Saturday, 10 May 2014 03:04:25 GMT+7 | 3743 views

Thingyan Water festival - Myanmar.

Every country’s festival is always fascinating and unique, so is the Thingyan festival, it’s the Burmese New Year Water Festival and usually falls around mid-April, taking a period of four to five days culminating in the new year...

Every country’s festival is always fascinating and unique, so is the Thingyan festival, it’s the Burmese New Year Water Festival and usually falls around mid-April, taking a period of four to five days culminating in the new year.

Along the street from the country side to downtown, children, teens and even a few adults gathering around the water tanks, with buckets of water in hands, they were patiently waiting for everyone, who pass by by vehicle, motorcycle and even the pedestrian, all would bear atleast a generous splashing of water as part of the cleansing ritual to welcome the new year.

Downtown Mandalay, there were several decorated stages built up on the streets surrounding the royal palace, the platforms had two levels, including a stage for performers and some rows of seating equipped with powerful water hoses to drench celebrants who pass by, mostly on vehicles and motorbike.

It seemed to be not only a festival but also some kind of ritual

Holding a bottle filled with water until it got one third, then mixed the water with whisky.

When all these overloaded vehicles poured into the streets, competing for a chance to pass by one of the huge water platforms. Once they got their time under the water, they went wild, dancing to the pop and hip hop sounded blasting from the stage and gyrating under the steady stream of water. Hour by hour, the streets became flooded and jamed, but full of joy and happiness.

Madalay, April 2013