Thingyan

Thingyan, or the Water Festival, is Myanmar's traditional New Year celebration and a major Buddhist festival. It marks the start of the Burmese New Year according to the traditional calendar and typically occurs in mid-April, lasting four to five days as the days leading up to the new year are observed.

Water-throwing is the festival's defining activity. Streets fill with people spraying water on each other using buckets, hoses, and improvised sources; the act symbolizes cleansing and purification. In temples and homes, people pour water on images of the Buddha and on elders as a sign of respect. Many communities also build sand pagodas, donate to monasteries, and perform merit-making acts such as almsgiving and offerings.

Thingyan features cultural performances, traditional dances and music, and processions in some towns. The celebration is observed nationwide, though schedules and intensities vary by region. In urban areas, restrictions on alcohol and temporary traffic measures are common during the festival. The dates shift each year according to the Burmese lunar calendar.

Aside from its religious significance, Thingyan is a major national event that attracts domestic and international visitors. It is a time for family reunions and community bonding and serves as a period of renewal and charity before the new year begins.