Myanmar Festivals
Water Festival (Myanmar Thingyan) (Countrywide)
Myanmar is a land full of festivals and fun. The
Mekong Water Festival includes the countries
Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. The
celebration is called Songkran in Thailand, Chaul
Chnam Thmey in Cambodia, Thingyan in Myanmar and
Pimai in Laos. But it is believed that water
festival washes away sins and welcomes the New Year.
The water festival represents the most popular,
raucous and colorful celebration of the year for
more than 120 million people who will abandon any
thoughts of work and bring their nations to a
standstill. People around the country gather
together again and visits pagodas, offers and pay
homage to the monks, play traditional games and
celebrate with their joyous spirit.
After playing around and having fun throughout
the country, the city-dwellers welcome the New Year
on the 17th by cleaning the floors of the pagodas
and monasteries, washing old and aged peoples' hair,
helping to cut them their nails. Some offer free
food and drinks for everyone who visits the pagodas,
some make other donations. If you can be here with
us, you will never forget the true joy.
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