When is thingyan this year

The correct Myanmar name for water festival is Thingyan, however outside Myanmar it is often referred to as the water festival.

The story behind Thingyan originated from the Buddhist version of a Hindu myth. On losing the wager Arsi was decapitated and the head of an elephant was put onto his body transforming him into Ganesha. The Brahma was so powerful that if the head were thrown into the sea it would dry up immediately. If I were thrown up into the air the sky would burst into frames. First Day — Thinyan Eve — called a-kyo nei: in Myanmar: The start of a variety of religious activities.

Second Day — a-kya nei: Thagya Min makes his descent from the heavens to earth. The water throwing starts. Fourth Day — a-tet nei: The last day when Thagya Min returns to the heavens. The water throwing stops.

Many people make New Year resolutions. Starting from Thingyan Eve Buddhists are expected to observe the Eight Precepts including having only one meal before noon and hold upo satha observance days, which are similar to the Christian Sabbath.

Alms are given to monks and offerings to Buddha images. An offering is typically a green coconut with its stalk intact encircled by bunches of green bananas 9nga pyaw pwe oun pwe and sprigs of thabyay or jambul Syzygium cumini.

There is also a belief about a bring new year ahead. It is great if you can travel to Myanmar this time. Table of Contents Which activities to do during Thingyan Festival? Day 1: Thingyan Eve On this day, people go to temples and pagodas to observe the Buddhist relief, offer to monks, wash the Buddha image, and pray for their life. Water fighting festival Day 3 On the last day of the festival, Thagya Min returns home but some people still throw water on each other until late in the afternoon.

You can wear a swimsuit instead of normal underwear. It can be very slippery on the street and you may need to run from the water, so choose the comfortable shoes for you. Protect your belongings: Put your valuable things like money, phone in a waterproof bag. You can easily buy it on the street. You can leave your passport at the reception at your hotel to be safe. Prepare water: Do not be shy. Grab a gun or a bucket to join the festival. You can throw water at anyone whether they are friends or strangers.

As with accommodation, much of the country is on the move during Thingyan, so book your travel in advance whether it is by bus, train or car. Do be prepared to chat to the locals. Which leads nicely on to the final point be prepared to get very, very wet!

Thingyan Festival was a really friendly, lively festival to be a part of, but due to the water and talcum powder throwing, and alcohol intake it can also be dangerous on the roads. The combination of water and talcum powder also makes the road surface slippery resulting in skidding and crashes, especially when mixed with speeding and drink driving.

Personally, I would avoid riding a bicycle or motorcycle during Thingyan Festival. After being squirted directly in the face when riding my bicycle on the first day of the festival and nearly coming off it I decided the bike would remain safely at home for the rest of the celebrations. I actually just stashed my money in my bra and kept my iPhone in the waistband of my jeans. If you take these precautions you should be fine. One other thing to remember is that Myanmar New Year falls at the hottest time of the year, so be sure to drink lots of water and wear sunscreen when out and about.

It marks the start of the traditional Thai New Year. The official holiday runs from the 13th up to the 15th of April but the festivities may last a week or more. The traditional way of celebrating the water festival involves Thai people splashing water on their elders, family members, close friends, and neighbors as a way of looking for good fortune. They also visit temples and pay homage to the images of Buddha.

Check more detail about Songkran — Thailand New Year. The holiday lasts for three days beginning on New Year's Day, which usually falls on April 13th or 14th, which is the end of the harvesting season, when farmers enjoy the fruits of their labor before the rainy season begins.

The highlight of the festive activities is also the water festival along the main streets of the big cities and all over the countries. Pi Mai Lao or Lao New Year is the liveliest holiday of the year and one that everyone looks forward to, as it is a time when many people visit their families all over the country.

It takes place around th April, the hottest part of the year, which is why no one really minds being constantly wet from the water being thrown everywhere. Since a little girl, I was always dreaming of exploring the far-away lands, the unseen beauty spots of the world. My dream has been growing bigger and bigger day after day, and I do not miss a chance to make it real. After graduating from the univesity of language in Hanoi, I started the exploration with a travel agency and learning more about travel, especially responsible travel.

I love experiencing the different cultures of the different lands and sharing my dream with the whole world. Hope that you love it too! Thanaka or thanakha is a yellowish-white cosmetic paste made from ground bark. It is a distinctive feature of the culture of Myanmar, seen commonly applied to the face and sometimes the arms of women and girls, and is used to a lesser extent also by men and boys. The use of thanaka has also spread to neighboring countries including Thailand.

Within this article, we will learn everything about Thanaka and the benefits of its powder in making a secret beauty ingredient of Burmese women. With just a piece of fabric grasping on the lower part of the body through time, the longyi has made it become an incredible pattern of Myanmar traditional costume for both men and women. In this article, we are going to find out the secret of Myanmar quintessence through Longyi, about why it has been worn for centuries by the Burmese people.

Kachin Manaw Festival is an annual traditional dance festival celebrated by Kachin people. Manaw is the largest festival in Myitkyina, held at the beginning of January. Manaw Festival is the most significant event for Kachin People. Tribes of Kachin gather together in Manaw ground and dance around the erected Manaw poles. If your idea of fun involves a blurry riot of colour and explosions, look no further than the Taunngyi Fire Balloon Festival, which takes place in the culturally diverse capital of Shan State over several days every November.

This celebration is held around the Full Moon of Tazaungmon, a Myanmar national holiday that marks the end of rainy season and is also known as the Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights. Traditionally, it is a festival to pay homage to the Sulamani Pagoda by sending up decorated hot air balloons, and lately it also became as a Hot Air Balloon Competition Festival and the festival is divided into two parts; daytime competition and nighttime competition.

However, one particularly special and unique time to visit is during the Naga New Year Festival , which will be held in Lahe around mid-January every year. For the Naga, Lahe New Year is a significant time when people share their wishes and hopes for the future, and families are reunited.

It is a time of great celebration; where lively dances are performed in traditional dress, to the beat and sounds of traditional instruments. After that, they come to the temples and pagodas to pray for a lucky year for their family and relatives.

On these days, the people do many good deeds such as offering to the monks, paying homage to parents, teachers, and the elderly, setting the animals free. Every year, the Thingyan festival is being looked forward to by the Burmese with much joy and excitement. Different from the other Southeast Asian countries, Myanmar has been open to the world recently, which helps it remain all of the unique traditional cultures.

See also in Myanmar Travel Guide. Myanmar Souvenirs — What to Buy in Myanmar. The Best Beaches in Myanmar.