By Thanlyin Maung Win War

The Thadingyut “Lighting Festival of Myanmar” is held each year to commemorate the return of the Buddha from Tavatimsa.

Thadingyut, the month of lightings, usually falls in the solar month of October. It has been marked as a phenomenal occasion in the life story of the Buddha, dating back more than 2,400 years. Buddhism plays an important role in the lives of the majority of Myanmar people, and the religion is also closely interwoven with the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Aristocratic Rituals and Common Practices Gotama Buddha is the most recent historical Buddha and the founder of Buddhism. The Buddhists of Myanmar and Sri Lanka assign Gotama’s birth and death to 623 and 543 BC, respectively. Spiritual awakening came to him while seated under a Bodhi Tree, and afterward he preached the Dhamma discourses of Buddhism throughout the Ganges region.

Like many miraculous tales about the Buddha, the story of the Thadingyut Light Festival has been handed down for generation after generation. Thadingyut is the seventh month on the Myanmar lunar calendar and marks the end of the rainy season, which lasts from June to September. The rainy season also corresponds to the three-month Vassa period, also called Buddhist lent, during which Buddhist monks remain in their monasteries as required by their religious vows. The full moon day of Thadingyut marks the end of this monsoon rains retreat, and the whole nation pays homage by offering lights to the Buddha.

Miraculous tales are associated with Thadingyut. First, the Buddha went to a mango tree in the Royal Garden of Savatthi (later Sarvat), where he performed three miracles In front of the aristocratic audience and the common people. Then he ascended to Tavatimsa, the Celestial Abode. During his three months in Tavatimsa, the Buddha taught the Abhidhamma discourses to the celestial beings, including his mother from a previous existence who had been reborn in the Celestial Abode as the god Santusita. The Buddha did this to show his gratitude for his former mother.

On the night of the first waning day of Thadingyut, the Buddha descended from Tavatimsa to San Kassa Magara city by three stairways – made of gold, silver and ruby – created by Sakka, the King of Celestials.

As the Buddha returned to Earth in full splendour, he was flanked by Brahmas on the left and by gods on the right headed by the Sakka, who was blowing on his conch shell. A huge gathering of people, awestruck with happiness and amazement, welcomed and paid homage to the Buddha. As night had already come, the people set out bright lights to celebrate the occasion. To this day, the Thadingyut Festival of Lights is held each year to commemorate the return of the Buddha from Tavatimsa.

Light Festivals across Myanmar

During Thadingyut, every pagoda and stupa throughout Myanmar blazes with lights, and every house is lit by candles and oil lamps. Small earthen saucers, filled with sesame oil in which cotton wicks are lit, are displayed in rows or circles. Street fairs and outdoor stage shows with traditional or modem performances are also held. During the festival, children and youngsters walk around their villages or neighbourhoods with packs of candles and other gifts to pay respect to their elders. In Myanmar culture, those who are even one day older than you deserve to receive your respect, and Thadingyut is the time to pay obeisance to the Buddha and his teachings (Dhamma), to the order of monks (Sangha), and to parents, teachers and elder relatives. Thadingyut is also the time for the resumption of marriage ceremonies, which are strictly forbidden during the three-month Lent period.

Shwe Kyin Oil Lamp Light Festival

One of the most famous light festivals in Myanmar is the Shwe Kyin Oil Lamp Festival held in Shwe Kyin Township, Bago Region, on the first day following the full moon of Thadingyut. One specific characteristic of this festival is the offering of hsundawgyi (a mixture of rice, onions, potatoes, ginger and garlic) to the Buddha and the Sangha.

On festival day, a competition of decorated boats is held along the river at Shwe Kyin. At sunset, a beautifully decorated Karaweik barge carrying images of the Buddha and the revered monk Ashin Uppa Gutta plies the water, making three rounds to accept the homage of devotees who believe that worshipping Buddha and Ashin Uppa Gutta protects those who earn their livelihoods from the river. Fireworks are lit, and thousands of lotus-shaped oil lamps are set afloat in the river. During the lead-up to the festival, the women of Shwe Kyin make 50,000 of these oil lamps in order to gain merit. The sight of the delightful array of lights and their reflection on the surface of the water brings forth peace and the solemnity of devotion to every heart.

After the people pay obeisance, the image of Ashin Uppa Gutta is moved from the barge onto a bamboo raft and set adrift. The event is known among people across the nation as Shwe Kyin Mee Mhyaw Pwe, the Festival of Setting Lights Adrift.

Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda Festival

The Golden Rock Festival is celebrated at Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda in Mon State. Kyaikhtiyo, famous for the golden boulder that stands precariously on a cliff edge at the top of a mountain, is one of the most celebrated pagodas in Myanmar and is said to have been built during the lifetime of the Buddha more than 2,400 years ago. On the full moon day of Thadingyut, locals offer 9,000 lit candles and 9,000 flowers to the Buddha. At that time of the year, the weather is often cold on the mountaintop. Some people travel to the base of the mountain by car and then hike up to the peak on foot, while others make most of the ascent by bus. Palanquins are also available for those who want to be carried up the last steep section of the climb.

Source: SWIFT – Asian Wings Airways Myanmar

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