Taungbyone Festival: Crowd In Hare Hunting And Felling Trees Ritual Events

The Taungbyone Festival is one of the most significant festivals of Myanmar, held annually in honour of the Taungbyonnat brothers or the two brothers of Taungbyone village.

While the Taungbyone festival is being held in Madaya township of Mandalay region, many visitors are crowded in the two commemorative events of Taungbyone festival-Hare hunting  and Felling Htein trees  held in honour of the spirits of the ShweHpyin brothers which started at 3pm on 10th August.

Chef of Royalty (Rabbit), Easting House (ShweHpying Two Brothers), Kyaw Win said “We offer two roasted rabbits and toddy palm juice to two ShweHpyin brothers. We walk around the palace seven times followed by visitors, concerned persons and then offer those items. It’s held annually. Once rabbit hunting event is finished, a large hardwood tree called “Htein” is cut to be offered which is “Htein Tree-cutting event. That’s ritual.”

Felling Htein trees  ritual event is held on the 14th and 15th waxing days of Wagaung in Myanmar Calendar. At the event, the crowd jump on the remains of the branch and struggle with one another to get a piece of it. Some are immediately go to offer two brothers and some take home as the way they believe that piece of the branch brings good luck.

The festival starts from the eight waxing day to the full moon of Wagaung, roughly equivalent to August, lasting eight or nine days altogether, each of which has its own commemorative event.

Nat Chieftain, TaungbyoneTow Brothers Nat Shrine, U Cho Tint said “Hare hunting  is held on 14thwaxing day of Wagaung and Felling Htein trees  ritual event is held on 14th and 15thwaxing day of Wagaung. And then on the fullmoon night of Wagaung, “the good send-off for Pakhannat” event is held. After the good send-off for the U Min Kyawnat, the festival is said to be over. Those days are the last days of the festival along with the most crowded comers.”

SutaungPyae Pagoda festival and ShweHpyingNyiNaungnat events are held at the same time and called it TaungByone Festival.

SutaungPyae Pagoda festival is held from 8th to 15thwaxing day of Wagaung annually and Taungbyonnatbrothers festival is held from 10th to 15th waxing day of Wagaung annually, it’s learnt.