we have great fun during festivals. People go to the monasteries,
pagodas and some interesting places during festivals. Many festivals
are celebrated all over Burma.
Thadingyut festival (October)
This following video, updated on October 2022,
(2023 October Related Video)
Following link was updated today 2023 October for more information about Thadingyut,
(2022 October Related Youtube Video)
This month, 12th of the October is the full moon day of Thadingyut.
Thadingyut , the seventh month of the Burmese calendar, marks the end
of the lent. There are three days of lights festival, namely the
day before the full moon, the full moon day and the day after .These
are days of music, dances and fun. Streets, houses and public
buildings are illuminated with coloured electric bulbs. During the
Thadingyut season Burmese Buddhists go round paying respects to
parents, teachers, elderly relatives and friends. It is quite usual
for the senior citizens in their residences to receive gifts and
respects from the young people of the community.
During the Thadingyut festivals, we brought foods, biscuits, cakes or
some seasoning fruits or medicines and paying respects to our
grandparents, parents and teachers. (But bringing those gifts was not
compulsory. Paying respect to adults was accomplished by the act of
respectful deed.)
In our younger days, our grandfather was a teacher. He had many
pupils. There were also young people who loved and respect our
grandparents. My father was a teacher too. So during the Thadingyut
festivals, our house was crowded with their students and their
friends. In Thadingyut seasons, there were lots of cakes and foods
received at our house. Our grandparents gave away sweets and small
change to children. We were happy during these days. There were many
cakes and foods around us. Our grandparents were so happy to meet
their students and young people in those days.
Sometimes we visited some countries and we were not at home during the
Thadingyut festivals. Our grandparents left their relatives and
friends to watch our house. When we came back, the ones who watched
our house gave us the lists of the visitors who came and paid respects
to our grandparents during Thadingyut. They also showed us the empty
packs of cakes. There were names of the visitors written on the label
and showed who came and which package belonged to. (They had to eat
all the cakes, because the cakes would not be good if they kept them
so long until we returned!)
My grandmother said that 'it was on the full moon day of Thadingyut
month that Buddha descended to the abode of humans. He and His
disciples were attended by a heavenly host of celestials who created a
pathway of stars. Humans on earth illuminated the homes and streets to
welcome the Buddha and His disciples.'
So, thadingyut days were very meaningful to us. We illuminated and
lighted the candles around our house and in our garden. It means we
welcome the Buddha and His disciples. We pay respect to our
grandparents, parents and elderly relatives. It is a time for
remembering those to whom we owe respect and gratitude. Moreover, if
there were teachers or elderly people lived with you, you could have
lots of cakes and foods received from their students or young people
and you could enjoy cakes so much fun.
Thadingyut , the seventh month of the Burmese calendar, marks the end
of the lent. There are three days of lights festival, namely the
day before the full moon, the full moon day and the day after .These
are days of music, dances and fun. Streets, houses and public
buildings are illuminated with coloured electric bulbs. During the
Thadingyut season Burmese Buddhists go round paying respects to
parents, teachers, elderly relatives and friends. It is quite usual
for the senior citizens in their residences to receive gifts and
respects from the young people of the community.
During the Thadingyut festivals, we brought foods, biscuits, cakes or
some seasoning fruits or medicines and paying respects to our
grandparents, parents and teachers. (But bringing those gifts was not
compulsory. Paying respect to adults was accomplished by the act of
respectful deed.)
In our younger days, our grandfather was a teacher. He had many
pupils. There were also young people who loved and respect our
grandparents. My father was a teacher too. So during the Thadingyut
festivals, our house was crowded with their students and their
friends. In Thadingyut seasons, there were lots of cakes and foods
received at our house. Our grandparents gave away sweets and small
change to children. We were happy during these days. There were many
cakes and foods around us. Our grandparents were so happy to meet
their students and young people in those days.
Sometimes we visited some countries and we were not at home during the
Thadingyut festivals. Our grandparents left their relatives and
friends to watch our house. When we came back, the ones who watched
our house gave us the lists of the visitors who came and paid respects
to our grandparents during Thadingyut. They also showed us the empty
packs of cakes. There were names of the visitors written on the label
and showed who came and which package belonged to. (They had to eat
all the cakes, because the cakes would not be good if they kept them
so long until we returned!)
My grandmother said that 'it was on the full moon day of Thadingyut
month that Buddha descended to the abode of humans. He and His
disciples were attended by a heavenly host of celestials who created a
pathway of stars. Humans on earth illuminated the homes and streets to
welcome the Buddha and His disciples.'
So, thadingyut days were very meaningful to us. We illuminated and
lighted the candles around our house and in our garden. It means we
welcome the Buddha and His disciples. We pay respect to our
grandparents, parents and elderly relatives. It is a time for
remembering those to whom we owe respect and gratitude. Moreover, if
there were teachers or elderly people lived with you, you could have
lots of cakes and foods received from their students or young people
and you could enjoy cakes so much fun.
(Photo(above)
– It was drawn by U Ba Kyi (1912 – 2000) famous artist in Burma.
His
family and our grandparents were close friends. When we were only 3 or 4 years
old, the whole family visited their house. We were too young and we all were
playing
around in his drawing room. He called us to near him and gave us the
Burmese
calendar as a present. In our Burmese year, each month has each
festival.
The calendar had 12 pages and each month drawing represents the
festival
of the Burmese seasons. All the drawings were drawn by U Ba Kyi. This photo above
represents one of the Burmese months, October (Thadingyut in Burmese).
This old calendar was now a very precious to me.)
(Thanks to my mother for keeping this calendar for a long time, when we received it
at that time we were too young to value it. Our mother kept it preciously for us.)
of the Burmese seasons. All the drawings were drawn by U Ba Kyi. This photo above
represents one of the Burmese months, October (Thadingyut in Burmese).
This old calendar was now a very precious to me.)
Happy ThaDinGyut :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this article and the photo,Ms. Junior Win. I look forward to reading your articles for other Burmese festivals.
ReplyDelete