Living Culture: Pre-celebration of Thingyan festival held in Yangon

The pre-celebration of Thingyan water festival was held at SeinnLann So Pyay Garden in Yangon, on Monday.

Aiming to preserve the intangible cultural heritage, it was organized by Myanmar Cultural Heritage Turst, Visakha Foundation, Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs Network and the social organizations.

Founder, Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust (MCHT), Sandar Khin, said " It is a grand festival loved by all ethnic people. In such an age of globalization, it’s our national duty to preserve our heritage and impart to the new generations. Thingyan Yein troupes, releasing captive birds and fishes, the competition for Thingyan snack-floating rice ball will be included here. When we look at the background of Thingyan, it’s been over 1000 years according to the concrete evidences. In Bagan period from 11 to 13 AD, the inscriptions about Thingyan on Buddha stupas and temples can be seen. So, Thingyan has long history handed down by generation to generation and it’s a living culture. We call intangible culture in our National Heritage."

She continued that the intangible cultures have been recorded as National Level in the county and is now over 2200. Again, to become the intangible cultural heritage in the world, the social organizations have submitted to the UNESCO with the collaborative efforts following the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Director Panchi Soe Moe, said " It’s been about three years missing Thingyan festival. I am so pleased that seeing social organizations and friends together here at pre celebration of Thingyan festival with peace of mind. I want all Myanmar people to be able to celebrate the New Year Thingyan festival releasing stresses and also wish peace to the whole world."

Thingyan" is a word derived from "Sankanta" in Pali language. It means transforming. It marks the cleansing old bad things with water to move forward to the New Year. Making good deeds, playing water at each other, doing traditional foods and making charity feasts are made during Thingyan period. So, the precious festival expresses people focusing on acts of kindness, faith, love, unity and happiness.