Yay Kyaw in Pazzaungdaung Township annually. There are lots of food-stalls that sell a variety of Myanmar traditional foods, shops which sell toys, chicken utensils and other useful staff. Many people just walk around those streets for sightseeing, taking photos and enjoying traditional foods with their family and friends. There are also free stage shows on the streets around Yay Kyaw.

On Full Moon Day of Thadingyut, there are fundraising drives for charities, musical performances, street dancing, and all activities of entertainment in communities. Some people like to play with firecrackers and hot air balloons. Thadingyut Festival is held not only for pleasure but also paying homage to Buddhist monks, teachers, parents and elder people. Groups of young people and children usually pay respect and offer foods to elders. Buddhists go to the pagodas and monasteries to pay respect to the monks and offer foods. Some Buddhists usually keep fast on the full moon day. By paying homage, younger people ask for forgiveness from the wrong-doings they have committed upon their parents and the elderly relatives throughout the year.

Traditionally the elders tell them that they forgive any of their wrong-doings and continue to bless them with good luck and best wishes. Elder people give them some big notes as pocket money in return.

The busiest places for Lighting festival are Shwedagon Pagoda and downtown area in Yangon. Buddhists offer candles, flowers, incense sticks to the Lord Buddha and do other good deeds on the full moon day. Festival is held in Mandalay around Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda because it coincides with the Pagoda Festival.

Marriages are usually forbidden during the Buddhist lent, perhaps this custom is a bit conservative. Thadingyut is also a period on which many couples get married after the long Lenten period. Moreover, the public holidays come on the full moon of Thadingyut for three days. Some workers usually travel with their friends and families to take relax and stay for a while free from duties and responsibilities.

Thadingyut is not only stuffed with festivals but also an auspicious custom of remembering gratitude. And also it is the happiest time for all people, particularly workers and students for three public holidays and Buddhists for doing good deeds during the Thadingyut Festival. Another well-known festival is the Tazaungdaing Festival, which is also known as the Festival of Lights. The festival is held on the full moon day of Tazaungmon, the eighth month of the Myanmar calendar, is celebrated as a national holiday and marks the end of the rainy season.

Robe-weaving competitions to weave special yellow monk robes (Matho thingan) are also held throughout the country, particularly in Shwedagon Pagoda. During these competitions, contestants work continuously from night until dawn to weave these garments. The tradition commemorates a widely known story of the Buddha’s life. The Buddha’s mother (Maya) who had been reborn in the heaven, spent the entire night weaving yellow monk robes for him. Buddha’s aunt (Gotami) continued this tradition and offered new robes annually.

In many parts of Myanmar, hot air balloons lit with candles, are released to celebrate the full moon day. The balloons are released as an offering to the Sulamani zeti in heaven or as a way to drive away evil spirits. Among Tazaungdaing festivals, Taunggyi’s hot-air balloons and firework-launching competition is the most prominent festival. Hot air balloon festival is held annually in November, around the full moon day of Tazaungmone. Thousands of local people and international tourists choose to visit Taunggyi, the capital city of Shan State to watch scores of giant paper animals being inflated and floated off into the sky.

Competitions run during the day and at night when the sky is colorfully illuminated with hot air balloons. Day balloons are usually in the form of pagodas and animals such as elephants, dragon or ducks while the night balloons usually in the shape of rugby ball, huge elongated paper lanterns hung around their sides.

Alms-giving and charity, both religious and secular festivals including satuditha feasts, are also held during this festival to get merits in many parts of the community. Some Buddhists are still busy to pay respect to the elders with fruits and gifts and to visit pagodas. In small towns, young men celebrate a custom called “kyimano pwe”, by stealing or playing tricks on their neighbors on the eighth waning night of that month.

Tazaungdaing festival is second wellknown festival after the Thadingyut festival as there are many religious and secular festivals. Moreover, Taunggyi hot air balloons competition is wellknown not only among locals but also among tourists.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Waving into Thin Air

The Forgotten Private Beach?

Xinjiang and Beyond

Latest videos.

Interview with Shankar Ojha, Founder & CEO of QHRM Myanmar

Recent posts.

A Change We are All Hoping For?

3,000 Tons of Honey for Export

Peculiar Change of Hands

Impact of Law and Order on Economic Development

• All Articles
• Life & Style
• Magazine Covers
• New Openings
• Activities-Directory
• Art&Stage Listings
• Business Listings in Yangon
• Restaurant Directory
• Nightlife Listings
• Travel Listings
• Wellbeing Listings
• Nay Pyi Taw
• Southern Myanmar
• Advertise with us
• Work for us

Thadingyut Festival

Thadingyut Lighting Festival is one of the most adorable and meaningful festivals in Myanmar as a nation that has rich Buddhism practice and culture. It is celebrated in the second or third week of October as a sign and remembrance of welcoming back Buddha’s and his disciples’ coming back to earth after preaching “Abhidhamma”- the highest doctrine of Buddhism- to his previous life mother in heaven.

Photo Credit:  allcyprusnews

The festival is in the seventh month of Burmese Calendar. For the year 2013, Full Moon Day of Thadingyut is on 19 October. Every Buddhist in Myanmar lights up colorful candles, hangs decorated balloons or colorful bulbs in front of each house and celebrates the festival nationwide.  Monasteries, pagodas, houses, streets are lively with candle fires. Perhaps, children are the ones who are really delighted because they are given more or less than ten-day holidays and pocket money.

Nowadays, it’s essence of beauty lies in the way Buddhists do. Children, youths and all ages give homage and presents to the elders and ask for forgiveness if they have done wrong. In return, the elders forgive them and bless them. Most of the elders and Buddhists go to monasteries and pagodas to do merit, show good deeds and pray.

