Thingyan

Thingyan (/sɛŋkəmɑ/ ; , Old Mon: သင်ကြာန် ), also known as the Myanmar New Year, is a festival that usually occurs in middle of April. Thingyan marks the transition from the old year to the new one, based on the traditional Myanmar lunisolar calendar. The festival usually spans four to five days, culminating in ''New Year’s Day'', and is one of the most anticipated public holidays across the country.
The highlight of the celebration is the symbolic throwing of water, representing the washing away of sins and bad luck from the previous year. People engage in water fights using buckets and water guns, especially during the first four days. Streets become lively with music, dance troupes, and temporary stages called pandal (မဏ္ဍပ်'',mandat'').

Thingyan is not only a joyful festival but also a time for ''merit-making''. Many people practice religious observances such as almsgiving, releasing fish and birds, and visiting monasteries. It is also customary to pay respect to elders and parents by washing their hair or feet.
The New Year coincides with new year celebrations throughout Southeast Asia and South Asia, including Pi Mai in Laos, Songkran in Thailand, the Cambodian New Year, the Sinhalese New Year and the festivals like Vaisakhi (Punjab), Puthandu (Tamil Nadu), Vishu (Kerala) and Bihu (Assam) in India. It was also heavily influenced by Britain during the colonial period.

In 2024, Thingyan was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, recognizing its cultural significance and contribution to the preservation of regional identity and tradition.

Names

The name "Thingyan" (, ; Rakhine: ) is derived from the Old Mon ( or ) and Sanskrit word '' saṁkrānti'' ( or )'','' which means the "transit f the Sun from Pisces to Aries". The period of Thingyan is also called Atā (အတာ) in Burmese. The holiday is known as Sangkran () in Mon and as Sangkyan in Shan ().

Origins and history

Origin story

The story about Thingyan is a Buddhist version of Hindu mythology. The King of Brahmas called Arsi (), lost a wager to the King of Devas, Śakra, also known as Thagyamin (), who decapitated Arsi as agreed. Still, the head of an elephant was put onto the Brahma's body which then became Ganesha. The Brahma's head was so powerful that throwing it into the sea would dry it up, onto land would scorch it, and into the air would ignite the sky. Sakra, therefore, ordained that the Brahma's head be carried by one goddess after another taking turns for a year each. The new year henceforth has come to signify the changing of hands of the Brahma's head.

History

Historians note that Thingyan was first celebrated during the Bagan period, coinciding with the establishment of the Bagan Kingdom in the 9th century. Historical evidence suggests these festivals were celebrated throughout the reign of King Anawrahta in the 11th century, continuing into the 12th and 13th centuries. Some historians speculate that a similar water festival was celebrated during the Pyu era (2nd century), although evidence remains inconclusive. The festival is recorded on a stone inscription at Sawhlawun Pagoda dating to 1291.

In ancient times, a cannon (သင်္ကြန်အမြောက်'',Thingyan a-hmyauk'') was used as a signal to notify the people that Thagyamin already descended Earth, which means the Thingyan Festival had already started. Once the cannon was fired, communities, including the members of the Burmese royal family, came out with pots of water and sprigs of ''thabyay'', then poured the water onto the ground with a prayer. A prophecy for the new year (, ''Thingyan sa'') will have been announced by the brahmins (''ponna'') and this is based on what animal Thagyamin will be riding on his way down and what he might carry in his hand.

In December 2024, Thingyan was inscribed in UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity under "Atā Thingyan."

Day 1: Eve of Thingyan

The eve of Thingyan, the first day of the festival is called "a-kyo" (), and is the start of religious activities. Buddhists are expected to observe the Eight Precepts, more than the basic Five Precepts, including having only one meal before noon. Thingyan is a time when uposatha observance days, similar to the Christian sabbath, are held. Alms and offerings are laid before monks in their monasteries and offerings of a green coconut with its stalk intact encircled by bunches of green bananas (, ''nga pyaw pwè oun pwè'') and Eugenia sprig before the Buddha images over which scented water is poured in a ceremonial washing from the head down. In ancient times, Burmese kings had a hair-washing ceremony with clear pristine water from ''Gaungsay Kyun'' (), a small rocky outcrop of an island in the Gulf of Martaban near Mawlamyine.

Nightfall brings music, song and dance, and merrymaking in anticipation of the water festival. In neighbourhoods, pavilions with festive names constructed from bamboo, wood and beautifully decorated papier mâché, are assembled overnight. Local girls rehearse for weeks and even years, in the run-up to the great event in song and dance in chorus lines. Each band of girls are uniformly dressed in colourful tops and skirts and wears garlands of flowers and tinsel. They wear fragrant '' thanaka'' - a paste of the ground bark of '' Murraya paniculata'' which acts as both sunblock and astringent - on their faces, and sweet-scented yellow padauk ('' Pterocarpus macrocarpus'') blossoms in their hair. Padauk blooms only one day each year during Thingyan and is popularly known as the "Thingyan flower".

