Festivals

The Shwedagon Pagoda Treasurer’s Board of Trustees maintains the permanence of Shwedagon Pagoda and the small stupas encircling the main stupa of the pagoda. It provides the best service to visitors, devotees, and monks during their pilgrimage to the pagoda. To promote the prosperity of Buddhism, the Board celebrates religious festivals to commemorate days of special significance in Buddhism. Until 1980, the Buddha Day Festival, known as the “Kasone Festival” in April-May, the festival on the Full Moon Day of the Myanmar month “Tabaung” (February-March), known as the “Tabaung Festival,” and the festival of weaving robes for Buddha, also called the “Tazaungdaing Festival” in November, were held at Shwedagon Pagoda. Starting in 2005, with the consent of the board members of Shwedagon Pagoda, who reported to the Ovadacariya Sayadaws (monks who counsel the Board on the interests of the Shwedagon Pagoda), the festivals have been celebrated every month of the Myanmar calendar. These celebrations, conducted in accordance with Myanmar tradition and culture, take place on the grand platform or flat ground around the pagoda, with the help of employees and sundry task groups.