Photo Credit:  Scott in Kabul

There is no doubt that on the day of the festival, most of the religious places in nationwide, especially Shwedagon Pagoda  will be over crowded with pilgrims who struggle to light up candles, change flowers in the vases and make donations. Therefore, it’s the best opportunity for expats to participate in Thadingyut festival at Shwedagon Pagoda on 18 th October and 19 th October, where you will see different kind of ages clasping their hands, kneeling down in front of each Buddha statue and respective planetary corner such as Jupiter and learn the beautiful tradition of Myanmar under the cool breeze of the evening.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

To a greener future: art, music and more, soulful melodies, heartfelt moments: foodpanda myanmar’s 4th birthday at yangon education centre for the blind, kokkoya market returns with reggae and nature vibes, leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

MYANMORE inspires and enables people to explore and enjoy the best of Myanmar. It started in 2013 when MYANMORE launched the Weekly Guide to share What’s On. Since then, this iconic brand has consistently maintained its status as the go-to source of inspiration for both locals and visitors alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

© Copyright - Myanmore Media group

• Add Directory Listing
• MYANMORE Awards
• Public Holidays 2020

Riders Honoured at foodpanda Myanmar’s 4th Anniversary Celebration

• Photos of Bagan
• Videos of Bagan
• Around The Myinkaba Village
• Around Pwa Saw, Minnanthu village
• Central Plain
• Bagan Lacquerware
• Workshops in New Bagan
• Bagan Calendar

Thadingyut Festival, The Festival of Lights

This festival is celebrated in Myanmar for three days beginning from the day before the full-moon day of October, yearly.

This is a religious event and it is noted that Buddha ascended to heaven to preach the doctrine (Abhidhamma) in gratitude of his mother who passed away seven days after giving birth to Buddha and reborn as a heavenly being.Buddha preached the doctrine to his mother (Mal Taw Mi Nat Thar) and other celestial beings for three months in heaven. Humankind on earth respectfully welcomed Buddha with candle lights, lamps, lighting balloons, etc., upon Buddha descending back to earth. The Buddhists around the world kept on celebrating lighting festival as a religious event after Buddha passed away until now.

Thadingyut festival in October is a day to inform the beginning of the dry cold season after a long rainy season. People living in rainy areas like Yangon are eagerly waiting for this day to come. In rural areas like Bagan, the farmers become active again because they must prepare to work in the fields with their cows to grow crops. But Thadingyut, the festival of light is one of Myanmar most enjoyable festivals and people of all ages will be participating in some kind of the festive events.

There are some Myanmar traditional festive events, such as offering one thousand candle lights to Pagoda (in some region, people offer eight thousand and ten thousand candle lights to Pagodas), paying homage to the elderly peoples (especially grandparents, parents, teachers, relatives and so on), children playing with fireworks, floating candle light with the lamps or small boats in the water, etc.

About the author

Author's recent posts, our partner.

Copyright © 2017, Wonder Bagan. All Rights Reserved.

• Travel Insurance
• Login/Register

Thadingyut Festival: Illuminating Myanmar with the Festival of Light!

When it comes to Myanmar, travelers will immediately remind of golden pagodas and ancient temples that attract pilgrims from numerous nations. Not only blessed with breathtaking mountains, pristine lakes, and countless natural landscapes, Myanmar is also a place of famous festivals. It becomes nearly impossible to resist the allure of the myriad celebrations that grace this enchanting land throughout the year. Whether they are cultural spectacles or religious gatherings, the festivals in Myanmar are an explosion of color, pageantry, rhythmic melodies, and captivating dance performances. Are you well-prepared to be captivated on a journey to explore one of Myanmar's most dazzling festivals - the Thadingyut Festival ? We will discover the celebration of the Thadingyut festival in Myanmar and indulge in a sense of joy with the local people.

• Why do we celebrate the Thadingyut festival? The meaning of Thadingyut

When is the Thadingyut festival?

• How people celebrate the Thadingyut festival in Myanmar?

Top Places To Enjoy the Thadingyut Festival of Burma

Thadingyut festival in myanmar: traveler's guide to embrace the celebration, why do celebrate the thadingyut festival the meaning of thadingyut.

Thadingyut, the revered festival of lights in Myanmar, holds significant cultural and religious importance, making it one of the most renowned festivals in the country. Spanning three days, this illuminating celebration occurs on the eve of the full moon day and the day after. 

According to ancient lore, Buddha's mother, Maya, passed away seven days after giving birth to him, subsequently being reborn as a deva in heaven. To express his profound gratitude, Buddha ascended to the heavenly realms and imparted Abhidharma sermons to the devas during the Lent period. On the full moon day of Thadingyut, Buddha returns to Earth. 

People call Thadingyut "the festival of lights" since the followers of Buddha often light up houses and temples during the festival to welcome the return of Buddha. As dusk descends, towns and villages across Myanmar burst into a glorious display of lights, creating a breathtaking spectacle that pays homage to this auspicious event.

During Thadingyut, Buddhists honor the teachings of Buddha by not only commemorating his return to Earth but also by revering their parents, teachers, and elders. This revered festival serves as a heartfelt gesture of gratitude and a means to seek forgiveness for any wrongdoings committed. Meanwhile, monks recite Abhidharma sermons, so Thadingyut is commonly referred to as Abhidharma Day. 

Don't miss:

• The Ultimate Myanmar travel guide for Newcomers
• Discovering Myanmar culture and Lifestyle

Thadingyut festival holds significant cultural and religious importance in Myanmar

Thadingyut festival is an annual celebration that occurs during the full moon of the seventh month in the Burmese calendar, signifying its fluidity in terms of dates from year to year. The festival takes place over a three-day period, starting with the eve of the full moon day, followed by the full moon day itself, and concluding on the day after the full moon. This year, the festival will be joyously celebrated from October 28th to October 30th. 

How do people celebrate the Thadingyut festival in Myanmar?

The Thadingyut festival is celebrated throughout Myanmar, with each area having its unique way of celebrating Thadingyut. During Thadingyut, homes and pagodas are adorned with a dazzling display of electric lights, colorful paper lanterns, and candles. Pilgrims flock to sacred sites, such as the renowned Shwedagon Pagoda, and light candles as a gesture of reverence to the Buddha to accumulate merit. Every flickering light contributes to the awe-inspiring spectacle of countless tiny flames shining in the night sky, casting a mesmerizing ambiance. On the streets, fireworks displays and hot-air balloons gracefully drift across the heavens and gradually disappear. 

Streets come alive during Thadingyut, with bustling fairs occurring in different regions. One of the most famous street fairs is held along Bogyoke Aung San Road in downtown Yangon. The aroma of fried delicacies fills the air, and vendors entice passersby with trendy clothing and accessories. Traditional performances and outdoor concerts further enhance the festive ambiance where people can immerse themselves in the joyous atmosphere.

At Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda, also known as Golden Rock, pilgrims offer 9,000 lit candles and 9,000 flowers to the Buddha. Meanwhile, in Shwe Kyin, Bago Region, a decorative boat competition takes place, accompanied by the launch of a Karaweik barge adorned with Buddha images. As night falls, thousands of lotus-shaped oil lamps float on the water, mingled with the shimmering lights creating a dazzling sight. In Kyaukse, home to the Shwethalyaung Pagoda, an elephant dancing competition catches the sight of spectators on the full moon eve and the full moon day of Thadingyut . Although performed by competitors dressed in vibrant elephant costumes rather than real elephants, the energetic dances set to live drum music create a cheerful spectacle as participants vie to outperform each other.

Thadingyut also marks the beginning of Kahtein, a month-long period leading up to the full moon day of Tazaungdaing in November. During this time, people generously donate new robes and essential supplies to local monasteries. These offerings range from fans, alms bowls, and books for learning the Pali language to practical items like tote bags, towelfkas, and soap. The act of giving during Kahtein is a cherished tradition that fosters generosity and supports the monastic community.

Thadingyut festival is celebrated widely across the regions in Myanmar

There are numerous places where one can immerse themselves in the vibrant celebrations of the Thadingyut Festival of Burma since it is celebrated widely in the country. The festival can be experienced in larger cities like Mandalay and Yangon, where the atmosphere electrifies. However, even in small villages, one can witness quieter yet equally heartfelt versions of the festival.

For a truly unique experience, consider yourself fortunate if you happen to be in Yangon when the power goes out on the evening of the full moon. The occasion becomes even more spectacular as the blinking electric lights are replaced by traditional lines of glowing candles, adorning windows, rooftops, verandas, and even lining the ground. The soft, warm glow adds an ethereal touch to the captivating atmosphere.

Planning a trip to Myanmar to immerse yourself in the vibrant lights, traditional dances, and joyful atmosphere of the Thadingyut Festival of Burma today! To make your travel experience even more seamless, we recommend applying for a visa to Myanmar online . Myanmar Immigration Services is a visa consulting service that will accompany you from the first preparation for your trip to Myanmar. This convenient and reliable platform ensures a hassle-free process, allowing you to focus on arranging your travel itinerary in the wonders of this extraordinary festival. 

Related Articles

• Shwedagon Pagoda: A Timeless Beacon of Spiritual Splendor
• Enjoy The Tranquility Of The Untouched Inle Lake in Myanmar
• Discovering Kalaw In Myanmar – A Comprehensive Travel Guide
• Pindaya Myanmar Guide - Discovering Worthwhile Things To Do
• Old Bagan Myanmar - Discover All The Stories In Stone
• Where is Myanmar? A Travelers’ Guide to Discovering this Enigmatic Nation
• Exploring The Unique Weather In Myanmar
• The Currency of Myanmar - A Guide For Travelers
• Myanmar Tribes: Resonating Stories From Myanmar's Cultural Past
• Myanmar's Traditional Dress: A Kaleidoscope of Cultural Heritage

HOW CAN WE HELP?

Your Full Name *

Your Email *

Your Phone Number *

Your Question *

NEED HELP 24/7

How it works ?

Apply with confidence.

• Safety, Fastest, Reliable, Save Time.
• Secure Online Payment.
• 3 Working Days Guarantee.
• No Hidden Fees and No Traps.
• Money Back Guarantee if Declined.
• Make a payment
• Coperate Account
• LOGIN / REGISTER
• Universal Terms Of Service
• Legal Agreements
• Privacy Policy
• Disclaimers
• Payment Guidelines
• Photo Required

Extra Services

• India and Vietnam VOA
• Car Pick-up Service
• Domestic flights Booking Service
• Hotel Booking Service
• Tour Booking Service
• Check Requirements
• Myanmar visa for Japanese
• Myanmar visa for Chinese
• Myanmar visa for Egyptian
• Myanmar visa for Ghanaians
• Myanmar visa for Indonesian
• Read More...

Useful Information

• Make payment
• Check Status
• Government News

www.myanmarimmigration.org is part of Myanmar Immigration Services Group - the world leading in Online Travel & Related Services to travel to Myanmar. 1997-2024. Myanmar Immigration Services. All Rights Reserved.

This is a commercial/Private Website, NOT an official website of the government.

This is a commercial website to apply eVisa to Myanmar through Myanmar Government Website, you will be charged a fee. To book a landing visa under our process , we will charge a service fee for providing consultancy, submitting applications and informing the status and results.

Our fee will be higher than you apply directly on Myanmar Government Website or at Myanmar Embassy or Consulate in your country.

Thadingyut: A festival of light in a time of darkness

Myanmar is marking its annual Thadingyut festival this weekend amid a surge in Covid-19 cases that has forced many to forego the usual festivities. As the second-most important Buddhist holiday of the year—after Thingyan, the New Year’s water festival—Thadingyut is normally a time of temple visits and lively family gatherings. This year, however, many are celebrating quietly in the privacy of their homes. Held at the end of the three-month rains retreat, the festival falls on the full moon day of Thadingyut, the seventh month of Myanmar’s traditional lunar calendar. According to custom, it was also on this day that the Buddha returned to earth after teaching the Dhamma to his mother in heaven. Thadingyut is also known as the festival of lights, and in the suburbs of Yangon, many people put out candles as offerings to the Buddha. The photos here show a pagoda without enclosing walls and houses under the Pan Hlaing bridge in Yangon’s Hlaing Tharyar township. (Sai Zaw/Myanmar Now)

Related Articles

New Zealand under fire for legitimising Myanmar junta

Junta-appointed administrator shot dead in Rakhine’s Thandwe Township

Myanmar military’s road blockades obstruct healthcare access in northern Shan State

Five Rohingya refugees found dead after boat capsizes off Indonesia coast: UN

Job vacancy: digital specialist.

• Bilateral Cooperation
• Mekong Countries
• Exploring LMC
• LMC China Secretariat

Celebrations of Thadingyut festival in Myanmar

Xinhua, october 10, 2022 size：.

Myanmar's traditional Thadingyut festival starts on Oct. 9 this year. The three-day festival, also known as the lighting festival, is the second most popular festival in the Southeast Asian country after the traditional Thingyan water festival.

During the lighting festival, Buddhists hang lanterns at homes, workplaces and streets for decoration, and children play with toy lanterns in the streets.

• Ultimate guide for Tazaungdaing or Taunggyi Fire Balloon Festival

If your idea of fun involves a blurry riot of colour and explosions, look no further than the Taunngyi Fire Balloon Festival, which takes place in the culturally diverse capital of Shan State over several days every November. This celebration is held around the Full Moon of Tazaungmon, a Myanmar national holiday that marks the end of rainy season and is also known as the Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights.

