The Alaungdaw Khathapa Pagoda is in the grounds of a National Park in Sagaing and as such, visitors travel to see the temple and nearby caves on the day of the full moon but also to spend time in the park and see the elephants for which the park is famous. Pilgrims climb down into the ravine to pay homage at Shin Maha Kathapa’s tomb.

Visitors gain a rare insight into the mysterious Shan culture at the Bawgyo Pagoda Festival in the Thibaw Township. Observing ancient traditions, the culture is unique to the rest of the country. The famous pagoda is the pinnacle of the festival. Visitors enjoy traditional dances, performances, music and cuisine in the town’s park.

Set aside the sea, the Inn Daw Gyi Shwe Myitzu Pagoda Festival is the only one of its kind in Myanmar. Attracting many people from around the globe, visitors take a relaxed boat ride from Yangon to the charming Laputta Township. The festival, with its beautiful parasols, together with the town and pagoda, is an overall delight.

Local tribespeople flock to Kakku for this festival in Taunggyi in the Shan State. Slender, elegant pagodas decorate the festival grounds in the traditional geometric look typical of the region. 

Singing, dancing and overall merriment are in store for those attending the Ko Gyi Kyaw Spirit Festival in Pakhan. Lasting eight days, the annual festival celebrates the happy spirit Ko Gyi Kyaw in his hometown in the Mandalay region. Worshippers, visitors and locals alike join in the festivities and traditional displays.

Seeking enlightenment and escaping hell, the novitiation ceremony celebrates young men becoming novices in Buddhism. A religious celebration, this fascinating cultural tradition involves a parade where the new novices walk about dressed as princes. Invaluable among Buddhist families, this is a rite of passage for young Burmese men. There is no exact age when young boys can become a novice, and no exact time of year when this must take place, however most novitation ceremonies occur between March and May, as this is when schools close for the summer vacation.

This is one of the most important festivals for the Tamil Hindus of Myanmar who travel from all over the country to celebrate in the temple of Sri Angala Eswari Munieswar Swamy. The full moon day marks the marriages of a number of gods and participants walk over hot coals and rub their feet with turmeric powder and goats’ milk.

The Shwe Oo Min Pagoda in the mountains overlooking Pindaya is home to the Pindaya Cave, which houses thousands of golden Buddha statues and images. During the festival, people come from the surrounding areas and set up camp around the cave for five days before the full moon, cooking, selling local crafts and celebrating together.

People from all over flock to Shwe Taung in the Bago Region for the fantastic eight-day festival of Shwe Nattaung. Celebrating the stunning, ancient pagoda believed to be built in the Pyu Period, visitors pass the days eating, drinking and enjoying local entertainment. This is one of the largest pagoda festivals in the country.

For just over a week, people from all over Myanmar come to the Shwe Sar Yan and neighbouring Po Kalar Gu pagodas to visit the relics of Buddha, see the painted murals and buy the traditional toys and crafts woven from palm leaves. Many also cross the Dot-hta-waddy River on small boats to visit nearby Pagodas.

The Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the most sacred to Buddhists in Myanmar and for a week before the full moon, hundreds of people make a pilgrimage to the temple to walk up the steps and listen to the monks who chant continuously. They give offerings and donations to the images and relics of Buddha and compete to weave holy robes over night.

Born from a fantastic legend, the Zalun Pyi-Taw-Pan Buddha Image Festival is a patriotic event in Myanmar. After the British removed the famous statue from the Zalun township, the statue refused to melt down. The Queen returned the statue and now the township celebrates its return during this eight-day festival.