| Month |
Festival(s) |
Day |
Significance |
Events |
| Tagu (April) |
Thingyan |
Mid-April |
Marks the beginning of the Burmese new year |
Gadaw (paying obeisance to elders), water games, observation of the Buddhist Sabbath (Uposatha), parades |
| Kason (May) |
Bo tree watering festival |
Full moon of Kason |
Marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha (Vesākha) |
Watering of the Bo tree |
| Nayon (June) |
Tipitaka Festival |
|
Nationwide Pariyatti Sasana examinations for Buddhist monks[3] |
|
| Waso (July) |
Robe Offering Festival,[4] Dhammasekya Day |
Full moon of Waso |
Marks the beginning of the Buddhist lent (Vassa); anniversary of Buddha's first sermon on the Four Noble Truths |
Donation of monk robes, shinbyu ceremonies |
| Wagaung (August) |
Taungbyon Nat Festival[5] |
|
|
|
| Tawthalin (September) |
Regatta Festival |
|
|
Boat rowing competitions |
| Thadingyut (October) |
Festival of Lights |
Full moon of Thadingyut |
Marks the end of the Buddhist lent (Vassa) |
Gift exchanges, gadaw (paying obeisance to elders), lighting of candles, pagoda visits |
| Tazaungmon (November) |
Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights[6] |
Full moon of Tazaungmon |
Marks the end of the rainy season |
Lighting of hot air balloons by the Shan people in Shan State, and lanterns nationwide |
| Kyi Ma No Festival |
|
Mischief-making |
| Kahtein Thingan Offering Festival |
Between Thadingyut and Tazaungmon |
|
Offering of Kathina robes to Buddhist monks |
| Nadaw (December) |
Karen New Year |
|
Marks the new year of the Karen people |
|
| Nat festivals[7] |
|
Ritual feasts honoring Burmese nats (spirits) |
|
| Pyatho (January) |
Kachin Manaw Festival |
|
Marks the new year of the Kachin people |
|
| Tabodwe (February) |
Harvest Festival[8] |
|
Celebration of rice harvests |
Cooking of htamane, a special sticky rice made with sesame seeds, peanuts and ginger |
| Tabaung (March) |
Shwedagon Pagoda Festival[9]
Nationwide pagoda festivals |
|
Nationwide pagoda festivals |
Celebrations on Singuttara Hill |
