Myanmar Festivals
Manaw Festival (Kachin State)
There are seven states and seven divisions in
Myanmar. Among them, Kachin is one of the states,
which has a delightful festival known as Manaw.
Kachin, the hill people or the Scots of Myanmar,
celebrate Manaw festival. It is one of the most
popular festivals in Myanmar. The festival is
usually held in January.
This festival has been held
for more than three decades. Manaw festivals is the
celebration of the New Year, Victory in battles,
reunion of the tribes etc. Everybody joins the
spiritual dance lined up behind one another. The
traditional Manaw poles are decorated in colorful
Kachin motifs and are centered in the middle of the
festival ground. All who came to the festival wear
their best traditional costume and the main feature
of the festival is dancing around the erected Manaw
poles, quite similar to the totem poles of North
American Indians. Manaw festival is held in
Myitkyina and Putao in Kachin State.
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