What's Myanmar Thingyan Festival?
In general, Myanmar Thingyan festival comes on the 13th of April every year. However, Myanmar people doesn't say that Thingyan really comes on that day, i.e., they start to enjoy the water festival on April 14. The festival usually takes four days, in general.According to Myanmar people, the first day is well known as "A-kyo Day".(April 13)
The second day is called "A-kya Day". (April 14th)
The third day is well known as "A-kyat Day". (April 15th)
The last day is called "A-tak Day". (April 16th)
However, the festival totally takes five days in leap years according to the traditional Burmese lunisolar calendar. In leap years, the festival goes in such a way of one A-kyo day, one A-kya day, two A-kyat days and one A-tak day.
During the Thingyan days, a lot of Myanmar people do good meritorious deeds like observing the Eight Percepts, including having only meal before noon, performing hair washing for the elders, paying their respect to the elders, releasing fish into the lakes and rivers, and providing free food to those people who comes from all directions, etc.
One distinct thing of Thingyan festival is the padauk flowers.
The padauk (Pterocarpus macrocarpus) blooms but one day each year during Thingyan and is popularly known as the "Thingyan flower". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thingyan )
It is sure that padauk flowers cannot be separated from Thingyan.
One famous thing of Thingyan festival is Thingyan dance, a Myanmar traditional dance. By nightfall on the first day, the ceremony of "Thingyan Welcome" is held with competition of dance and decorated Thingyan cars. A lot of traditional dancer bands start to entertain those people who comes to watch. They compete with each other. Among those bands, the best bands are rewarded on the final "A-tak day".
This Thingyan festival is well worth for being observed by foreigners and tourists from all over the world. A lot of Myanmar people is waiting for you to welcome friendly and warmly with their smiles. Just visit there once, then you'll never forget it!
Welcome to Myanmar!