Traditionally, it is a festival to pay homage to the Sulamani Pagoda by sending up decorated hot air balloons, and lately it also became as a Hot Air Balloon Competition Festival and the festival is divided into two parts; daytime competition and nighttime competition. In the daytime, hot air balloons are sent up with the shapes of various animals and mythical creatures, and hot air balloons with firework & fire-cracker (known as Nya Mee Gyi) and lot of lanterns are hanging in the hot air balloons (known as Seinnaban) are sent up in the nighttime.

• The meaning of Tazaungdaing Festival
• The celebrations of Tazaungdaing Festival
• Taunggyi Fire Balloon Festival
• Regional tradition
• Where to experience Tazaungdaing Festival
• When is the Tazaungdaing Festival?
• Similar festivals of light in Asia

Tazaungdaing Festival - the Festival of Lights - is one of the highlights of the year in Burma and absolutely not to be missed if you are visiting the country in late November.

Predating even Buddhism, the festival taps into the essential elements of Burmese life, culture and history. 

Just as Christmas was a festival to celebrate the winter solstice, and Easter the dawn of spring, the Tazaungdaing Festival has its roots in the change of the seasons. The festival celebrates the end of the rainy season, a key moment in the Burmese calendar.

But it is not just about the weather; Tazaungdaing also has immense religious significance. The festival marks the end of the Kathina, or Kahtein, season when monks are offered alms and robes. 

The Tazaungdaing festival was observed in Burma (now officially called Myanmar) even before the spread of Buddhism. It was held in honor of the God of Lights, and it marked the awakening of the Hindu god Vishnu from his long sleep.

Burmese Buddhists later attached their own religious significance to the festival, saying that this was the night that Siddhartha's mother, sensing that her son was about to renunciate the royal robes of his birth and put on the robes of the monkhood, spent the entire night weaving the traditional yellow robes for him. Her sister Gotami (Buddha's aunt) continued this tradition and offered new robes annually.

To commemorate her achievement, robe-weaving competitions to weave special yellow monk robes called matho thingan are also held throughout the country, most notably in Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda. During these competitions, held for two consecutive nights (the night preceding and the night of the full moon), contestants work nonstop from night until dawn to weave these garments. 

Another festival activity is the offering of Kathin robes to the Buddhist monks to replace the soiled robes they have worn throughout the rainy season. This offering ceremony begins on the first waning day of Thadingyut and continues until the full moon night of Tazaungmone.

In many parts of Myanmar, hot air balloons lit with candles, are released to celebrate the full moon day, similar to Yi Peng celebrations in Northern Thailand. The balloons are released as an offering to the Sulamani cetiya in Tavitisma, a heaven in Buddhist cosmology and home of the devas, or as a way to drive away evil spirits.

Among Tazaungdaing festivals, Taunggyi's hot-air balloons and firework-launching competition is the most prominent festival. The origin of Taunggyi's hot-air balloons contest dates back to 1894, when the British first held hot air balloon competitions in Taunggyi, soon after the annexation of Upper Burma. 

Alms-giving and charity, both religious and secular, including satuditha feasts, are also commonly undertaken during this festival, as a means of merit-making. Others return home to pay homage to elders (gadaw) and visit pagodas. Many concerts and other secular festivities, such as live performances of traditional dramas like the Yama Zatdaw, are also held between Thadingyut (the end of the Buddhist lent) and Tazaungdaing. 

Candle-lighting of 1,000 candles at the same time at temples is also practiced on full moon day. Pagodas and temples are filled with Buddhists coming to worship Buddha. There is a belief that a vegetable salad, Melzali bud salad, has amazing medicinal benefits on Tazaung Daing full moon night, so families prepare the salad to enjoy at midnight under the biggest full moon of the year.

In pre-colonial times, the Burmese court worshiped 15 Hindu deities on the full moon day. On the eighth waning day of that month, after a procession to the king, 8 pyatthat structures made of bamboo were burned. 

In Burmese tradition, during the full moon day of Tazaungmon, Burmese families pick Siamese cassia buds and prepare it in a salad called mezali phu thoke or in a soup. On this night, young men celebrate a custom called "kyimano pwe", lit. "Don't wake the crows up"), by practicing mischief on their neighbors, by stealing or playing tricks on them

Taunggyi Fire Balloon Festival is a part of Tazaungdaing Festival , which is a traditional festival and public holiday in Myanmar. It is also known as the "Festival of Lights" and it is celebrated on the full moon of Tazaungmon, the eighth month of the traditional Burmese calendar. The Tazaungdaing Festival marks the end of the rainy season. In Taunggyi in Shan State hot-air balloons lit with candles are released to celebrate the full moon day and the Tazaungdaing Festival. It is comparable to the Yi Peng and Loi Krathong celebrations in Thailand.

However, the Taunggyi Balloon Festival is much more than a public holiday . It lasts around 6 or 7 days and it is also a balloon competition and funfair at the same time. Traditionally the festival ends on the full moon day Tazaungmon with the announcement of the winners of the balloon contest. The balloons are beautifully designed and hand-made of traditional mulberry papers and bamboo. They are released day and night during the festival. The balloons for the daytime competition are smaller and usually have the form of pagodas, ducks, dragons or even elephants. The bigger balloons decorated with candles are released at the nighttime competitions, sometimes even with attached fireworks that explode into the night sky.

Like other full-moon festivals held throughout South East Asia also the balloon festival's origin is connected to Buddhism . The release of a balloon is a Buddhist symbol for floating one’s sins and bad deeds away. During the festival monks are offered new robes and alms as a means of merit-making. A robe-weaving competition to weave monk robes is also part of the festival. Historically the British started soon after the annexation of Upper Burma the hot air balloon competition in Taunggyi as a part of the Tazaungdaing Festival.

Nowadays the festival is a huge, vibrant and most popular event in Myanmar which is also broadcasted on television channels. Combined with the funfair the festival is a colorful and exceptionally loud spectacle. There are also illuminated Ferris Wheels, live music on stages, plenty of beer and food served in food stalls and Myanmar energy drink sponsors handing out soda cans for free. At nighttime the square below the Yat Taw Me pagoda where the festival takes place is immensely crowded with visitors and party people. And sometimes it is even dangerous: It is not uncommon that spectators are injured or in rare cases even killed when hot air balloons carrying fireworks drop down onto the crowd by accident.

Taunggyi has almost no infrastructure for foreign tourists. Most of the hotels in town during the festivals are fully booked mainly by Myanmar tourists and local people. Most of the foreign tourists stay at the nearby Inle Lake and visit the balloon festival doing a daytrip and return in the evening to Nyaung Shwe. However, to witness the whole festival it is better to stay in Taunggyi for a couple of days, which requires of course an early hotel reservation. And then you will be rewarded with an exceptionally loud, colorful, vibrant and unforgettable event.

• Residents of Madauk, Nyaunglebin Township and Pathein celebrate with a mi hmyaw pwe. 
• Residents of Dawei hold a procession of the 28 Buddhas
• Residents of Mawlamyine, Kyaikkhami and other costal towns in Mon State, Lower Myanmar hold a swam oo hmyaw pwe, in which earthenware bowls filled with offertories such as flowers, fruits, vegetarian desserts, candles and joss-sticks are set adrift at sea to the arahat Shin Upagutta at the dawn.

The Tazaungdaing Full Moon Festival is celebrated countrywide, but the liveliest displays are in the cities of Yangon and Mandalay, and the city of Taunggyi in Myanmar’s Shan State. Here you can admire its hot air balloon lights which are probably the most famous. Detail about Taunggyi Fire Balloon Festival can be found above.

The Tazaungdaing Festival takes place each year during the full moon of the eighth month of the Burmese calendar. It means it moves around from year to year.

Here are the dates of the festival until 2024 for your reference

Loy Krathong & Yee Peng Festival (Thailand)

Loy krathong.

Also known as Thailand’s light festival, Loy Krathong (or Loi Krathong) is a three-day festival that takes place on the evening of the full moon in the 12th month of the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In Chiang Mai, it’s also celebrated concurrently with Yi Peng or Yee Peng Festival.

During Loy Krathong, locals will gather around lakes, rivers and canals to release beautiful lotus-shaped rafts that are decorated with candles, incense and flowers. The word krathong refers to the decorated raft while the word loy means to float.

While there are different tales about the origins of Loy Krathong, many celebrate this ritual now to pay their respects to the Goddess of Water and to ask for forgiveness for causing pollution.

Krathongs were traditionally made with organic materials like banana leaves, banana tree bark, spider lily plants and bread but you can find different variations now using styrofoam, glossy paper, and plastic. Avoid adding on to the pollution by getting the ones made using natural materials!

Here is the detail about Loy Krathong Festival

In North Thailand, the Loy Krathong festival coincides with Yee Peng or Yi Peng festival and they’re often celebrated together. During Yee Peng, locals will release paper lanterns into the sky to welcome a brighter future. Many will recognise it as the Tangled-like lantern festival!

The sky lanterns, also known as khom loi, are made using thin rice paper, bamboo and fuel cells. Many make a wish before releasing their lanterns and it’s been said that if it stays lit until it’s out of sight, your wishes will come true!

Here is the detail about Yee Peng Festival in Chiang Mai

Hoi An Lantern Festival (Vietnam)

In the Hoi An Old Town, you just don’t want to miss the Hoi An Lantern Festival. Lantern Festival is one of the most unique attractions of Hoi An and in fact all throughout Vietnam. It is one of the main reasons thousands of both domestic and international visitors flock every year, for a chance to witness such a beautiful scene that cannot be experienced elsewhere.

Lanterns are lit every night in Hoi An regardless of whether it is the Lantern Festival or not. Candles are placed and burned at the bottom of the colorful paper lanterns, creating a glowing atmosphere in the twinkling moonlight.

The Hoi An Lantern Festival will be held once every month. The lantern festival has become popular enough that even if your visit isn’t on the full moon date, you can still participate in the Hoi An traditional full moon festival most nights of the week. There are many things to do in Hoi An beside the festival, but if possible, you should arrange a time to see Hoi An Lantern Festival which has been long regarded as one of the best things to do whilst visiting Hoi An!

Here is the detail about Hoi An Lantern Festival

Boun Lai Heua Fai (Laos)

Every October, the little UNESCO town of Luang Prabang lights up for the festival of light, Lai Heua Fai, in celebration of Boun Awk Phansa, the end of Buddhist Lent. The city becomes impossibly beautiful, illuminated by wax candles melting to pagodas and crepe paper lanterns hanging from temple roofs and the windows of local homes.

Here is the detail about Boun Lai Heua Fai

Thadingyut Festival (Myanmar)

Surprise? Not at all, the Burmese loves festival and light, so they have 2 festivals of light per year to celebrate.

Thadingyut takes place for three days during the full moon of the seventh month of the Burmese calendar (usually near the beginning of October), and marks the end of Buddhist lent. It’s a time for families to come together and celebrate Buddha’s descent to earth after visiting his mother in heaven.

Cities throughout the country are especially aglow during Thadingyut. Fireworks haphazardly shot into the night crisscrossed with colorful strings of dangling lights, making this second most popular national holiday wildly delightful. Locals and travelers alike are beckoned to explore radiant streets and illuminated pagodas, all lit up to resemble a welcoming pathway for Buddha’s return to the mortal world.

Consider it luck if the power goes out in Yangon on the actual evening of the full moon of Thadingyut. The occasion becomes even more spectacular when blinking electric lights get replaced with more traditional glowing lines of candles in windows, up rooftops, on verandas, and even along the ground.

Thadingyut serves as a time for respect to be intentionally shown to elders in the family, and to those with highly valued positions in Burmese society such as teachers and bosses as well. In exchange for paying respect and asking for forgiveness, it’s customary to receive pocket money.

Here is the detail about Thadingyut festival

Bon Om Touk (Cambodia)

Bon Om Touk is a celebration of the end of the rainy season on the full moon of the Buddhist month of Kadeuk. The full moon is considered to bring good luck that can lead to an abundant harvest. On the Western calendar, Bon Om Touk falls either in October or early in November.

The heavy monsoon rains cause the Mekong River to reverse course and backflow into the very large Tonle Sap Lake far upstream. This causes the lake to overflow its normal bounds, which provides plenty of water for Bon Om Touk’s main event, the annual Pirogue longboat race. Once the Mekong and the Tonle Sap River, which connects the Mekong to Tonle Sap Lake, again start flowing toward the sea, you know it is almost time for Bon Om Touk.

