Jerlyn Ng2017 may have just begun, but for the Burmese, that’s still over 600 years from now. Myanmar is beginning the countdown to Thingyan – an annual traditional festival marking Myanmar’s New Year, for the year 1379.
Thingyan literally translates to “transit” and it marks the beginning of the Burmese New Year, celebrated with a week-long water festival from 13 to 17 April.
Image credit: Tourism Myanmar
Thingyan makes the perfect time for tourists to visit Myanmar. Celebrated over four to five days, Thingyan showcases Myanmar’s rich religious and cultural heritage. It is also the best time to experience first-hand the warmth and fun-loving nature of the locals.
In a culture so closely intertwined with religion, the Thingyan Festival carries with it Buddhist rituals. On the eve of Thingyan, devout Buddhists are required to eat only one meal before noon. It’s also a time when observance days are respected. Across the country, alms and offerings are presented in monasteries and scented water is poured onto Buddha images in ceremonial washing.
Image credit: Htoo Tay Zar
The days following are replete with joyful anticipation of the Water Festival. Pavilions made from bamboo and palm leaves are built onto a stage, in preparation for live shows that engage a host of performers, from music to dance.
Image credit: Tourism Myanmar
Another common sight on the streets of Myanmar during Water Festival is water-throwing. The celebration has been compared with Songkran in Thailand and traditional New Year’s celebrations in Cambodia and Laos, though deemed to be most animated of all.
Thingyan is the one time where it’s fully acceptable in Myanmar to douse one another, every day for four days, from morning until evening. During this period, which coincides with the hottest time of the year in the country, locals and visitors squirt water on others and themselves using hoses, plastic water pistols or other devices.
Image credit: Tourism Myanmar
To encourage foreign travellers to join the activities during the upcoming Thingyan holiday, Myanmar Tourism Marketing is planning to set up a stage in Yangon from 12 to 16 April 2017 for travellers to join in the fun water party.
Time to grab those air tickets!
Information is extracted from Press Release issued by Myanmar Tourism Marketing