Large crowds of revellers, on foot, on bicycles and motorbikes, and in trucks, will do the rounds of all the ''mandat'', some making their own music and most of the women wearing ''thanaka'' and padauk. Floats, decorated and lit up, also with festive names and carrying an orchestra as well as dozens of young men on each of them, will roam the streets stopping at every ''mandat'' exchanging songs specially written for the festival including Thingyan classics.

Day 2: Descent

The next day called "a-kya" (, ) is when Thingyan fully arrives as Thagyamin makes his descent from his celestial abode to Earth. Children are told that if they have been good, Thagyamin will take their names down in a golden book but if they have been naughty their names will go into a dog book.

Serious water throwing does not begin until ''a-kya nei'' in most of the country although there are exceptions to the rule. Traditionally, Thingyan involved the sprinkling of scented water in a silver bowl using sprigs of ''thabyay'' ( Jambul), a practice that continues to be prevalent in rural areas. The sprinkling of water was intended to metaphorically "wash away" one's sins of the previous year. In major cities such as Yangon, garden hoses, huge syringes made of bamboo, brass or plastic, water pistols and other devices from which water can be squirted are used in addition to the gentler bowls and cups. Water balloons and even fire hoses have been employed. It is the hottest time of the year in the country and a good dousing is welcomed by most. All able-bodied individuals are included in this game, except for monks. Some overenthusiastic young lads may get captured by women, who often are their main target, and become kids of a practical joke with soot from cooking pots smeared on their faces. Maidens from mandat's with dozens of garden hoses exchange hundreds of gallons of water with throngs of revellers and one floats after another. Many revellers carry towels to block water from getting into their ears and for modesty as they get thoroughly soaked in their light summer clothes. The odd prankster might use ice water and a drive-by splash with this would be taken humorously. ''Pwè'' (performances) by puppeteers, orchestras, '' yein'' dance troupes, comedians, film stars and singers including modern pop groups are commonplace during this festival.

Days 3 and 4: Eclipse and ascent

The third day is known as "a-kyat" (, ), a key part of the Thingyan festival when water-throwing is at its peak. In some years, there may be two a-kyat days instead of one, as an extra day is added based on traditional Myanmar lunisolar calendar calculations. This occurs to align the festival with the precise solar transition marking the New Year.

The fourth day is known as "a-tet" (, ), symbolizing the moment Thagyamin, the celestial king, returns to the heavens. It marks the final day of the water festival, and it is generally more calm and respectful. Traditionally, people stop throwing water and focus on merit-making, such as offering food to monks, releasing fish, and doing good deeds.

However, playfulness still lingers, and it's common to see people splashing water late into the day. Some jokingly say, "Thagyamin forgot his pipe and has come back for it!" (သိကြားမင်း ဆေးတိုင်မေ့ထားလို့ ပြန်လာတာပဲ), keeping the fun spirit alive even as the festival draws to a close.

Day 5: New Year's Day

The following is New Year's Day (, ''hnit hsan ta yet nei''). At this time Burmese visit elders and pay obeisance by gadaw (also called ''shihko'') with a traditional offering of water in a terracotta pot and shampoo. Young people perform hairwashing for the elderly often in the traditional manner with shampoo beans ('' Acacia rugata'') and bark. New year's resolutions are made, generally in the mending of ways and doing meritorious deeds for their karma. Releasing fish (, ''nga hlut pwè'') is another time-honoured tradition on this day; fish are rescued from lakes and rivers that are drying up, then the fish are kept in huge glazed earthen pots and jars before being released into larger lakes and rivers with a prayer and a wish saying "I release you once, you release me ten times". Thingyan (, ''a-hka dwin'') is also a common time for shinbyu, novitiation ceremonies for boys in the tradition of Theravada Buddhism when they will join the monks (Sangha) and spend a short time in a monastery immersed in the teachings of the Buddha, the Dhamma. It is akin to rites of passage or coming of age ceremonies in other religions.

On New Year's Day, people offer food donations called ''satuditha'' () at various places. They typically provide free food to those participating in the New Year's celebrations. Many Burmese wash their heads with '' Tayaw, kinpun'' on Burmese New Year's Day so as to leave behind all the impurities and bad omens from the past.