Here is the detail about Bon Om Touk Festival

Diwali Festival (India)

Diwali , or Dipawali, is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.

Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that's also enjoyed by non-Hindu communities. For instance, in Jainism, Diwali marks the nirvana, or spiritual awakening, of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527 B.C.; in Sikhism, it honors the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru, was freed from imprisonment. Buddhists in India celebrate Diwali as well.

My name is Jolie, I am a Vietnamese girl growing up in the countryside of Hai Duong, northern Vietnam. Since a little girl, I was always dreaming of exploring the far-away lands, the unseen beauty spots of the world. My dream has been growing bigger and bigger day after day, and I do not miss a chance to make it real. After graduating from the univesity of language in Hanoi, I started the exploration with a travel agency and learning more about travel, especially responsible travel. I love experiencing the different cultures of the different lands and sharing my dream with the whole world. Hope that you love it too!

Thanaka or  thanakha is a yellowish-white cosmetic paste made from ground bark. It is a distinctive feature of the culture of Myanmar, seen commonly applied to the face and sometimes the arms of women and girls, and is used to a lesser extent also by men and boys. The use of thanaka has also spread to neighboring countries including Thailand.

Within this article, we will learn everything about Thanaka and the benefits of its powder in making a secret beauty ingredient of Burmese women.

Burmese Longyi, along with the country’s longtime history, art, and heritage sites has contributed to the richness of the local culture that will grasp your attention whenever you find yourself in strolling around the streets of Myanmar. With just a piece of fabric grasping on the lower part of the body through time, the longyi has made it become an incredible pattern of Myanmar traditional costume for both men and women. In this article, we are going to find out the secret of Myanmar quintessence through Longyi, about why it has been worn for centuries by the Burmese people.

Kachin Manaw Festival is an annual traditional dance festival celebrated by Kachin people. Mostly held at Myitkyina, Kachin State also known as Manaw Land in Myanmar and also celebrated by Kachin people around the world. Manaw is the largest festival in Myitkyina, held at the beginning of January. Manaw Festival is the most significant event for Kachin People. Tribes of Kachin gather together in Manaw ground and dance around the erected Manaw poles. The Manau dance is performed at Manau festivals, which originated as part of the ‘Nat’ or spirit worship of the past.

All year round, visitors to Myanmar can experience the country’s warm and rich culture. However, one particularly special and unique time to visit is during the Naga New Year Festival , which will be held in Lahe around mid-January every year.

This special time allows visitors the chance to experience the traditions and customs of Myanmar’s Naga people. For the Naga, Lahe (New Year) is a significant time when people share their wishes and hopes for the future, and families are reunited.

It is a time of great celebration; where lively dances are performed in traditional dress, to the beat and sounds of traditional instruments.

Few tourists are lucky enough to share in the joy and festivities of the Naga New Year, but those who do are richly rewarded with an incredible cultural experience.

Overall, for those who seek genuine cultural exchange and the opportunity to take some truly stunning photographs, the Naga New Year is an amazing and unique festival to attend.

The full moon of the Thadingyut month is when Buddhists believe the Buddha descended back to earth after three months of preaching in the spiritual realm above. While the rest of Myanmar celebrates it by lighting the Buddha's way home, the town of Kyaukse near Mandalay commemorates it a little differently: with a Elephant Dance Festival, populated not by real elephants, but by pairs of dancers in gigantic elephant costumes.

Hmm... What is it? What makes it so special? and how to join the festival? You will have all the answers below.

The Thadingyut Festival, also known as the Lighting Festival of Myanmar, is held on the full moon day of the Burmese lunar month of Thadingyut . As a custom, it is held at the end of the Buddhist sabbath (Vassa) and is the second most popular festival in Myanmar after Thingyan Festival (New Year Water Festival) . Thadingyut festival is the celebration to welcome the Buddha’s descent from the heaven after he preached the Abhidhamma to his mother, Maya, who was reborn in the heaven.

Thadingyut is also one of the most magnificent lantern festival in Asia

• About 1 week
• About 2 weeks
• About 3 weeks
• About 4 weeks
• Family Vacation
• Wellness & Leisure
• Trek & Hike
• Cycling & Biking
• Honeymoon Vacation
• Luxury Holiday

We believe you have the right to arm yourselves with as much information as possible before making any decision.

Check below the detailed information for our different destinations, our plans by travel theme or time frame to learn more before moving forward...

Check out all the must-see places and things to do & see

Unique experience combined with top-notch services

Easy excursion combined with week-long beach break

The combination of fun and educational activities

Reveal off-the-beatentrack routes, least explored destinations, and unknown tribe groups

Explore the least visited destinations and unknown experience on foot

Explore every corners of the destination on two wheels

Easy excursions combined with unique experience making the long-lasting romantic memories

The combination of some must-see experience and the cruise tour along the mighty rivers

Either are you wondering about best time to visit, visa policy, or how to get the cheapest flight, we have your back! WHAT MORE?  Choose the country you plan to visit, then search for your nationality below to see our special travel tips & advice for your country.  CONTACT US  if you cannot find yours.

• Australian Travelers
• US Travelers
• UK Travelers
• Canadian Travelers
• German Travelers
• French Travelers
• Czech Republic Travelers
• Danish Travelers
• Finnish Travelers
• Irish Travelers
• Israeli Travelers
• New Zealander Travelers
• Norwegian Travelers
• Polish Travelers
• Portuguese Travelers
• Spanish Travelers
• Swedish Travelers
• Swiss Travelers
• Belgian Travelers
• Italian Travelers
• Dutch Travelers
• Austrian Travelers
• Indian Travelers
• Singaporean Travelers
• Malaysian Travelers

