Tradition in Thadingyut Festival at Southern Shan State

 Some traditions in Southern Shan State during the Thadingyut Festival  

Ethnic people such as Pa'O , Taungyo, Danu people from regions like Kalaw, Aung Pan, He Ho and Taunggyi in Southern Shan State usually visit the monasteries and pay homage to the Buddhist monks that were traditionally worshiped by their parents during the Thadingyut period.  Starting from the full-moon day of Thadingyut, ethnic people offer rice, cooking oil, vegetables, snacks, money etc. to the monks in deep respect, Listen to the Dhamma (respectfully take the advice) from them and keep sabath. The monks usually feed the people with snacks or rice and curry or local food. Paying homage like this is generally done starting from the full-moon day of Thadingyut, till five to ten days onwards.  They usually go to the monasteries in groups together with friends, relatives, and other villagers.  All people also Youth use to wear same traditional costumes. Some visit and pay homage even up to seven monasteries on a single day. Similarly, a monastery also has to prepare food for fifty to seven hundreds guests per day. This period takes about ten days from the full-moon day of Thadingyut.  Monks prepare the meals by using the rice, oil, and vegetables brought by the people who come to pay homage. They also add those curries they've got during going out an alms rounds in the village and prepare special curry called or "hin-boung" (the mixed curry), which is traditionally the main dish at many monasteries. Sometimes they need to buy the meat from market.  

In addition, the  Pa'O ethnic people from Taunggyi region usually celebrate the fire-lotus parade on the full moon night of Thadingyut. This is also said to be the ritual that originates in Yaw region.

The bamboo cup, made in the shape of a lotus flower, is covered with coloured paper or oiled paper. Then it is lighted by a candle flame in the center of the cup. People carrying lighted colourful lotus flowers in their hands ceremonially parade the village and then offer those to the near Buddha images or pagodas or temples and pay respects for the prayers. They may need nearly one month for preparing for this ceremony.

 Tradition in Thadingyut Festival at Southern Shan State Video