There is a good range of festivals here, some of which are well worth seeing if you get the chance. April’s Water Festival is great fun and an easy way to cool off in the hot sun. There are a number of events that see pagodas lit up with colourful lights and December’s Writer’s Day provides plenty of interesting events and lectures.

Ananda Festival: during the full moon in December or January thousands of Burmese monks gather with locals and celebrate for three days at the Ananda Pagoda in Bagan. Entertainment includes dance, theatre and singing as well as stand up comedy.

Hta-Mané Festival: at the beginning of the year is held to ensure a good harvest. The name of the festival comes from a food traditionally eaten at this time – a combination of rice cooked with groundnuts, coconut, sesame oil, garlic and ginger.

Independence Day: is marked by a week-long celebration starting 4 January every year. People celebrate independence with a range of celebrations and activities in Bangan.

Chinese New Year: there is a significant Chinese community in Myanmar and they celebrate Chinese New Year with a typical display of music, colourful dragons and dancing.

Shinbyu Ceremony: Burmese Buddhists believe that all boys should attend a monastery at least once in their lives to bring merit to their families. Young novice monks traditionally enter monasteries during the Shinbyu Ceremony, when schools are on holiday. The novices dress beautifully and are carried around their village before going to the monastery.

Water Festival: this is a great time to visit Bagan when what is effectively a three-day, nationwide water fight takes place. The water traditionally represents cleansing to mark the New Year. These days, the festival is for many people just about having a lot of fun and no one is spared a soaking. The best advice is to wear some old clothes, keep your valuables at home and go out and enjoy the fun.

Kason Festival: this festival takes place on the Kasone full moon day according to the Buddhist calendar and marks the Buddha’s birthday. Water is poured onto the sacred Bo tree, under which the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.

Dhama Sakya Day: this holy day is held to commemorate the Lord Buddha giving his first sermon to the five disciples. At most of the country’s pagodas and monasteries sermons are held by monks in remembrance of the Buddha’s life.

Waso Festival: marks the start of Buddhist Lent, and commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon. It is traditional for monks to receive new robes at this time.

Lawkananda and Manuha festivals: while these events aren’t the most important festivals in the Bagan festival calendar, they are colourful occasions nonetheless. If you are in Bagan during September, it’s well worth checking out these festivals, held at the pagodas of the same name.

Thadingyut Lights Festival: signifies the end of Buddhist Lent and is celebrated nationwide. The festival lasts for three days, during which time the town is lit up by various decorative lights. There are also a number of entertainment shows, which gives a pleasant celebratory atmosphere.

Shwezigon Pagoda Festival: October is a good time to visit the Scwezigon Pagoda. This colourful festival sees fireworks and candles being carried in procession and then given as an offering to the pagoda.

Tazaungdine Festival of Lights: another festivals involving lights, Tazaungdine celebrates the first harvest with weaving competitions spanning three days.

Kahtein Thingan Weaving Festival: the Kahtein Thingan, or ‘yellow robe’, weaving festival sees robes woven overnight and then offered to Buddha images at pagodas around the country, including those in Bagan.

Writer's Day: famous writers around the country give lectures on various aspects of Myanmar’s literary history and modern literature.

Christmas: while not a big festival in Myanmar, there are enough expats here to ensure something will be going on. You can usually find somewhere holding a Christmas Day celebration.