• [Updated March 15th, 2022] Vietnam resumes visa exemption for 13 countries
• 10 Biggest Festivals, Events, and Holidays in Cambodia
• 10 Epic Lantern Festivals in Asia
• 16 Koh Phangan Parties & Nightlife Spots that You Cannot Miss
• 16 Magical Festivals of Thailand
• 18 Unmissable Festivals & Holidays in Laos
• 20 Interesting Facts about Angkor Wat
• A comprehensive guide to Thailand’s Test & Go Scheme
• A day trekking to 100 waterfalls in Nong Khiaw
• A guide to Thailand Happy Quarantine
• All aboard! High-speed train offers compelling new way to travel through Laos
• All about Full Moon Lantern Festival in Hoi An
• All about Khmer New Year in Cambodia
• All about Laos Elephant Festival in Xayabouly
• All about Laos Green Pass Online Visa Portal
• All about Laos sticky rice & the best dipping sauce to pair with
• All about Reopening Vietnam Tourism
• All about Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Thailand and Cambodia
• All about Vietnamese mooncake
• An insider’s guide for That Luang Festival
• Angelina Jolie surprises fans by turning up at Angkor Wat
• Angkor - The Capital City of Khmer Empire
• Angkor Thom Temple - The Great City of Khmer Empire
• Angkor Wat - Cambodia’s Mystical City of Temples
• Angkor Wat Tours - How to See the City of Temples without the Crowds?
• Angkor Wat’s Art: The Praise of Cambodia Stone Carvings
• Asia Reopening – Which countries are open for tourism and travel now?
• Baksei Chamkrong & The Legend of the Bird with Sheltering Wings
• Banana Pancake Trail & The Epic Guide on Southeast Asia Backpacking Route
• Banteay Kdei Temple - Citadel of Monks' cells
• Banteay Samre & The Legend of Cucumber King
• Banteay Srei Temple - The Artistic Citadel of Women
• Baphuon - The Pyramid Temple in Angkor
• Bayon - The Cambodia’s Temple of Mysterious Smiling Faces
• Beng Mealea - Lost Temple in the Middle of Nowhere
• Best Laos restaurants in Laos & some big cities in the world
• Best Rooftop Bar Bangkok
• Best Thailand Beaches
• Best time to visit Angkor Wat - Cambodia’s City of Temples
• Boun Awk Phansa - The Magical Traditional Festival of Laos
• Boun Bang Fai - Rocket Festival in Thailand and Laos
• Boun Lai Heua Fai: The Magic Festival of Light in Luang Prabang
• Boun Pimai Festival - Laos new year CRAZY water fight
• Boun Wat Phou – Buddhist Festival on the Khmer Ruins
• Buddhist Lent & Khao Phansa Day in Thailand & Laos
• Burmese Thanaka Powder - Myanmar's Secret Beauty Ingredient
• Cambodia abolished Covid tests & enable on-arrival visa system
• Cambodia street food
• Chasing the Sun at Pre Rup Temple
• Complete Guide for Backpacking Cambodia
• Complete Guide for Backpacking Laos
• Complete Guide for Backpacking Myanmar
• Complete Guide for Backpacking Thailand
• Complete Guide for Backpacking Vietnam
• Complete guide to Sihanoukville Sandbox
• COVID-19 vaccine guide for travelers to Thailand
• COVID-19 vaccine guide for travelers to Vietnam
• Cruising the Mekong River: A Journey of Scenic Beauty and Cultural Delights
• Dragon Dances & Other New Year’s Traditions In Asia
• Epic Guide for Chau Say Tevoda Temple
• Epic Guide for East Mebon Temple of Angkor
• Epic Guide for Prasat Suor Prat
• Epic Guide for the Golden Temple of Shwedagon Pagoda
• Epic Guide for Thommanon Temple
• Epic Guide on Half Moon Party Koh Phangan
• Epic Guide on Koh Phangan Black Moon Party
• Everything about Bon Om Touk - Cambodia Water Festival
• Everything about Full Moon Party Phuket
• Everything about Prasat Kravan Temple in Cambodia
• Everything about Roluos Group of Temples
• Everything about Thailand Blue Zone Sandbox Scheme
• Everything about Thailand Pass system
• Everything you need to know about Magha Puja (Makha Bucha)
• Everything you need to know about SHA & its certificates
• Everything you need to notice when traveling in Vietnam during Covid-19
• First Tour Guides and Drivers Become LaoSafe Certified
• Foreign visitors can travel freely with NEGATIVE Covid test
• Hanoi Balloon Festival to kick-off this weekend - March 25th 2022
• HASSLE-FREE ENTRY: Gov’t scraps PCR and rapid tests for international arrivals
• Hmong New Year - The Celebration of Colors
• How many days do you need and how to plan the best itinerary in Cambodia?
• How many days do you need and how to plan the best itinerary in Laos?
• How many days do you need and how to plan the best itinerary in Thailand?
• How many days do you need and how to plan the best itinerary in Vietnam?
• How many days do you need in Myanmar
• How to register for Test & Go on Thailand Pass system?
• Inside 4 Michelin-starred restaurants in Vietnam
• jayavarman ii
• jayavarman vii
• Kbal Spean & The Legend of the Valley of 1000 Lingas
• Khmer Empire
• Koh Ker - Abandoned Temple of a Forgotten City
• Laos boat racing festival: The Race of Friendship and Glory
• Laos Confirms Lao New Year Holiday Dates 2022
• Laos Eases Entry Procedures for Foreigners and Lao Nationals
• Laos Food Insight - Top 10 Dishes You Must Try
• Laos fully reopens from May 9th, 2022
• Laos Prepares for Full Tourism Reopening, Testing Still Required
• Laos reopening - Everything you need to know
• Laos Slashes Quarantine Measures for New Arrivals and Returning Residents
• Laos Street Food - Top 10 Dishes You Must Try
• Laos Tourism Ministry Proposes Full Reopening
• Larb – Laos Meat Salad: the delicious traditional dish of Laos
• Latest updates on Vietnam Covid-19 restrictions for travel & tourism
• Loy Krathong - The Magnificent Thai Lantern Festival of Light
• Loy Krathong in Bangkok - Where to have the best celebration?
• Luang Prabang Authorities Release 2022 Lao New Year Events Schedule
• Luang Prabang City and Kuang Si Waterfall Win ASEAN Tourism Awards
• Luang Prabang Holds First Boat Racing Festival After Years of Covid-19
• Neak Pean Temple - The Entwining Serpents
• Pattaya Nightlife
• Pattaya's Wan Lai Festival: How to survive the CRAZY Songkran water fight?
• Pchum Ben – Cambodia Festival for the Ancestors
• Pha That Luang - The Sparkling Golden Stupa in Vientiane
• Phi Ta Khone - Thailand Ghost Festival
• Phimeanakas Temple & the Legends of 9-headed Serpent
• Phnom Bakheng - Chasing Sunset on the Sacred Hill of Gods
• Phnom Kulen - Lost World Inside the National Park
• Phu Quoc Sandbox: Vietnam first initiative to reopen tourism
• Phuket Sandbox reopening plan & What to Expect?
• Prasat Bakong - Ancient Cambodia Temple of Roluos Group
• Prasat Bei - The Temple of Three Brick Towers
• Prasat Lolei - Ancient Cambodia Temple of Roluos Group
• Pre-travel Covid tests for arrivals lifted from April 1
• Preah Khan Temple - The Royal Sword of Khmer Empire
• Preah Ko - the Oldest Temple of Roluos Group
• Preah Palilay – The Mysterious Temple in Angkor Thom
• Preah Vihear - Ancient Temple in Northern Cambodia
• Reopening Cambodia Tourism - Everything you need to know
• Reopening Myanmar Tourism: What to expect?
• Reopening Thailand: Everything you need to know when traveling during covid
• Songkran - Everything about Thailand New Year’s Water Festival
• Songkran in Bangkok - Sacred Tradition Vs. Crazy Water Fight
• Songkran in Chiang Mai: What to do during the Festival?
• Songkran in Phuket: Where to join the water fight?
• Srah Srang - Chasing the Sun at the Royal Bathing Pool
• Ta Keo Temple - The Mountain with Golden Peaks
• Ta Prohm: Cambodia's 'Tomb Raider' Temple
• Ta Som Temple - Home to the Propitious Holy Elephant Jewel
• Tad Yuang Waterfall Wins ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award
• Thailand eases entry rules from May 1st, 2022
• Thailand Scraps More Covid-19 Rules to Welcome Tourists
• Thailand street food
• The Best Spots & Tours to Catch Angkor Wat Sunrise & Sunset
• The BRUTAL Phuket Vegetarian Festival: Not for the faint of heart!
• The Colorful & Traditional Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival
• The Colorful and Magical Naga New Year Festival in Myanmar
• The colorful Kachin Manaw Festival
• The Magical Thadingyut Festival of Light in Myanmar
• The Story of Burmese Longyi - Myanmar’s Traditional Dress
• Top 15 best traditional Laos dishes you need to try
• Top 15 Festivals in Vietnam that you should not miss
• Top 16 Traditional Festivals in Myanmar That You Cannot Miss
• Top 18 Places for New Year’s Eve 2021 in Thailand
• Ultimate guide for Hue Festival
• Ultimate Guide to Koh Phangan Full Moon Party, Thailand
• Vang Vieng Prepares for First Cabbage Festival
• Vietnam & Laos listed as ‘Safest For Travel’ by CDC (USA)
• Vietnam or Thailand Travel: Which one should you visit?
• Vietnam stops Covid testing for all arrivals
• Vietnam to treat foreign and domestic tourists alike: deputy PM
• Vietnam’s Magical Mid-Autumn Festival
• Vietnamese street food
• Visit the empty Angkor Wat? Now is the best time!
• Wat Phou - the Ancient Khmer Temple in Southern Laos
• What is happening if you have a positive Covid test result when traveling in Thailand?
• What is the Difference between Laos & Thai Papaya Salad
• What is the meaning of Thingyan Festival – Myanmar New Year?
• What to do & where to celebrate the New Year's Eve in Chiang Mai
• What to do and where to Celebrate Your New Year's Eve in Bangkok
• When is Tet Vietnam - Should you travel during Vietnamese lunar new year?
• Where is Angkor Wat? How to get there?
• Where to celebrate Loy Krathong Festival in Phuket?
• Where to Celebrate Your New Year's Eve in Phuket
• Xe Champhone Loop - the hidden beauty of central Laos
• Yi Peng - The Magnificent Chiang Mai Lantern Festival of Light
• Inspiration
• Tips & Tricks
• Culture & Tradition
• Nature & Adventure
• Food & Drink
• News & Events
• Rockland Building, No. 6, Alley 102 - Khuat Duy Tien, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi 120415, Vietnam
• +84 868 38 25 38
• [email protected]

