" Myanmar traditional water festival "

= Dr. Aung Than Win (Oriental Studies) =

eople in every country around the world celebrate their new year in accordance with their own style and traditions and customs. Myanmar people also have their own traditional New Year apart from observing another New Year according to Gregorian calendar. 

Myanmar New Year is also called Thingyan during which we pour water on each other with the pious deed of cooling and purifying both the body and soul. The Myanmar term “Thingyan” originates from Sanskrit word “Sankranta”: which means “move, shift and change”. Myanmar New Year is also the period of change between Pisces and Aries. Seasonal symbol is two yellow fishes and asterism is Rewati similar to a fish-trap. 

Constellation is Cassiopeia and the seasonal fl owers are Kant Kaw, Tharaphi, Yinkhet and Patauk. We the Myanmar people value Patauk as Thingyan flower and it is also the lord of the fl owers of the Myanmar month Tankhu (April).

The earliest known stone inscription that mentioned the word “Thingyan” can be found at Saw Hla Wun Pagoda dated ME 653 or AD 1291. So it can be said that Myanmar traditional Thingyan festival began during Bagan period.

In the olden days, Myanmar people mixed cool and clean water with some fragrance in a large silver bowl and sprinkled one another with sprigs of Eugenia in a polite and modest manner.

But nowadays, some people, both the youths and adults, are using water cannons in pouring water especially on young ladies which in fact is against the Myanmar culture. So everyone should avoid doing such horrible things that may harm others.

On the other hand, some people both young and old of both genders go to monasteries and keep Sabbath, to pagodas and do meritorious deeds, or to mediation centres and practice vipassana. Some men and boys ordain into temporary monkhood while girls and women into temporary nun-hood during Thingyan.

Thingyan actually is the time we purify our mind and body and do pious deeds for a better tomorrow. So let’s welcome the New Year 1377 with heart and soul.

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