"Happy New Year to travellers to ..." a Burma Travel Page by cochinjew

Thinngyan, the Water Festival is the most unique and colourful with the merriest occasion in Myanmar. During Thinngyan days the people throwing water each other since the Myanmar believe that Thinngyan water has the power to cleanse the evil and sins of the old year. The water festival called "Thinngyan" falls on the last four days before Myanmar New Year day, which is in the second week of April roughly on the twelfth or thirteenth, according to the Gregorian calendar. For the year 2004, the water festival start from 13th April Tuesday to 16th the Friday. Then 17th of April, Saturday is the Myanmar New Year day for 2004. Thinngyan water festival time is the merriest time for Myanmar young and old. Almost the whole population are in the most joyous mood, roam around the city in cars or on foot to throwing and splashing water each other. Elaborately decorated pavilions and pandals called Mandats are built beside of almost every streets in front of government offices and private business establishments. The young ladies gather dressed in their best, much like a beauty pageant, wait to throw water with water pipes. Special Thingyan songs play all the time. Some pavilions have raised platform for traditional dance performance. It is really eye-catching, beautiful Myanmar damsels sporting springs of yellow Padauk blossoms in their hair and a round patch of traditional Thanakha on their cheeks. All the people, mostly young boys and girls, some not-so-young, sometimes parents and kids ride on the open top jeeps, and pick-up trucks come to the pavilions to play water and to see the dance. By the time cars stop in front of the each pavilion the taunting and teasing to the damsels. But when the girls throwing water heavily by compressed water horses they get choke and tire. Then they wave bye-bye and proceed to another pavilion. Although a wild and merry time is had by all they are in good natured hardly any brawls and bruises. It is the time when Thinngyan sprit is in the air and Thinngyan fever grips the heart. To every people, no matter what religious belief, Thingyan brings joy, happiness, relief and hope. For the young and the young-at-heart, it is the merriest time of the year when they literally let themselves go splashing and pouring water on friends and strangers.
The Myanmar believe that Thinngyan water has the power to cleanse the evil and sins of the old year. There is an interesting legend attached to this festival. It is believed that the king of celestial beings - Thagyarminn - descends to the earth on the first day of Thinngyan to take note of how mortals behave. He records good deeds on a gold parchment and bad on a parchment made from dog skin. The time the celestial king descends marks the beginning of the 'change' (Thinngyan comes from a Sanskrit word which means change). The day the king returns marks the end of the festival. The following day is the New Year's day.
While Thinngyan is a time for fun, it is also a time for religious reflection. People go to temples to do merit and offer food to monks, pay homage to elders and bathe Buddha images. Food is prepared and offered to one and all.
Young people pay respects to their elders by washing their hair, cutting their bails and offering them gifts. Also common during this period are novitiation ceremonies.