Traditional Rakhine Thingyan festival begins

Narinjara News, 13 April 2023

The traditional Rakhine (Arakanese) Thingyan/Songkran festival kicks off today and the festivity will conclude on 16 April.

The sacred festival is celebrated on the last days of the year. Rakhine calendar year 1384 ends on 16 April and 17 April is the first day of the Rakhine new year.

According to the Rakhine Thingyan tradition, on 12 and 13 April, statues of Lord Buddha are bathed in water along with offerings of flowers and candles.

Rakhine people have to bathe the Buddha images with water before playing with water.

In the water splashing game, pavilions are built and gallons of water are poured into boats and tanks from where young men and women throw water at each other.

This custom is different from other regions of Myanmar.

Currently, Rakhine State is peaceful as there is no fighting between the junta soldiers and Arakan Army members. Hence the Thingyan festival is being celebrated throughout Rakhine State with fanfare.

The military council, while taking advantage of the situation, issued instructions to organise the festival in every town of Rakhine State and thus trying to mobilize the Rakhine people.

The AA is also celebrating the Thingyan festival in its liberated areas.

Due to the Covid-19 and ongoing fighting in Rakhine State, the important festival was not organised properly for 3 to 4 years.

This year's Thingyan Festival was preceded by the tragic incident at Pazi Gyi village under Kanbalu township in Sagaing division where more than 100 civilians, including children and women, were killed by the air attacks of government forces.

A 30-year-old resident of Sittwe, who did not want to be named, said, "This incident was very unfortunate. We sympathize with the victims. The Burmese army carried out similar killings in Rakhine too. We can't say they will not do the same again. We want everybody to be careful while participating in the festival.”

She added that it would not be possible for the people of Burma, including Rakhine, to be fully happy when they prepare for the festivals under the rule of military dictators.