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| Rivers: | Ayeyarwady River 1550 km (963 mi) Chindwin River 792 km (492 mi) Thanlwin River 89 km ( 55 mi) Kaladan River 177 km (110 mi) Sittaung River 129 km (80 mi) |
Highest point: Mt. Khakaborazi, 5881 m -the Highest
Population: Over 52 million (annual growth rate 1.61%)
Time : GMT plus 6.5 hours
Weight : 1 pyi = 1.5 kg:
Language: Myanmar is the official language.
Measures: 1 inch = 2.54 cm
Electricity: 230 V, 50 Hz
Currency: Kyat (pronounced "chat"), 1 Lakh = 100,000 (Kyat)
Literacy: 83.1% (male 88.7%, female 77.7%}
Religion: 89% Theravada Buddhist, 4% Christian 4% Muslim 1% Hindu
1%Animist
Climate: Although Myanmar’s climate is divided into three seasons:
summer, rainy and cold, the climatic
conditions vary because of the
topographical situation; altitude also influences the weather. The
winter is cool and dry and lasts from November to February. This is
followed by the summer until May. The rainy season starts in May and
lasts until October. There are favorable climatic conditions all
year round for tourists.
Officially, Myanmar is divide up into eight 'national races'- the Bamar, Shan, Mon, Kayin, Kayah, Chin, Kachin, and Rakhaing . Myanmar
is also quite diverse religiously. In towns and cities it's not
uncommon to see places of worship for Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and
Christians all within sight of one another.
The Bamar- also known as Burma – make up the majority of the Bamar
who relinquished the most. Many ancient court customs and arts were
lost as the Bamar monarchy was abolished.
Theravada Buddhists, the Bamar believe that being Buddhist is a key
aspect of being Bamar, and the Burmese media reports daily on the
merit-making of top government officials at the country's principal
Buddhist places of worship.
Myanmar Treasures
3. Paintings
Many galleries and shops have exquisite water colours, a medium in
which the local artists excel. There are many galleries in Yangon,
Mandalay and Bagan, well worth and afternoon's browsing.
4. Silverware
Boxes and artefacts of silver are hammered by hand and the
traditional items are small boxes in filigree or relief work,
showing traditional motifs, mythical creatures or scenes form the
classics, The smaller ones make excellent pillboxes.
5. Tapestries
Scenes of local life or traditional motifs are worked in gold and
silver thread; figures are formed in silk and brass sequins on a
velvet background. This is an old tradition, and once used only in
the royal palaces as room dividers.
6. Pottery and basketry
Glazed ware is still used in many houses to store grain, oil or
water and produced in large numbers for both domestic use and
export. Cane or bamboo furniture, basket, bags and other utensils ar
abundantly found in many markets.
7. Gems and Jewelry
With prices to suit all budgets, jade, rubies, sapphires and pearls
of all colour and size are available. Silver and golden pearls are
pricey but worthwhile investments.
Twice a year there are gems emporium sales where buyers from around
the world compete by auction
8. Carvings
Myanmar craftsmen are highly skilled in carving materials ranging
from bone, wood and jade. Sandalwood Buddha images or figures and
jewelry carved from jade make especially precious souvenirs.
9. Antiques
There are marvelous things to be discovered in the many shops such
as folk art pieces, betel boxes, cast bronze weights in many animal
and bird shapes, old fabrics, instruments for tattooing and
countless other mysterious but charming pieces.
January-February
Ananda Temple festival, Bagan, one of the biggest festivals in the
country, begins seven days before the Full Moon Day of Pyatho moon
month.
.Naga nationalities' New Year Festival and it requires bookings
weeks ahead as it is held in very remote villages, usually a few
days before 15th January.
February -March
Shwesettaw Pagoda festival, on the banks of Mann Chaung, Magway
Division. Season starts 5th Waxing Moon Day of Tabodwe and ends only
after Myanmar New Year in April.
Kyaik Khaut Pagoda festival, Thanlyin just half an hour's drive from
Yangon, begins seven days before the Full Moon Day of Tabodwe.
