Contents
ToggleIn short
Thingyan (Burmese: သင်္ကြန်; MLCTS: sangkran, [θɪ́ɰ̃dʑàɰ̃]; Arakanese: [θɔ́ɰ̃kràɰ̃]; from Sanskrit saṁkrānti, meaning "transit [of the sun from Pisces to Aries]") is the Burmese festival that usually occurs in mid-April. Thingyan is the earliest water festival celebrated in the world or the first water festival in water festivals. Thingyan has been celebrated since the Tagaung period (1–10 AD) of Myanmar and became famous during the Bagan period (12 AD). It is a Buddhist festival celebrated over a period of four to five days, culminating with the New Year.
Thingyan, the Burmese New Year
Thingyan comes from the Buddhist version of a myth Hindu. The king of the Brahmas called Arsi, lost a bet to the king of the Devas, Śakra (Thagya Min), who beheaded Arsi as agreed, but the head of an elephant was placed on the body of the Brahma who then became Ganesha.
The Brahma was so powerful that if the head was thrown into the sea, it would immediately dry up. If it were thrown on land, it would be burnt. If it were thrown into the air, the sky would catch fire. So Sakra ordered that the head of Brahma should be carried by one devi princess after another in turn for a year each. The new year now came to signify the change of hands of the head of Brahma.
The day before Thingyan, the first day of the festival is called a-kyo nei (in Myanmar, အကြိုနေ့), and marks the beginning of a variety of religious activities. Buddhists are expected to observe the eight precepts, more than the five basic precepts, including eating only one meal before noon. Thingyan is a time when uposatha observance days, similar to the Christian Sabbath, take place.
Alms and offerings are placed before the monks in their monasteries and offerings of a green coconut with its stem intact surrounded by bunches of green bananas (ငှက်ပျောပွဲ အုန်းပွဲ, nga pyaw pwè oun pwè) and sprigs of thabyay cumini scented water are poured in a ceremonial head-down wash. In ancient times, Burmese kings held a hair-washing ceremony with crystal clear water from Gaungsay Kyun (lit. Head Washing Island), a small rocky outcrop of an island in the Gulf of Martaban near Mawlamyine.
The next day, called a-kya nei (အကျနေ့), Thingyan arrives in full as Thagyamin descends from his heavenly abode to Earth. At a given signal, a cannon (Thingyan a-hmyauk) is fired and people come out with pots of water and sprigs of thabyay, then pour the water on the ground with a prayer. A prophecy for the new year will have been announced by the brahmins (ponna) and this is based on what animal Thagya Min will ride on his path and what he might carry in his hand. Children are told that if they have been good, Thagya Min will inscribe their name in a book gold, but if they have been naughty, their name will go in a dog book.
Serious water-throwing does not begin until a-kya nei in most of the country, although there are exceptions to the rule. Traditionally, Thingyan involved sprinkling scented water into a silver bowl using strands of thabyay (Jambul), a practice that continues to be widespread in rural areas. The sprinkling of water was meant to metaphorically “wash away” one’s sins from the previous year.
In larger cities like Yangon, garden hoses, huge bamboo, brass or plastic syringes, water pistols and other devices from which water can be squirted are used in addition to the gentler bowls and cups. Water balloons and even fire hoses have been used. This is the hottest time of year in the country and a good dousing is welcomed by most. All able-bodied individuals are included in this game, with the exception of monks.
Some over-enthusiastic young boys may be captured by women, who are often their primary targets, and become the children of a practical joke with soot from cooking pots smeared on their faces.
Young girls from the mandates with dozens of garden hoses exchange hundreds of gallons of water with crowds of revelers and one float after another. Many revelers wear towels to keep water out of their ears and for modesty as they are completely soaked in their light summer clothes.
The odd prankster might use ice water and a car splash with it would be taken with humour. Pwè (performances) by puppeteers, orchestras, yein dance troupes, comedians, movie stars and singers, including modern pop groups, are common during this festival.
The following is New Year's Day (နှစ်ဆန်းတစ်ရက်နေ့, hnit hsan ta yet nei). At this time, Burmese people visit their elders and pay homage to the gadaw (also called shihko) with a traditional offering of water in an earthenware pot and shampoo. Young people practice washing the hair of the elderly often in the traditional manner with shampoo beans (Acacia rugata) and bark. New Year's resolutions are made, usually in mending one's ways and performing meritorious deeds for one's karma.
The releasing of fish (ငါးလွှတ်ပွဲ, nga hlut pwè) is another age-old tradition on this day; fish are rescued from drying lakes and rivers, then the fish are preserved in huge glazed earthenware pots and jars before being released into larger lakes and rivers with a prayer and wish saying “I release you once, you release me ten times”.
Thingyan is also a common time for shinbyu, novitiation ceremonies for boys in the Theravada Buddhist tradition when they join monks (Sangha) and spend a short time in a monastery immersed in the Buddha's teachings, the Dhamma.
Social networks
Today, the Burmese celebrate Thingyan, the new year and water festival. A cannon is fired and people come out with containers full of water and branches of thabyay, to sprinkle the water on the ground with a prayer. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #burma #hingyan
Picture
