Diplomatic Maha Thingyan Festival: MoFA, MoIC host celebration for diplomats

To welcome the Myanmar New Year of 1385, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the Ministry of International Cooperation (MoIC)held the Diplomatic Maha Thingyan Festival in the garden of the Myanmar Institute for Strategic and International Studies (MISIS) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Yangon on Saturday. Present on the occasion were Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and wife, diplomats and their families as well as invited guests. 

Ambassador, Embassy of Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr. J. M. J. P., said “Now this is my first time Thingyan Festival experience in Myanmar. Because I came here on the last month. So it’s the really detaining enjoying. Because in Sri Lanka too, we celebrate the same festival, we call it the Sri Lanka New year. Our traditions and cultural values are very much similar. So I really enjoy. Snacks are very similar to ours. I love Myanmar Culture, your food, your costume value. My new year wishes to the people of Myanmar, to be Happy new year, peaceful, prosperous, new year to Myanmar people.” 

During the event, attendees were served with the Myanmar traditional snacks and desserts and they also enjoyed water throwing activities. Also, the young maidens from the MoFA and the MoICperformed the guests with traditional Thingyan dances and songs. 

Ambassador, Royal Thai Embassy, H.E Mr.Mongkol Visistump, said “First of all, I would like to convey may suspicious from Thai people and Thai embassy in Yangon to Myanmar people. We would like to wish them happy, prosperous and good health through out of the year. And beyond Thailand and Myanmar have the same culture and traditional. I am really happy to see people come out and they enjoy their festival activities. Because of COVID-19. Today we are really to see our Myanmar people happy as the same Thailand people. And I hope that the Thingyan festival next year you will be greater than this year. More tourists come to visit Myanmar. So the people will be more happy.” 

After the Thingyan celebration there, the departmental officials, diplomats and their families as well as invited guests visited the People’s Square, the Yangon Mayor Thingyan Pavilion and the nearby Walking Thingyan event. 

1st secretary, Embassy of Timor-Leste, Avelino Fernades Ximenes Pereira, said “Myanmar Thingyan is very fun because last year, I was invited by mayor of Yangon. So this is the 2nd time year. This event Thingyan is imagine and unique for me. Because this Thingyan festival is unique. People celebratethe Thingyan festival like a party in Myanmar. Myanmar people are very generous and very friendship. I feel like Myanmar is my second home.” 

3rd Secretary, Embassy of the Philippines, Pete De La Fuente, “When we are here in Myanmar, we would like to fasten people to people’s connection. And exchange more culture similarity. So that, as human being, we are able to connect, we are able to establish our friendship and continue proper that. And sticky rice ball, we have something like that similar thing” “As I stay longer in here Myanmar, there are more things in common similar between our people and culture. We would share everyone in Myanmar Happy new year, have prosperous new year everyone. I hope everyone find peace, happiness in this year and the years comes.” 

Thingyan Water Festival is the biggest and most popular festival in Myanmar.  It is also known as the Myanmar Traditional New Year Festival.