March -April
Kekku Pagoda festival at the very beautiful pagoda complex deep in
the Shan hills. Three or four days before the Full Moon Day of
Tabaung, Pa 0 nationals in the region gather by the thousands to pay
homage to the shrines they hold most holy.
Maw Tin Zun Pagoda festival, on the Southwest beach of Myanmar and
part of the route is by a pleasant boat ride to Pathein, an
interesting delta town where they make pretty parasols. Begins seven
days before the Full Moon of Tabaung.
April -May
Shwemawdaw Pagoda festival, Bago, 8th Waxing Moon Day of Tagu.
5 days of water festival preceding the New Year which usually falls
on 17th April. Allover the country, sidewalk platforms are built
from which young people hose down passing open cars with revellers.
People in the streets carry water guns or buckets to douse anyone
seen on the street.
June –July
Festivals relating to monk examinations are held in June.
Traditionally in this month monks have to sit for exams for the next
semester's religious lessons and also you can see pagoda festivals
in the middle of Myanmar like Mahlaing and Pakokku. Local
specialties at the festival market include, thanaka, jaggery,
longyis ,cotton and wool blankets, tobacco which were locally grown
and paper toys.
This month is in the rainy season. Being wet and rainy travelling
monks need more robes. According to the Buddhist rules monks are
only allowed to own no more than three robes. Especially in the
rainy season when they travel from one place to another they need to
have extra robes to keep dry. At that time people hold ceremonies to
donate robes. In this month there are other festivals for example:
(Nat Festival) in Kyaukse near Mandalay. Robe offering ceremonies, noviciation ceremonies and other
religious rituals take place from April to the beginning of Lent
which is the Full Moon Day of Waso, in June.
July -August
Taung Pyone Nat festival, near Mandalay. Begins on the 8th Waxing
Moon Day of Wagaung and lasts a week. This is the biggest Spirit
festival in the country with mediums and devotees coming from all
over the country to take part. Click for Movie of "Nat Festival". Mystical Myanmar .Yadana Gu Nat festival which carries on when
the Taung Pyone festival ends. .This takes place on the banks of
Taungthaman Lake, Amarapura, which is also close to Mandalay.
September -October
Phaung Daw 00 Pagoda festival, Inle Lake, Shan State. 1 sl Waxing
Moon Day of Thadingyut. The festivities of carrying the images
around on a barge to villages on the lake last 18 days.
Shwezigon Pagoda festival, Bagan.
Begins on the 1st Waxing Moon Day of Shwedagon by night Thadingyut.
Of special interest is the Full Moon Day's ritual of offering a
filled alms bowl to hundreds of monks and novices.
Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda of Mandalay, a four-day festival ending on the
day after the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut. .Lights festival
symbolising the end of Lent lasting three days, from a day ahead to
the day after the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut. Celebrated allover
the country.
Dancing Elephants festival, where manned cloth elephants compete in
dance competitions, K yaukse, near Mandalay. A 2-day festival
beginning a day before the Full moon Day of Thadingyut.
October -November
Hindu Dipavali Light Festival, celebrated at Hindu temples allover
the country. Date subject to change.
Fire Balloon Competition, Taung Gyi, Shan State. Six-day festival
begins on the 10th Waxing Moon Day of Tazaungmone. Balloons are
judged for size, style, design and their ability to stay aloft for
longer periods. On the night of the Full Moon, Taung Gyi townsfolk
hold a parade carrying lanterns.
November -December
Robe weaving contest, all over the country, and a major event at the
Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon. The night before the Full Moon Day of
Tazaungmone, teams of weavers compete to finish a robe during the
night, to be offered to the images at dawn of the next day.
Popa Nat festival, Popa, near Bagan. A 6-day festival begins Full
Moon Day of Nadaw.
31 sl December night is celebrated at the Golden Rock Kyaik Hti Yo
Pagoda with devotees lighting thousands of candles at the shrine.
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