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October ▼
In
October
(Thadingyut)
Thadingyut Festival of Lights/ End of Buddhist Lent
Thadingyut' (October) is the end of the Buddhist Lent or the
rains retreat. It is the festival of lights on the full-moon
day, one day before and one day after. Houses and streets in
cities and towns are brilliantly illuminated. Pagodas are
also crowded with people doing meritorious deeds. It is not
only a time of joy but also of thanksgiving and playing
homage to teachers, parents and elders, and asking pardon
for whatever misdeeds in speech or thought they might have
committed during the year, and elders also readily forgive
if these is anything to forgive. This beautiful custom of
Myanmar people serves as a bridge across the generation gap
which often is the cause of trouble in many other countries.
It originates in the story of worldly beings welcoming back
the Buddha with lights as He descended from 'ta-va-tim-sa,'
the highest abode of the 'Nats' (celestial beings).He had
spent the three moths preaching 'Abhidham-ma', the Highest
Doctrine of Buddhism, to the celestials headed by His mother
who has died soon after hiving birth to Him and reincarnated
as a 'Deva' by the name of 'San-tus-si-ta'. It will be
remembered that'Gautama Buddha', after displaying unheard of
miracles under the 'Ganda' mango tree, had disappeared from
that mango grove and gone to 'Ta-va-tim-as', and spent the
three moths of the Rains-Retreat. The full moon day of the
Thadingyut is accordingly known as 'Maha Pavarana Day' from
the earliest times. Its also known as 'Ta-va-tim-sa
festival' or 'Festival of Lights on Mount Meru'.
Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda Festival
The festival of 'Phaungdaw Oo pagoda' in 'Inle' Lake is held
every year during the month of Thadingyut
(October), is the biggest occasion of the lake. The images
of the Buddha from 'Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda' are
placed on a decorated royal barge called 'Karaweik'
(Mythical bird) and taken around the lake, stopping
at villages for people to pay homage. The festival is full
of pageantry and colourful and there are fun
fairs, music, dances and boat races participated by both men
and women rowing with their legs.
Elephant Dance Festival
En route from Yangon to Mandalay, there lies a thriving town
called 'Kyauk-se' in Upper Myanmar situated
some 26 miles to the south of performed at annual Light
Festival in the month of Thadingyut (October).
The main feature of this festival is the elephant dance
accompanied by colourful pageantry a life-size white
paper elephant decked with regal trappings carries on its
back a replica of the sacred Tooth of Buddha or
some relics of an 'Arahat' while a black paper elephant
follows as the finale of the procession. Each of these
paper elephants is borne and animated by two men inside. The
black paper elephant dances merrily to the procession
music and thus it is the center of attraction during the
carnival. Nowadays, the elephant dance no longer sticks to
its native town along. It has become one of the highlights
in many auspicious celebrations throughout the country.
Thadingyut Festival of Lights/ End of Buddhist Lent
Venue: nation wide
Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda Festival
Venue - Inlay Lake, Shan State.
Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival
Venue: Kyaukse, Mandalay Division
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