In order to mark the end of three - month Lent Season, the Burmese held the Festival of Lights, also known as Thadingyut. This festival usually is in a seven - month of Burmese calendar.
It celebrates the descent of Buddha from heaven after he preached the Abidhama (the most difficult of Buddhist teaching) to his mother reborn in heaven. In these day people all over the country light candles to welcome him back. The festival in a small town and villages are more enjoyable than in cities. In small towns, there are small earthen saucers filled with sesame oil where pieces of cotton are used as wicks. People collect donations for charity, decoration and entertainment purpose. Roads and street are full of amateur dancing groups, music troupes, stalls ans spectators for free entertainment. On the festival day, groups of young people and children can be seen walking with candles and gifts in their hands to pay respect to parents, teachers and elderly relatives. On account of that, the elders usually return the act of good will by wishing to be healthy, wealthy and safe from danger and giving pocket- money and snacks to the young people.