Festivals

Mewanna, The Goddess of Mt Popa is the mother of two powerful Nats (spirits) who were brothers. She is said to have stopped at the Yadana Gu on her way home from Taunbyon to her shrine at Popa and today, people commemorate her journey by traveling to the site in boats and celebrating her status as the protector of women.

This festival marks the date of Buddha’s first sermon as well as the beginning of the monsoon season in Myanmar and Buddhist lent. As the monks do not return home from their monasteries throughout lent but are required to make their usual rounds, a ceremony is held to present the monks with flowers and spare robes for the wet season.

Chin-Lone or ‘cane ball’ teams from all over Myanmar gather at the Maha Muni Pagoda in Mandalay to pay homage to the Mahamuni Buddha image by playing a continuous Chin-lone tournament every day and night for over a month. Different styles of the game are played and the crowd is entertained with traditional music and dancing.