Intangible Cultural Heritage: Myanmar’s Thingyan Festival inscribed on ICH List

Myanmar Traditional New Year Atar Thingyan Festival has been inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) List. The decision has been made during the 19th Session of Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Asunción of Paraguay on December 5th.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture applied to UNESCO in March 2023 to list the festival on the ICH. The Thingyan festival, also known as the Myanmar New Year or Water Festival, is a multi-day celebration that includes family reunions, charity feast and cultural performances.

The festival is known for its water-associated activities, where people play with or pour water to symbolize cleansing sins and ill fortune. The inscription of Myanmar’s Thingyan Festival on the ICH List could help promote this traditional festival to the world, ensuring the legacy is passed down to future generations.

This achievement was made possible through the collective efforts of the Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust, Ethnic Literature and Cultural Associations, Civil Society Organizations, and the people residing throughout Myanmar.