Water festival is the most significant annual festival on the Myanmar calendar; it marks the start of the New Year, the beginning of the Myanmar lunar calendar and celebrates life and rebirth. The correct Myanmar name for water festival is Thingyan, however outside Myanmar it is often referred to as the water festival.
The story behind Thingyan originated from the Buddhist version of a Hindu myth. The story goes that the King of Brahmas called Arsi, lost a wager to the King of Devas, Sakra (or Thagya Min as he is known in Myanmar). On losing the wager Arsi was decapitated and the head of an elephant was put onto his body (transforming him into Ganesha). The Brahma was so powerful that if the head were thrown into the sea it would dry up immediately. If I were thrown up into the air the sky would burst into frames. Sakra therefore commanded that the Brahma’s head be carried by one princess devi after another taking turns for a year each. The New Year henceforth marked the changing of hands of Brahma’s head and is celebrated by Thingyan festival.
Starting from Thingyan Eve Buddhists are expected to observe the Eight Precepts including having only one meal before noon and hold upo satha observance days, which are similar to the Christian Sabbath. Alms are given to monks and offerings to Buddha images. An offering is typically a green coconut with its stalk intact encircled by bunches of green bananas 9nga pyaw pwe oun pwe) and sprigs of thabyay or jambul (Syzygium cumini). Once the offering is given, scented water is poured over the Buddha image in a ceremonial washing from the head down.
