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April ▼
In
April
(Tagu)
Thingyan (Water) Festival / Myanmar New Year Festival By
the Myanmar calendar, the first month is 'Tagu' (April). It
is the time of the Water Festival-we calls it "Thingyan'
which means 'change'. This is often symbolized with the
change of duty from one celestial daughter to another to
hold the severed head of the 'Brahma' lest it might fall
into the sea or on land and cause a complete dry-up in
wherever it happens to fall. But, that belief may originally
belong to Hinduism. The people of Myanmar usher in their
'New Year' around the middle of April with the showers of
blessing in the form of water, which is thrown over friends
and even strangers on the streets. Even foreigners and all
other believers can participate in the festival together
like the same family of Myanmars during three of four days.
Everybody can see the enjoyable sights and sounds as others
do so, or perform religious meritorious acts or just enjoy
rest and recreation in festive atmosphere all around. There
is also pageantry with decorated pandals (Mandats), floats,
music, songs and dances, celebration of 'Thingyan' in a
cultured way is being promoted by the State and People of
the Union of Myanmar. Pouring water in ' New Year' is
believed to cleanse the body and mind of evils of year that
was left behind. There is merriment and fun galore. But it
is not all fun and play; the elderly and the pious perform a
lot of meritorious deeds to usher in the 'New Year' . People
keep Sabbath; go to pagodas and monasteries; and offer foods
and alms to monks and nums. Even children and youths too
welcome the 'New Year' by paying respects to their parents,
teachers and elders. To gain merit, fish and cattle are also
set free. Though merriment and fun and meritorious and pious
deeds, the Myanmar usher in a 'New Year'. According to
belief, it also marks the time when theKing of Nats, 'Tha-gya-min',
descends to Human World for a visit to check on the conduct
of human morals. He carries with him two books-one covered
with 'dog-skin' and the other bound with 'gold'.He records
the names of those who have committed sin into the
'dog-skin' book, while he enters the names of do-gooders in
the golden book.
Thingyan (Water) Festival
4 Days Myanmar New Year
Festivities
Venue - Whole Country
(Specially in Yangon & Mandalay
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