Pagoda festival explained

Pagoda festivals (Burmese: ဘုရားပွဲ; paya pwe) are regular festivals found throughout Myanmar that commemorate major religious events in pagoda's history, including the founding of a pagoda and the crowning of the pagoda's hti (umbrella).^[1] Pagoda festivals are dictated by the Burmese religious calendar and often are held several days at a time. Major events in a pagoda festival typically do not coincide with Uposatha (Buddhist Sabbath) days, during which pious Buddhists observe the Eight Precepts.^[1] The majority of pagoda festivals are held during the dry season, from the months of Tazaungmon (November) to Tabaung (March).^[2] During the full moon day of Tabaung (Magha Puja), Buddhist devotees in various parts of Myanmar also celebrate sand pagoda festivals.

More well-known pagoda festivals often attract numerous pilgrims from throughout the country.

Pagoda festivals are similar in nature to agricultural shows (country fairs) or carnivals, and form a significant important part of cultural life, particularly in the countryside. During pagoda festivals, temporary bazaars (including food stalls and merchandise stands), entertainment venues (including anyeint dramas, yoke the performances, lethwei matches,^[3] and arcades) are set up in the vicinity of the pagoda.^[1]

Major pagoda festivals

• Shwe Settaw Pagoda Festival (Minbu Township, Magwe Region)^{[4] [5]} - Tabodwe to Tabaung
• Ananda Temple Festival (Bagan, Mandalay Region) - Pyatho
• Shwezigon Pagoda Festival (Bagan, Mandalay Region) -
• Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda Festival (Kyaikhto, Mon State)^[6] - Nadaw
• Shwedagon Pagoda Festival (Yangon, Yangon Region) - Tabaung
• Alaungdaw Kathapa Pagoda Festival (Sagaing Region)^[7] - Tabodwe
• Shwe Sayan Pagoda Festival (Thaton, Mon State)^[8] -
• Shwesayan Pagoda Festival (Patheingyi Township, Mandalay Region)^[9] - Tabaung
• Myathalun Pagoda Festival (Magwe Region)^[10] - Thadingyut
• Shite-thaung Temple Festival (Mrauk U, Rakhine State) -
• Hpaung Daw U Pagoda Festival (Shan State)^[11] - Thadingyut
• Kyaikkhauk Pagoda Festival (Thanlyin Township, Yangon Region)^[12] - Tabodwe
• Shwesandaw Pagoda Festival (Twante Township, Yangon Region)^[13] - Tagu
• Botahtaung Pagoda Festival (Yangon)^[14] - Nadaw
• Mawtinzun Pagoda Festival (Ngapudaw Township, Ayeyarwady Region)^[15] - Tabaung
• Shwemawdaw Pagoda Festival (Bago)^[16] - Tagu

See also

• Buddhism in Burma
• Burmese calendar
• Burmese pagoda
• Sand pagoda
• Thadingyut Festival
• Vessantara Festival

Notes and References

1. Book: Spiro, Melford E.. Buddhism and Society: A Great Tradition and Its Burmese Vicissitudes. University of California Press. 1982. 229–231. 9780520046726.
2. News: U Maung Maung Circus returns to Yangon. May Sandy. 24 January 2011. Myanmar Times. 12 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131014150725/http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/timeout/559/timeout55902.html. 14 October 2013. dead.
3. News: Football, boxing top sports for local fans. Aung Sithu Hein. 2 March 2009. Myanmar Times. 12 October 2013. 14 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131014105905/http://www.mmtimes.com/feature/entertainment/entertainment08.htm. dead.
4. Web site: Let's enjoy Mann Shwe Sattaw Pagoda Festival. MRTV-3. 12 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131013224316/http://www.mrtv3.net.mm/pages/sattaw.html. 13 October 2013. dead.
5. Web site: Yearly Pilgrimage To Mann Shwe Set Taw. MRTV-3. 12 October 2013. 14 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131014005022/http://www.mrtv3.net.mm/page1/yptm.html. dead.
6. News: Lost and found at Kyaikhtiyo. Nan Tin Htwe. 22 August 2011. Myanmar Times. 12 October 2013. 14 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131014153202/http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/travel/589/travel58901.html. dead.
7. News: A worthy destination for pilgrims. Aung Shin. 20 February 2012. Myanmar Times. 12 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131014085848/http://www.mmtimes.com/2012/travel/615/. 14 October 2013. dead.
8. News: Pa-O: The Forgotten People. Nandar Chann. May 2004. The Irrawaddy. 12 October 2013.
9. Web site: Shwesayan Pagoda Festival. MRTV-3. 12 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131013232055/http://www.mrtv3.net.mm/pages/ssayan.html. 13 October 2013. dead.
10. News: Trustees announce date for Magwe pagoda festival. Pan Eiswe Star. 31 August 2009. Myanmar Times. 12 October 2013.
11. News: Inle festival gets green light. Aye Sapay Phyu. 27 September 2010. Myanmar Times. 12 October 2013.
12. News: Thanlyin’s Kyaik Khauk Pagoda set for revamp. Cherry Thein. 28 February 2011. Myanmar Times. 12 October 2013.
13. News: Twante rocks to Shan drum beat. Nyein Ei Ei Htwe. Myanmar Times. 12 October 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110621072544/http://mmtimes.com/2010/travel/522/travel01.html. 21 June 2011.
14. News: History lures visitors to Botahtaung Pagoda. Cherry Thein. 21 February 2011. Myanmar Times. 12 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131014082840/http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/news/563/news56320.html. 14 October 2013. dead.
15. News: Let's Visit the Grand Mawtinzun Pagoda Festival. MRTV-3. 12 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131013231744/http://www.mrtv3.net.mm/pages/mawtin.html. 13 October 2013. dead.
16. News: Bago to host Tagu festival in mid-April. Yu Yu Maw. 28 March 2011. Myanmar Times. 12 October 2013.