In Mon State, pagoda festivals that are traditionally held during the Thadingyut period are being planned for in various locations where security will be provided by the junta.
According to pagoda trustee groups, one such event is the Kyaikkhami Pagoda Festival, which is jointly organized by the junta and trustee committees. It will run for seven days and seven nights starting from the 14th waxing day of Thadingyut (October 5), and will feature entertainment and sports competitions.
Currently, stalls along the street have been allocated, and all spaces are spoken for by vendors, according to an official from the Kyaikkhami trustee group.
“Starting on the 14th, waxing day, we’ll kick off with night football matches, while the Myanmar traditional boxing competitions will run for three days from the 2nd to the 4th [of the lunar month]. By yesterday, all the shop stalls had been taken—more than in previous years. There’s no space left for new vendors, even for those from outside. For visitors without lodging, we’ve prepared places for up to 500 guests,” he said.
Because security is considered stable, the festival will be held both day and night. Pilgrims from across the country are expected to attend, he added.
Similarly, preparations are underway for the Buddha Pujaniya Festival and mountain-opening ceremony of the sacred Kyaiktiyo Pagoda in Kyaikto Township, where shops will be opened and transport is being arranged for visitors to travel up the mountain on the full moon day of Thadingyut.
However, due to security concerns, the Kyaik Kamawt Gyi Pagoda Festival in Kamawek will not include entertainment programs. Instead, it will offer only daytime activities including pilgrimages, alms-giving, and other religious ceremonies, according to a member of the organizing committee.
“Security is being handled by the locals themselves. The military and police aren’t taking responsibility. In previous years, visitors came from other townships, but now, unlike before, there are no overnight guests. They only come early in the morning and return later in the day. On the evening of the 7th, pilgrims usually visit the Kamawek pagoda. Since COVID-19 and the military takeover, we haven’t had night celebrations here at Kyaik Kamawt,” he explained.
This year visits to the Kyaik Kamawt Gyi Pagoda will be restricted to the hours between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m.
In villages where security is managed by local administrative groups, Thadingyut pagoda festivals and alms-offering ceremonies are planned, along with musical performances.
Traditionally, during Thadingyut, pagoda festivals and communal alms-offering ceremonies are held every year across neighborhoods and villages in Mon State. However, since the military coup, due to political conflicts and conscription pressures that have forced many young people to flee abroad, these festivals are no longer as vibrant and crowded as they once were.
