FOR anyone in downtown Yangon this year to throw water and see music shows during Thingyan, pandals set up by private companies are likely to be the most entertaining places to be.

In the past pandals set up by different government ministries were the most happening places: Celebrities would gather to party and the crowds would follow. But with the government now based in Nay Pyi Taw, private companies have stepped into the breach to build pandals to entertain the crowds.

Big companies like Alpine drinking water, Cherry Oo watches, Myanmar Beer and Premier coffee had their own pandals last year and will have them for this year's Thingyan as well.

Myanmar Beer will have a pandal at Kandawgyi in Bahan township, which will officially open on April 13. Cars must enter through the gate near Kandawgyi Palace Hotel and leave via the Yangon zoological garden's gate. Pandals to splash cars and passersby are arranged along the way.

Family members and invited guests of Myanmar Brewery Company Ltd will be on the pandal and there will be free flow of beer, along with food and transportation. Rockers Iron Cross will perform with singers like Ange, Myo Gyi, Y Wine, Zaw Paing, Chaw Su Khin, L Lun Wah and Khin Phone.

“This year, we plan to make our pandal the most exciting one,” said Ma Win Win Thant, a representative of the Company.

Premier coffee is going to sponsor pandals in Yangon and Mandalay this year. The Mandalay pandal will be at the corner of 26th Street and 78th Street, while the company will co-sponsor a pandal in Yangon with Summit Park View Hotel.

The company has organised pandals for the last three years but never sell tickets commercially, inviting only top customers and business partners. The company has served guests free coffee in previous years and this year they will give away coffee mix packages to everyone who passes by their pandals.

Alpine purified drinking water has organised pandals for the last five years and this year their pandal will be on Pyay Road opposite Inya Lake. The entertainment programs include performances by The Trees , which features rapper Sai Sai Kham Hlaing and DJ. Free flow of Alpine water will be given to invited guests as usual.

Alpine’s pandal in Mandalay was given an award by YCDC in 2005 and U Zaw Tin, general manager of Alpine, said the company was planning to make this year’s pandal even better.