Holiday customs

Almsgiving

During Thingyan, locals throughout the country organise almsgiving events called satuditha, which take the form of communal feasts, offering free food, meals, and drinks to passersby and the needy. These range from traditional dishes like Burmese curry and rice, ''mohinga'', and ''ono khauk swe'' to desserts like ''shwe yin aye'' and '' mont let saung''. These activities reinforce the cultural norm of generosity and social cohesion in Burmese society.

Pandals

During the Water Festival, the Myanmar government relaxed restrictions on gatherings. In the former capital, Yangon, the government permits crowds to gather on the Kandawgyi Roundabout and Kabaraye Roads. Temporary water-spraying stations, known as pandals, are set up and double as dance floors. Many of these pavilions are sponsored by rich and powerful families and businesses.

Food traditions

Over the long festive holiday, a time-honoured tradition is ''mont lone yay baw'' (), glutinous rice balls with jaggery (palm sugar) inside thrown into boiling water in a huge wok and served as soon as they resurface which gave it the name. Young men and women help in making it and all are welcome, some have put a birdseye chilli inside instead of jaggery as a trick. '' Mont let saung'' () is another Thingyan snack, made of bits of sticky rice with toasted sesame in jaggery syrup and coconut milk. They are both served with grated coconut.

Dance troupes

During Thingyan, dance troupes throughout the country perform synchronised group dances called '' yein''. These dance styles originate in the Burmese folk music tradition, performed with songs featuring the beat of a double-headed drum called the ''dobat''. Songs from the classic 1985 film '' Thingyan Moe'' are commonly featured.

Decorations

In the lead-up to Thingyan, families prepare ceremonial clay pots called ''atā oh'' () to welcome Thagyamin. The pots are filled with sprigs and flowers from 7 types of plants to represent each day of the week:

''Thangyat''

Throughout the festival, troupes perform '' than gyat'' (similar to rapping but one man leads and the rest bellows at the top of their voices making fun of and criticising whatever is wrong in the country today such as fashion, consumerism, runaway inflation, crime, drugs, AIDS, corruption, inept politicians etc.).

Global Recognition

On 5 December 2024, Atā Thingyan Festival was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, acknowledging its cultural significance and the collective efforts to preserve this vibrant tradition .

Regional traditions

*Rakhine State - The Rakhine people have three unique customs that form Thingyan, namely the '' nantha'' grinding ceremony, the ''nantha'' pouring ceremony and the water festival. On the evening of New Year's Eve, Rakhine girls assemble to grind blocks of ''nantha'' sandalwood (used as a traditional cosmetic in Burma) on a ''kyaukpyin'' (a flat, circular stone used to grind sandalwood), as part of a competition. The following morning, the Rakhine visit monasteries and pagodas to offer the ground ''nantha'' to Buddha statues, as a gesture of ushering the new year. In the Rakhine tradition, water is scooped from a long boat (, ''laung hlei'') to throw at revellers and Rakhine mont di is served.
*Mon State - As part of Thingyan traditions, the Mon people offer a festive dish called Thingyan rice, which consists of rice, dried snakehead fish, a generous sprinkle of fried onions, a few flakes of beeswax and served alongside a salad of unripe green mangoes.
*Tanintharyi Region - The Bamar of Dawei and Myeik pay respects to elders and provide free meals to accompany Thaman Kyar dance performances.
*Shan State - The Shan people call Thingyan "Sangkyan" () and prepare a steamed sweetmeat called ''khaw mun haw'' (), made of glutinous rice flour and jaggery, wrapped in banana leaf. This is offered to neighbors as a gift of goodwill.
*Chittagong Hill Tracts in Southeastern Bangladesh - Marma people organize water pouring stages in their villages. The main participants are young boys and girls. Apart from water pouring, they also visit a monastery to make special offerings and pray for well-being in the coming year. Marmas commonly follow the Burmese calendar.

In popular culture

Several Burmese films have portrayed the Thingyan Festival, highlighting its cultural significance and festive spirit. Notable example include:
Thingyan Moe (သင်္ကြန်မိုး, 1985) – A classic musical drama that follows the lives of young people during the festival. The film is well known for its songs and is considered a cultural touchstone of Thingyan.

See also

* Water Festival
*List of Buddhist festivals
* South and Southeast Asian New Year

References

Further reading

*

External links

Thingyan 2004 photos by Gerry HainesThingyan Time - When Fun-Loving Burmese Douse Their Disappointments
Yeni, ''The Irrawaddy'', April 11, 2007
Thangyat: Traditional Songs Hard to Suppress
''The Irrawaddy'', April 2008

{{UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, state=collapsed

April observances
Buddhist holidays
Buddhist festivals in Myanmar
Observances set by the Burmese calendar
New Year celebrations
Public holidays in Myanmar
Water-splashing festivals
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity