Traditional Rakhine Thingyan festival celebrations on Thein Phyu Road. Pic: Lwin Maung Maung

ANYONE interested in enjoying a special Thingyan experience should come and see the Rakhine Water Festival at Thein Phyu driving training centre near Kandawgyi Lake.

Rakhine people follow some remarkable and unique traditions when celebrating their festival.

Women stand on pandals in front of water-filled longboats and face a line of men.

Men tour around the longboats in search of women to drench with water. If a man finds a lady he wants to drench with water he must seek permission from the Manndat Sin Ma (female pandal owner).

If he receives permission, he then asks the chosen lady if she will fill a bucket of water for him. If permission is granted the man throws water on her. And then she is allowed to return the favour by drenching him with a bucket of water.

But if a man does not see a lady he wants to soak, he simply moves on to another pandal to continue his search.

Tradition allows men and women to speak freely during Rakhine Thingyan and people use the opportunity to make friends.

The Rakhine Literature and Culture Committee in Yangon has organised the Rakhine traditional water festival to take place alongside normal Thingyan festivities from April 12 - 16.

U Aung Shwe Oo, chairman of the festival's organising committee, told The Myanmar Times: “We want everyone to view the Rakhine water festival as a part of our national culture.”

On the first day of the festival, participants grind sandalwood on sandalwood. This powder is then collected in glazed earthenware jars and later used to perfume water.

The following day, women walk in procession to wash Buddha images with the newly perfumed water, while men accompany them playing musical instruments and singing traditional songs.

Traditional songs and dances are also a feature of Thingyan eve celebrations and this year will be no exception - a concert has been organised for April 13.
On April 14, Rakhine people celebrate the start of their Water Festival and everyone joins in to have fun and throw water around.

President of the festival organising committee U Than Naing explained why celebrations are held in Yangon.

“We are trying to keep our traditions alive and we want other people to join in. Anyone who is interested can come along and have a look," he said.

This year, 15 pandals will be built at the driving school near Kandawgyi Lake. There will also be 40 stalls selling food and souvenirs from Rakhine state.

The admission fee of K500 is to help the organisers cover costs but foreigners will be admitted free-of-charge.

Secretary of the organising committee, U Zaw Aye Maung said the whole compound will be arranged to resemble a Rakhine village.

In previous years, tour companies brought tourists to the festival and the organising committee hopes to attract tourists again this year.