2009 WATER FESTIVAL

TRADITION

It is believed that water festival (known as THINGYAN) 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.

On those days people especially young and adult people are throwing water to each other to get relief from the intense heat of the season and to wash away the sins from the past year and celebrate water festival. However, throwing water at elderly people, pregnant women and Sabbath keepers is taboo, especially in rural areas. Many elderly people spend the duration of the Festival observing Sabbath, meditate and donate to charities. In addition, Special interests at Thingyan are the beautifully decorated floats with people singing and dancing on them that go around the city.

More THINGYAN photos at YE LWIN OO . COM