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Festivals in Myanmar 

In January 
Naga New Year Festival 

          The Nagas form a small but colorful national group among 100 national races of Myanmar. These people inhabit the mountain regious that form the Myanmar - India border in the north - west. Khamti, Lahe, Leshi and Htamanthi are the principal towns of the Naga region.

          They, the Nagas, earn their livelihood largely through agriculture and livestock breeding, such as cultivation of paddy, corn, soyabean, and other pulses, as well as vegetables like garlic,onion, cauliflower and fruits such as orange, damson and bananas. They also grow tea and coffee on the hill slopes and breed pigs, goats, chickens and cattle. Of the cattle bred, there is one special species known as "Nwa Nauk" which is larger and beefier than the Myanmar cow of the plains that is a cross between the cow and the buffalo. There are also a few cottage industries like spinning and weaving, pottery and black smithy. 

          Naga from outlying villages came to participate in the festivities dressed in their colorful best. There were the worrior-like youths with their shields, spears, and headdresses framed with the curved horns of the wild boar and adorned with fur and feathers. 

          At the New Year celebrations, endless cups of rice wine are drunk, bison and wild boar meat roasted and eaten, tribal, dances performed with loud beating of drums. Visitors are welcomed, for they are curious about strangers although they prefer to stay home. The visitors on their part see events and people living in old ways not meant as entertainment for the tourists but because it is a natural part of their life. If strangers join in their celebrations, they are welcomed, it is good to share the happiness.

Manu Festival 

The Tawt Malan or Padan Manau Festival. This festival is held to ensure victory in battle. In ancient times, it was like a battle cry issued forth to recruit warriors to march on enemies.

Then there is the Ju Manau, which is a festival to pray for health, protection from harm, for offspring to carry on family traditions and other religious occasions.

The Kun Ran Manau is traditionally held to bless a family member who has decided to leave the fold and set up his own household and work his own land.

The Sha Dip Hpawt Manau is held to exorcise any evil spirits that may be present in a new plot of land that is to be cultivated.

The Hsu Rein Manau or Hsut Manau is the most important of the festivals. It is a grand festival to celebrate outstanding charitable and philanthropic acts by the "Duwagyi" or "Great Chieftains". Today the State together with wealthily Kachin people sponsor the Hsut Manau in honour of the endeavours made by the Kachin national races for the progress and development of the Kachin State. It is also said to be a festival to welcome new kinsmen and friends.

The venue of the festival is also specially arranged and decorated. Twelve poles are fixed in the very centre of the enclosure set aside for the celebrations. six of these poles are placed upright, with two other pairs, each arranged in the form of a cross. The remaining two are then placed parallel to the ground with one much higher than the other. However, depending on the purpose of the occasion, the Manau poles are arranged in a varying patterns. The configurations on the Manau poles are stylized designs that depict the trail of ants, birds, butterflies in flight, bulls with horns locked, waves, and seeds that have sprouted and proliferated.

The basic designs however are diamond shapes and curved lines. The top and bottom of the poles are panted with pictures of the sun, moon and earth. The topmost side of the pole is cut, shaped and painted over in the form of bird’s beak.

The principal musical instrument is the booming drum, which can be heard within a radius of 4 or 5 miles. It is a long two-faced drum made of calf or water buffalo leather. It is called the Long Drum or Great Drum. Then there are the large gongs and a flute called a "Doon Bar" on which is fixed a horn of the buffalo. The Manau dance does not feature the one-sided. "Ozi" drum or cymbals as in another Kachin traditional dance, the "Htaung Kar".

The leaders of the Manau Festival wear long robes with headdresses of hornbill or peacock feathers. The headdresses is also adorned with tusks of wild boar.

The Kachin Manau festival is inaugurated by the highest-ranking official present after which follows the beat of the drums and the echo of the gongs to invite all those far and near to join in the festivities.

The ‘Manau dance’ is performed by two groups with two persons leading each group. Behind the leaders come the members of various clans, the Lawing Wawt, Lachieik, Rawan, Lihsu and Jinghpaw in full ceremonial national dress. All those following behind have to watch the leaders and follow their dance step and change steps and rhythm when they do.

When the dance begins the Manau leaders and their respective group members face the guests in the pavilion and perform a dance or obeisance. Then they turn towards the Manau poles and bow and dance in homage.

