Tankhu (Tagu)
April
Myanmar New Year
-A harmonious blend of folklore and Buddhism
The Myanmar New Year falls on the second week of April. It usually starts from the 13th of April as it is according to the Myanmar calendar. The New Year is ushered in by four days of Water Throwing Festival. This festival is called ‘Thingyan’ which means ‘Change’. During that festival, Myanmar people throw water over friends, and even strangers on the streets. Even foreigners and all other believers can participate in this merriest festival of Myanmar. Decorated stages (Mandats), floats, music, songs, and dances are the symbols of Thingyan. Everyone can see those pleasant sights and scenes or he may opt for religious meritorious acts or just enjoy rest and recreation in festive atmosphere.
Pouring water in 'New Year' is believed to cleanse the body and mind of evils of the year that was left behind. People, especially youths, throw sprinkling scented water over dear friends. All the playing and jesting go with the spirit of the surrounding climate. It is not all fun and amusement. Some elderly and pious keep Sabbath and perform a lot of meritorious deeds. They go to pagodas and monasteries and offer food to monks and nuns. Moreover, a fond action we can watch during Thingyan days is fish and cattle being released into the rivers.
According to folklore, Tha-Gyar-Min, the king of celestials, will pay a visit to the human abode for four days. As some scholars say, Tha-Gyar-Min is a deity borrowed from Hindu mythology. Then, who exactly is that Tha-Gyar-Min? He may be a legendary person but, he is very much within the domain of Buddhist teaching and way of surviving. He is not an immortal like those Greek gods. Tha-Gyar-Min, like all other celestials, has a very long life-span, thousands of times longer than that of human life. Tha-Gyar-Min is just a being who in his previous existence has done good deeds. As a sequence, it causes him to be reborn in that awesome state – a life of bliss and sensual pleasure.
During Thingyan days, Tha-Gyar-Min comes to our world and check on the conduct of human morals. He always brings two books – one covered with ‘dog-skin’ and the other with ‘gold’. He records the names of those people who have committed sins into the ‘dog-skinned’ book whilst enters those do-gooders’ names in the book of gold.
So, it is time to keep fasting, give alms to the poor and do good deeds. As a lovely tradition of Myanmar, Myanmar youths – both girls and boys – give the older folks personal service, like washing and shampooing their hair. There are goodwill and loving and caring kindness all around. Thus, Thingyan becomes an auspicious way to start the New Year with
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