Thadingyut Light Festival

Thadingyut corresponds to the tenth month of the Myanmar calendar and marks the end of the Buddhist Lent (the rainy retreat period). The term “Thadin” refers to the Buddhist duty of observing the Lent, and “Gyut” means liberation or the end of that duty.

The Myanmar people love festivals,there is at least one festival every month, either religious or seasonal. The Tadingyut Festival is a seasonal festival that lasts for about three days. The full moon day of Tadingyut commemorates the time when Queen Maya, the Buddha’s mother in a previous life, became a celestial being, and the Buddha descended from the celestial Tawadinta Heaven to the human world after preaching the Abhidhamma to her.

During the Tadingyut Festival, homes and streets are beautifully illuminated with candles, oil lamps, lanterns, and electric lights, creating a joyful and festive atmosphere. For young couples, it is also a popular time to choose a wedding day. Towns and cities come alive with plays, street stalls, and various entertainments, attracting large crowds. During the Thadingyut Festival, people pay their respects to the elderly, especially their parents, teachers, those who have helped them, and elders, by kneeling, joining their hands, and offering gifts. In return, they receive blessings and small gifts.

The Tadingyut Festival is one of the unique and meaningful festivals in Myanmar and is a religious idea of ​​good deeds. This cultural heritage is passed down through the generations with joy. Thadingyut Festival falls on the full moon in October.