The Meaningful Day for Burmese People

The Thingyan Water Festival is one of the most famous festival in Myanmar, the words Thingyan means changing from old year to New Year. It is falls around mid-April of every year. During the Thingyan Festival, Burmese people celebrate it by pouring water to each other. Therefore, it is also known as the Water Festival. The purpose is to wash away all the sins from the previous year and providing a spiritual renewal, a purify spirit, and ready to welcome the New Year. It is important day for all Burmese. Thingyan Water Festival celebrates for three to four day and it is the longest holiday among all other holiday, about ten to fifteen days long to celebrate the festival. Thingyan Festival is one of my favorite festivals because it gives me not only happiness and excitement but also give a religious practice to me and to all Burmese people.
During the Thingyan Festival several organization, government departments and student associations sponsor the Water Throwing Stages (WTC). WTC are built by the side of the road and throw water from the stages. Stages have three to four level for water throwing, dancing and DJ. Some people are throwing water from the stages, some are dancing on the stages, and some are using vehicles to visit all these stages to get soaked. In my home country, Yangon the street Inya is the most crowed in stages, vehicles and people. I used to go to the stages on every Water Festival with my friends in the first day of Water Festival. On the second day I visit to all the stages in the city with vehicle. Water was throwing form 9 am to 6 pm.
During the Water Festival some people go to the monasteries and monk hood for all this holiday to made good things. Some people gather in a place to make foods and offer to the people who passed by during the Water Festival. Some people go to vacation in this long holiday. In my opinion going vacation in Water Festival is not a good idea because all places are celebrating Water Festival you will get wet along the journey. But some people like going vacation during Water Festival.

After playing of water for 3 to 4 days in Water Festival, it is follow by the New Year Festival. On the New Year day, everybody dress up and go to the Burmese monasteries and pagodas to do good things and prays for the New Year. Some offered free foods and drinks for everyone who visited the monasteries and pagodas and some made donations to the pagodas. In the New Year day young people do good things for the senior peoples like washing hair, cutting nail, donate and take care. And also release fish to the lakes
Thingyan Festival is one of my favorite festivals in my life and I wish I can participate Thingan Festival in my country in every Apirl. Play in the stage during Water Fesitival and in New Year day made donation and help senior people.