Burmese Buddhist Holidays and Festivals
In this excerpt from the book, we pick up an entry from our "Burmese Days" chapter. Following are three quotations that serve to introduce the section on Burmese Buddhist holidays and festivals:
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Holidays & Festivals
“I doubt if even the bombing of World War II managed to stop the people of Myanmar from holding their annual festivals.” Ma Thenegi, Defiled on the Ayeyarwaddy
“The Burmese have a remarkable capacity for extracting the maximum amount of fun from the opportunities offered to them during our traditional festivals.” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Letters from Burma
"‘What a difference there is between our dancing and the native performance,’ she remarked. ‘Our tangos and turkey-trotting are just an amusement, ending in a feast, whilst their diversion is mostly prayers, intoning, gongs, and bells, burning candles and telling beads. The Burmese seem to be always thinking of their souls.’" B.M. Croker, The Road to Mandalay (1917)
“I doubt if even the bombing of World War II managed to stop the people of Myanmar from holding their annual festivals.” Ma Thenegi, Defiled on the Ayeyarwaddy
“The Burmese have a remarkable capacity for extracting the maximum amount of fun from the opportunities offered to them during our traditional festivals.” Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Letters from Burma
"‘What a difference there is between our dancing and the native performance,’ she remarked. ‘Our tangos and turkey-trotting are just an amusement, ending in a feast, whilst their diversion is mostly prayers, intoning, gongs, and bells, burning candles and telling beads. The Burmese seem to be always thinking of their souls.’" B.M. Croker, The Road to Mandalay (1917)
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| Revelers in downtown Yangon celebrate Water Festival (Thigyan) in front of Sule Pagoda |