Kyaukse elephant dance festival

Kyaukse elephant dance festival (Burmese: ကျောက်ဆည်ဆင်ပွဲ) is an annual major traditional dance festival in Myanmar. It is held is on the day before full moon day of the Burmese lunar month of Thadingyut and the full moon day in Kyaukse, near Mandalay. The festival has been celebrated every year since Bagan period and also grown in popularity among the growing number of foreign tourists visiting Myanmar.[1][2]

The colourful competition sees teams and individuals wearing elephant costumes perform various traditional dances.[3]

History

King Anawratha of Pagan obtained several Buddhist relics on a trip to China. Upon his return to Pagan, he decided to build a pagoda to house the precious relics. He strapped the replica of the Buddha's teeth to the back of his white elephant Sinma Yintha and told the elephant to choose a suitable spot for the new pagoda. When the elephant stopped in the two hills, named Thar Lyaung and Kha Yway, the monarch ordered the construction of pagodas on each summit and enshrined the relic at Shwe Thar Lyaung Pagoda. To honor the royal elephants a festival is held every year at the foot of Thar Lyaung mountain.[4][3]

Held

Since the days of King Anawratha, Kyaukse city upon Shwe Thar Lyaung hill has celebrated the elephant dance festival. Traditionally locals don a colourfully decorated, life-size elephant costume, welcoming the end of Thadingyut with a unique array of dance and acrobats. The festival is held every year on the day before full moon day of Thadingut with a total of 29 elephants gracing the stage – 17 traditional, six sequined, and six baby elephants, according to the committee.[5][1][6]

A huge elephant figure is made from bamboo and paper. The competition teams from various wards of Kyaukse. Men take their places inside the figure and dance around the town to the accompanied by drums, oboe, cymbals, brass gongs and bamboo clappers.[7] The elephant dancers circles three times at the foot of the hill to pay homage to the Shwe Tha Lyaung Pagoda and then compete in front of a panel of judges. It is a dance that requires precise rhythm and timing in order for the elephant dancers to maintain unity inside the elephant figure. People from far and near come to visit Kyaukse and watch the elephant dance.[8]

Awards are given out to each distinct elephant group, for those that show the most convincing and traditional portrayal of the elephant dance. Winners get to take home a sum of cash prizes for their deft performances and hours of training. First-place winners of the traditional elephant contest receive K1 million; second place, K800,000; and third K600,000. Prizes are given out for the sequined and baby elephant competition as well, with financial support from the committee. [1]

On the full moon day, thousands of pilgrims carry small paper elephants 900 feet (275 metres) uphill to the pagoda on top of the Tha Lyaung hill. At the top, they walk around the pagoda three times clockwise and present their donations.[9]

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References
  1. Lwin, Si Thu (20 October 2016). "A new generation of dancers keeps the Kyaukse elephant dance festival alive". The Myanmar Times.
  2. "Kyaukse holds traditional elephant dance festival". Myanmar Digital News. 24 October 2018.
  3. "Tourists, locals enjoy traditional elephant dance festival in Kyaukse". The Global New Light Of Myanmar. 18 October 2016.
  4. "Kyaukse Celebrates Elephant Dance Festival, Despite Bomb Concerns". The Irrawaddy. 19 October 2013.
  5. "Kyaukse elephant dance competition". The Myanmar Times. 27 October 2013.
  6. "Festivals in October". Yangon Life. 8 October 2018.
  7. "Live: Myanmar hosts Elephant Dance Festival". CGTN. 23 October 2018.
  8. "Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival". Myanmore Magazine. 13 January 2016.
  9. Alan Becker, Stuart (21 October 2014). "Where elephants dance". The Myanmar Times.
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