• MYANMAR NET
• DESTINATIONS
• PLAN YOUR TRIP

--> Thadingyut Lighting Festival -->

Thadingyut is a seven-month of Myanmar calendar and the end of lent. Three days of lights festival. namely the day before full moon. the full moon day and the days after. Illuminations are there

to celebrate the anniversary of Buddha's return from the celestial abode where He had spent the lent teaching the celestials about His Law.

Among the gods was the one who was the mother of Buddha. reborn there. It was on the full moon day of Thadingyut month that Buddha descended to the abode of humans. He and His disciples were attended by a heavenly host of celestials who created a pathway of star ladder. Buddhist on earth illuminated the homes and streets to welcome Buddha and His disciples.

Place Countrywide Time During October. can change according to the Lunar Calendar

More in this section...

• Alaungdaw Khathapa Pagoda Festival
• Ananda Pagoda Festival
• Bawgyo Pagoda Festival
• Elephant Dance Festival
• Hot Air Balloon Festival
• Htamanai Festival (Harvest Festival)
• Htamane Cooking Festival
• Htamane Festival
• Independence Day
• You are here:  
• Myanmar Net ⦿
• Festivals ⦿
• Thadingyut Lighting Festival

Get A Tour Quote [ Free ]

Golden Rock

Kyaing Tong

River Cruise

Ngapali Beach

Ngwe Saung Beach

Chaung Thar Beach

Looking for a Yangon hotel, Mandalay hotel?

Ebusinesses listing, global mars.

Global Mars Shipping & Logistics Services Company Limited is a registered incorporate. hundred percent solely belongs to Myanmar nationals.

The company is established by young and energetic personnel with more than 15 years of experience in general shipping and logistic industry in all major ports of Myanmar. The experience. professional skill. capability of the team fosters the ship owners. ship managers and charterers satisfied.

Address: No.63. 1st Floor. Bo Ka Lay Zay Street (Lower Block). Bo Ta Htaung Township. Yangon. Myanmar. Telephone: (959) 732 373 76. Fax: (959) 732 373 76 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Web: www.globalmarsshipping.com 

Hexagon Instrumentation Engineering Ltd.

Block - 14. Room - 02. Wireless (3) Street. (9) Quarter. Kabaraye Housing Complex. Mayangone Township. Yangon. Myanmar.

Tel : (+95-1) 661134. 661643. (+95-9) 5013430

Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website : www.hexagonmyanmar.com

Experiences

• Tourist Info
• Postal Code
• About Myanmar Net

© Copyright 1998-2021 Myanmar Net Media and Myanmars Net Software Co Ltd . All rights reserved.