Myanmar is a very religious society and its Buddhist calendar is crammed with festivals. Fortunately for visitors, many of these festivals are based around the country's biggest city, Yangon, so time your flights to coincide with them and get ready for some once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Burmese New Year usually takes place in the middle of April and it's a spectacular event. The focal point of the festival is the day of water throwing which takes place on New Year's Eve, when people get together to soak each other with water, dance, and eat plenty of sweet rice balls to celebrate the occasion.
Waso takes place in June or July and commemorates the moment of Buddha's conception. It's a celebration of new life and growth, which may be why it is marked by dazzling flower displays at Yangon's major temples. The city is never as colourful as when Waso is in full swing, and it's a great time to go.
Held at the end of Burmese Lent, Thandingyut shows off the city at its most captivating. Across every neighbourhood, locals light vast numbers of candles and decorate major buildings with electric lights, creating an unforgettable light show.
Myanmar's harvest festival, Hta-Mane, occurs in February. This isn't a time for prayer or ceremony, more the consumption of huge quantities of sticky rice snacks with coconut, sesame seeds and peanuts. It's a time of communal feasts across the city, and you'll almost certainly encounter a celebration when you visit. There's no more delicious time to experience Yangon.