thingyan festival in myanmar
Myanmar Water Festival (Thingyan) 11/03/2016 / 35647 views Myanmar Water Festival takes place each year from 13 to 17 of April towards to the end of hot and dry season with activities such as praying for peace in pagodas, bathing rituals for Buddha and then gathering in the streets, splashing water on passerby instead of New Year greetings. Good deeds bring all the people of Myanmar together on Thingyan. YANGON, MYANMAR - APRIL 15, 2013 :Thingyan Festival at Sule Paya Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar.View of people and pick-ups passing b. Y Sule Paya Pagoda during The ASIA MYANMAR MANDALAY THINGYAN WATER FESTIVAL. During the Water Festival, the Myanmar government relaxes restrictions on gatherings. [4] Accidents and incidents from drunk or reckless driving in crowded streets, as well as drunkenness, arguments and brawling are problems that typically occur. During Thingyan festival, traditionally the younger generation would visit their elders to wash their hair as a sign of respect. Thingyan is comparable to other festivities in the region such as the Songkran in Laos, the Songkran in Thailand, the Cambodian New Year, the Sinhalese New Year and the festivals like Vaisakhi (Punjab), Puthandu (Tamil Nadu), Vishu (Kerala) and Bihu (Assam) in India. This link will open in a new window. The eve of Thingyan, the first day of the festival is called a-kyo nei (in Myanmar, အကြိုနေ့), and is the start of a variety of religious activities. Many people choose to go back to their hometowns to celebrate or gather together in bigger towns. People wash the elderly’s hair or offer water to monks. Maidens from mandats with dozens of garden hoses exchange hundreds of gallons of water with throngs of revelers and one float after another. Anyone can throw water to anyone whether they are friends or strangers. Thingyan allows people to celebrate the Burmese New Year. Get support with the planning and technology for a virtual memorial event. It’s said the hair washing purifies the mind, body, and spirit. The country Myanmar is Known as the “Golden Land” in the world since every pagoda is decorated and painted with gold. The celebration is called Songkran in Thailand, Chaul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia, Thingyan in Myanmar and Pimai in … What is Thingyan (Burmese Water) Festival? Around the nation, traditional dancers wearing long colorful dresses perform. It’s said the hair washing purifies the mind, body, and spirit. Buddhists believe in reincarnation. The celebration ends with New Year, which falls on April 17th of each year. The dates of the festival are observed as public holidays throughout Myanmar, and are part of the summer holidays at the end of the school year. The celebration lasts for 5 days usually from 13 … Standing on bamboo stages erected along the streets, people splash water on passersby. Related Articles. In fact, there’s a public holiday for each month of the year. The new year henceforth has come to signify the changing of hands of the Brahma's head. In this guide, we’ll explore how to celebrate the New Year in one of the world’s best-kept, secret, bucket-list destinations. Unlike our ( Western ) New Year celebrations that take place on the first of January, the Myanmar Thingyan festival begins around the 13th of March, varying a day or two each year based on the Burmese lunisolar cycles. Then, they water each other with special bowls on bamboo platforms. Is Maha Thingyan (Water Festival) a Public Holiday? Water is the most important part of the festivities. Smaller towns celebrate traditionally with rituals, cleaning, and offerings. Although the festival is a Buddhist event, it has been made to be a legal public holiday by the government, which ensures that almost Myanmar people wish to join. It’s definitely a must for me. The King of Brahmas called Arsi, lost a wager to the King of Devas, Śakra (Thagya Min), who decapitated Arsi as agreed but the head of an elephant was put onto the Brahma's body who then became Ganesha. Over 90 percent of the population is Buddhist, and Myanmar’s deep Buddhist roots appear in Thingyan, a celebration of the past, present, and future. Thingyan (Burmese: .mw-parser-output .script-myanmar{font-family:Pyidaungsu,"Myanmar Text",Myanmar3,Myanmar2,Myanmar1,Padauk,"Noto Sans Myanmar",mm3web,TharLon,"Masterpiece Uni Sans",Parabaik,Yunghkio,Thanlwin,"Win Uni Innwa","MyMyanmar Unicode","WinUni Innwa"}သင်္ကြန်; MLCTS: sangkran, [θɪ́ɰ̃dʑàɰ̃]; Arakanese: [θɔ́ɰ̃kràɰ̃]; from Sanskrit saṁkrānti, which means "transit [of the Sun from Pisces to Aries]"[1]) is the Burmese New Year Festival that usually occurs in middle of April. Many people save funds for the entire year for a chance to partake in the festival. Especially popular is the Thingyan Yein or group dance. This small nation has one of the largest numbers of national holidays. Head Washing Island), a small rocky outcrop of an island in the Gulf of Martaban near Mawlamyine.[3]. Thingyan is a time for happiness and friendly attitudes. While the cannon is fired, people run out to collect the water with pots and buckets. Later, they offer the treat to monks for good fortune in the coming year. He is worshipped in cultures around the world for his lucky powers. Before sharing how you can celebrate, let’s take a look at how it began. Later, servants began splashing each other and the rest is Thingyan history. The history of the Myanmar Thingyan water festival dating back to a very long time ago. These actions help people gain merit and wash away the wrongs of the past year. or ritual hair washing to prepare for the New Year. 16 April 2009. www.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/world/asia/17yangon.html. In large cities like Yangon, the bamboo platforms are far more elaborate. During Thingyan, the rules are relaxed. There are also different traditions in the countryside versus major cities. Laos and Thailand both have their own water festivities to. Because he dedicated his life to being selfless, he was reborn as a king of celestial beings. The sprinkling of water was intended to metaphorically "wash away" one's sins of the previous year. The Thingyan festival is the celebration of the Buddhist New Year in Myanmar (Burma). This is a year-round practice, but monasteries are the busiest on New Year’s Day. Starting end-of-life planning is a great way to begin your journey. Some families choose to prepare in advance as far as eight days before the New Year. Instead, they use a lunar calendar based on the position of the sun and moon. It usually falls in the third part of April and the main feature is water throwing or water spraying or dousing on each other. Large crowds of revellers, on foot, bicycles and motorbikes, and in trucks, will do the rounds of all the mandat, some making their own music and most of the women wearing thanaka and padauk. Since COVID-19 can spread faster in […] Although Thagyarmin cut off the king’s head, the king didn’t die but instead became a powerful being called Ganesha. Thingyan Festival Traditions and Activities, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is no stranger to. Nightfall brings music, song and dance, and merrymaking in anticipation of the water festival. Many of these pavilions are sponsored by rich and powerful families and businesses [6]. Thingyan is a time when uposathaobservance days, similar to the Christian sabbath, are held.