November 13, 2019
With rains brought on by cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’ letting up, thousands of locals and visitors gathered yesterday for the annual festival of traditional boat rowing and dances and floating of lamps on the Sittoung River in Madauk, Bago Region.
Cyclonic storm ‘Bulbul’ had made landfall on 11 November.
As part of the annual ritual, locals and visitors floated 45,000 lamps on the river as the sun set, while a barge decorated with the Ashin UppaGutta theme toured along the river for the public observance.
Before the floating of lamps, people enjoyed boat-rowing contests and spectacles such as dance performances by troupes on boats.
The festival, which is known as the ‘Madauk Floating Lamp Festival’, is held every year on the Fullmoon of the Tazaungmon.
Another famous traditional light festival was held in Shwegyin, a neighbouring town with Madauk, one month ago after the ending of monsoon.
Locals believed that the festival began in the Konboung era and have preserved the annual traditional festival.Tuesday is the last day of four-day holiday to mark the Tazaungdine Holiday.
During the days, nationwide activities with donors carrying offerings by cars and tricycles to monasteries while in many wards and streets, free offering of foods and merit making market events were held.
Besides, the pagodas, offices, residences, streets and roads were lighted up with oil and electric lamps fully displaying Myanmar’s tradition that was held on every Fullmoon of Tazaungmone.—Yan Aung Tun (Translated by KZL)