THIS season is a time for change as well as a special occasion for celebrating. The sun leaves Pisces for Aries; the God Indra – king of the celestial abode – comes down to the earth to note the virtues and vices of each individual; and everyone is keen to leave behind or forget about all the terrible things they have done over the year.

Because many people go around the city in opens vehicle during the festival, the roads are packed with cars. It is important for other people not to tease drivers or splash water in their faces to avoid causing accidents or fights.

The most cost-effective approach is to hire a car for the holiday, with jeeps and trucks the clear favourites. Jeeps, in particular, have always been the favourite choice for youths because they are durable and allow people to dance on the bonnet or sit on the bodywork. And the open roof gives everyone riding on the car the opportunity to call out to friends or spray water.

“There will be a series of small shows displaying the various ways of celebrating Thingyan, including traditional- and international-style events,” he said, adding that many stalls and showrooms will also be set up.

Thingyan pandals have become increasingly popular for the last 20 years. Pandals are the perfect platform for young people to model trendy new fashions and hairstyles. Pandals are also the perfect advertising opportunity for many of Myanmar’s biggest companies who are keen to cash in on the huge numbers of people who come out to play.

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).

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.

I don’t have any special memories of Water Festival; I just know that I always feel happy and excited during it. Last year, I just went back to my home town, Mogok, but I don’t know what I am going to do this year....

Thingyan is the longest of Myanmar’s holidays for most people and many restaurants will be closed for business, so The Myanmar Times went out and found which establishments will remain open.

Historically the Lunar calendar dictated the exact dates of the festivals but the onset of the modern age has forced the date to be fixed to allow businesses and governments to better plan for the holiday period. New Year celebrations are usually held from April 13 to 15, with public holidays delayed if the dates coincide with a weekend.

“From March 19 until April 12, anyone who spends K30,000 or more for items like men’s and ladies clothing, shoes and women's purses in one purchase will save 20 percent. With this coupon, the customer gets an additional 20pc discount for newly arrived items,” said Daw Myat Myat Moe, deputy manager of Ga Mone Pwint Co Ltd.

This festivity, held in high esteem among our people, symbolises the priceless padauk, which blooms once all year and only during these festive days. In Mandaly when people want to party during Thingyan they head for the moat that surrounds the four walls of the ancient palace. It is there that most of the revellers - especially young ones - will be found.

AS Thingyan draws near, the dream of all Myanmar people is to joyfully participate in the glorious celebrations. Everyone is contemplating how they will get around town, where they will go, how to take part at the pandals and what they will wear.

However, Ms Da Bok Lim, a South Korean database system expert who is working at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, said she would like to spend her Thingyan holiday this year at Ngapali beach if she could convince her friends to go along; if that fails she said she would like to return home.

How will locals prepare to celebrate the festival? Some people choose to go to monasteries and spend the holidays in a religious frame of mind, while others – especially young people – happily enjoy the festival in colourful fashions. The Myanmar Times is always checking out local styles and we have some hot tips on what will be cool for Thingyan.

There is a land route to the triangle that passes through Shan State and runs from Yangon to Kyaington, Mongla, Tachileik, Maesai and finally the Golden Triangle. Travellers should expect to pay K420,000 but this fee includes transportation costs, accommodation and meals.

“I never go back home after touring in the morning. We usually just go to the parks. They are really convenient for us because there are traffic jams almost everywhere else and it's very hard to just go home,” said Maung Sai Myat Thu. And the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) has recognised that revellers need a place to cool off during lunch.