News Release (22.10.07)CURFEW LIFTED The authorities had announced that the curfew restrictions imposed in
Yangon and Mandalay has been lifted effective 20-10-07 (Saturday). This
is the result of improved security situation in both cities and the
return to normalcy in the whole country. Thadingyut (Festival of Lights) Lord Buddha spent the whole Buddhist Lent in Tavatimsa(Abode of the Celestials)and came down to the Abode of Humans on the Fullmoon Day of Thadingyut(October). Legend says when He returned to the Abode of Humans, surrounded by Celestial Beings, the people greeted him by lighting up their homes. This tradition is still being carried on to this day. The whole country, from big cosmopolitan cities to remote villages are lit up. People hang brightly coloured lights on their homes. Pagodas are lit up with countless candles. The monks are offered soon (food) by the lay people to gain merit. Young children visit their elders to pay homage with cakes and fruits. This is indeed a joyous time for the Myanmar people. And we invite you all to celebrate this auspicious occasion together with the Myanmar people. News Release (19.10.07)Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival at Inle Lake The Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival is one of the most famous pagoda festival in Myanmar and well known all over the world. The festival is held every year during the month of October and lasts for more than 20 days as the 4 Buddha Images are taken around the lake in a gilded barge pulled by hundrerds of leg-rowers in long canoes in front.These images sometimes stay over night at some villages and sometimes just stop over for a short while. Rowing competitions are also held. Pilgrims from all over the country come to this festival to pay homage to the Buddha Images. Many are from the plains, some from the mountains, while others are from small remote villages but everybody is here to gain merit and enjoy the festive air of the event. Foreign tourists are also fascinated not only by the religiouness of the festival goers but also with the generosity of the pilgrims as they pray in front of the Images and offer tissue thin gold leaves to put on the Images. This sense of true generosity and the religiousness of the people is evidenced by the Images itself for after decades of being gilded by countless number of gold foils they had become huge globes of gold. This year's festival had also begun. The Phaung Daw Oo Images arrived yesterday at Nyaung Shwe and will stay there for three nights. After that they will continue their tour around the lake. As usual the welcoming ceremony at Nyaung Shwe was thronged with local pilgrims and foreign tourists alike. Everybody is invited to come visit the festival and see the real nature of the Myanmar people. Coming Festivals Myanmar is a land of festivals. Every month there is a pagoda
festival, even during the monsoon season. But with the cessation of the
monsoon rains the country comes alive with pagoda festivals, religious
festivals etc. News Release (10.10.07)Yangon and Mandalay returns to normalcy Residents of Yangon and Mandalay report that life had returned to
normalcy and people are going about their daily life in safe and secure
conditions. No other major tourist sites were effected by the recent
events also. Curfew hours relaxed With the situation improving day by day the authorities had relaxed
the duration of the curfew hours imposed in both Yangon and Mandalay. Emergency assistance during curfew hours The authorities had initiated a series of measures to permit people
and vehicle movement during curfew hours for emergency medical
conditions etc. Important Tourist Sites are open All important tourist sites such as the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon etc. are open and all international visitors are welcomed.
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