We arrived in Yangoon on 12th April 2013, one day before Thingyan, Myanmar water festival.
This year, the festival lasted 4 days from 13th to 16th and all of us got wet from mornings to late afternoons.
The 03 neighboring Theravada Buddhist countries also celebrated water festival. In Thailand, they call it Songkran. In Laos, its called Boun Pi Mai. And in Cambodia, its Chaul Chnam Thmey.
Standing on bamboo stages erected along the Yangoon streets, people splashed water on passersby.
Powerful water pipes douse people driving by in jeeps and trucks.
Powerful water pipes douse people driving by in jeeps and trucks.
Children used water pistols to drench their friends, relatives, and anyone else in range - only monks and the elderly were "safe".
Youths go out for the enjoyment, while elder people take retreat in monasteries and pagodas to perform meritorious deeds. One cannot avoid of getting very wet because everyone throws water at everybody. People drive through the city in open cars and there are stages along the street where people throw water.
The water symbolizes the washing away of the previous year's bad luck and sins. On New Year's Day itself, all the water-throwing ends. This day is celebrated by releasing captive fish and birds as acts of merit, and special feasts are held for monks.
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