The two groups first dance in rows, gradually forming crescents and finally forming one large circle that goes round and round the Manau poles, but later as the drum beat and rhythm of the music change the large circle converges to the centre, and all bow from head and waist and then step backwards to form a wide circle again. When all the dance steps have been completed, the guests and anyone who wishes to are invited to join in the dance.

Sometimes, the leaders form the patterns painted on the Manau poles with special dance steps.

A Kachin ‘Dah’ or sword is an important feature or the Manau Dance and is held upright by the dancer. In Kachin culture the sword or knife is the most unique and indispensable tool of life. With this knife, land is cleared for cultivation, trees felled for timber to build house and vows are exchanged with the Kachin ‘dah’ as witness in betrothal ceremonies much as a Bible is used in Christian ceremonies.

It was also with this sword that Kachin nationalists revolted against colonial rule. So it is no wonder that the Kachin sword features so prominently in the most important of the Kachin Manau festivals.

The Manau dance consists of at least 7 to 9 dance movements and the dance itself last form a minimum of one to three hours to a maximum of four to eight days.

Any one, irrespective of race, religion or status, is welcome to participate in this traditional dance festival. It is a very pleasant enjoyable way to get to know at first hand the culture and traditions so dear to the heart of the Kachin peoples. With this dance can also be strengthened the foundations of friendship and national unity.

<Presenting an article entitled " The Kachin Manau Festival " written by Kyi Kyi Hla>

Proposed Itinerary – 9 days 8 nights

Yangon - MyitKyiNa - Putao-Namkhan - MaChanBaw - MuLaShiDe - Putao - Yangon

Day 1 <Jan- 8>            Arrive Yangon

• Arrive Yangon by flight. Transfer to Hotel. Yangon Sight Seeing. Overnight at Yangon.

Day 2<Jan 9> Yangon-MyitKyiNa

• Morning Yangon - MyitKyiNa by Flight. Visit to Myitsone (Confluence of river) by car (roundabout 28 miles- 1:45 hrs drive) and Jawbumgyi @ Jawbum Tower (Prayer Mountain). Overnight at Myit-Kyi-Na Nan Thi Dar Guest House

Day 3 <Jan 10>           Manau Festival Day

• After Breakfast visit to Manau Festival. Can be observed the ways of Kachin Tribe lifestyle, join variety of Kachin dances and the Manau dance. Proceed to Balaminhtin Bridge and Wai-Maw Township by Car. Drive back to MyitKyiNa. Overnight at Nan Thi Dar Guest House

Day 4<Jan 11>            MyitKyiNa-Putao-Panhlaing Village-MyinTharAye Pagoda

• Myit-Kyi-Na to Putao by flight. After lunch visit to Panhlaing Village (Khamtishan Tribe) and Myin-Thar-Aye pagoda for magnificent Sunset which is near the Fort Herz. Overnight at Putao Khakaborazi Guest House.

Day 5<Jan12> Putao-Htawandam Village- KaungMuLon Pagoda-Nankham

• Putao to Htawandam village by car. Across the Malikha River to Kaung-Mu-Lon pagoda.  After Lunch proceed to Nankham Village by Boat / Trekking. Overnight at Nankham Village -Family House.

Day 6<Jan 13>            Nam-khan Ma-chan-baw

• Namkhan to Machanbaw by Trekking/Boat. Sight seeing in Machanbaw. Overnight in Gubar Guest House.

Day 7<Jan14> Putao-MuLaShiDe Village

• Drive back to Putao. Visit to MuLarShiDe Village <Lisu Village> and on the way back visit Rawaung’s Cultural Museum (Dukkhtan Village). Overnight in Putao Kaharborazi Guest House.

Day 8 <Jan 15>           Putao –Yangon

• Morning breakfast and visit Putao Market and shopping. Transfer to Airport. Depart to Yangon by Flight. Overnight at hotel.

Day 9 <Jan 16>           Departure

• Early Morning, breakfast at Hotel and transfer to Airport

<<End of Tour Service>>
 

If you want more information , please complete following form.

In January
Kachin Manau Festival 
Venue - Myitkyina, Kachin State 
Contact: Manau Festival Organizing Committee

Ananda Pagoda Festival
Venue - Bagan in Mandalay Division

Shwe-set-taw Pagoda Festival (Minbu, Magway)
Venue - Minbu in Magway Division

Mahamuni Pagoda Festival 
Venue - Mandalay, Mandalay Division

Naga New Year Festival
Venue - Leshi in Chin State
Galays are slaughtered to sacrifice followed by singing, dancing and drinking alcoholic beverages the whole night by a huge bonfire. 

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