Burmese Celebrate New Year and Water Festival
- 13 years ago
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Burmese are celebrating their New Year. Thousands of people flooded the streets of Rangoon to mark the occasion with the annual water festival. Locals believe a good way to start the new year is by getting drenched. The more water the better, as it washes away past sins.
Thousands of people gathered on the streets of Rangoon on Thursday to celebrate Burma's most important annual holiday—the Thingyan festival.
The junta-led government relaxes usual restrictions on public gatherings for celebrations during the annual festivities.
Large stages, paid for by wealthy individuals, were set up around the city equipped with water hoses for revelers to douse willing victims.
Thingyan traditionally involves the sprinkling of scented water in silver bowls, symbolizing the washing away of the past year's sins. But the festival has evolved into a water-throwing extravaganza taking place during the hot season.
Armed with water hoses, buckets, and water pistols revelers braced themselves for a good drenching, as locals believe that the water washes away sins and purifies the mind and spirit in preparation to start afresh the New Year.
Some even traveled in pick-up trucks around town to join in various celebrations that were scattered around the city. While others, thoroughly soaked, danced and gyrated to loud music blasting from speakers near the large stage.
The three-day celebrations officially began on Wednesday and wraps up Friday.
Burmese are celebrating their New Year. Thousands of people flooded the streets of Rangoon to mark the occasion with the annual water festival. Locals believe a good way to start the new year is by getting drenched. The more water the better, as it washes away past sins.
Thousands of people gathered on the streets of Rangoon on Thursday to celebrate Burma's most important annual holiday—the Thingyan festival.
The junta-led government relaxes usual restrictions on public gatherings for celebrations during the annual festivities.
Large stages, paid for by wealthy individuals, were set up around the city equipped with water hoses for revelers to douse willing victims.
Thingyan traditionally involves the sprinkling of scented water in silver bowls, symbolizing the washing away of the past year's sins. But the festival has evolved into a water-throwing extravaganza taking place during the hot season.
Armed with water hoses, buckets, and water pistols revelers braced themselves for a good drenching, as locals believe that the water washes away sins and purifies the mind and spirit in preparation to start afresh the New Year.
Some even traveled in pick-up trucks around town to join in various celebrations that were scattered around the city. While others, thoroughly soaked, danced and gyrated to loud music blasting from speakers near the large stage.
The three-day celebrations officially began on Wednesday and wraps up Friday.