At this time it is good to make a New Year’s wish because it challenges us to focus on something we want to get done. If we are serious about our resolutions, they encourage us to become more disciplined, dependent and committed people. Resolutions that have been kept teach us, and those around us, important lessons on life.

Traders Hotel’s Thingyan room packages, aimed at locals and expats, are priced at $55 for two people and include a buffet breakfast. The package is valid from April 10 to 20.

But instead of checking the vehicle’s condition, drivers often modify their cars to draw attention. One custom of Thingyan is to remove the roof of the vehicle, particularly if it is a van. Authorities said this practise is acceptable but they will be fining the owners of vehicles that have doors or number plates removed. The fine is K51,500.

You should consider the overall cost of a pandal and work out some sort of a budget to ensure you have enough money. The estimated cost of a medium-sized pandal is about K20 million and a large pandal can accommodate a maximum of about 400 people.

“Rental services offer services of saloons like Toyota Pajero, Town Ace and Lite Ace for such customers who don’t want to get soaked by water. This year rent price for a Toyota Pajero is K200,000, for a Lite Ace its K150,000 and for a Town Ace it’s K120,000. All are renting on daily basis,”

The styles of music popular during the water festival continue to change each year. The way people celebrate, soaking each other with water, has also changed – the plastic water gun is now the weapon of choice for super-soakers rather than the traditional tha pyay khat (Eugenia).

Iron Cross will be staying in Yangon for Thingyan but the pandal where they will be performing is yet to be announced. Agne, Myo Gyi, W Wine, R Zarni, Htun Eindra Bo and Tinzar Maw will all be there in attendance.

“They use on average between 20 and 25 gallons of diesel over the Thingyan festival. In Mandalay, water is sourced from the moat and there is enough to easily supply pandals for the duration of Thingyan,”

Daw Zin Mon Kyaw, assistant sales manager of Aureum Resort & Spa, said the package includes a deluxe room with a garden view, daily meals within the hotel, Yangon-Ngwe Saung-Yangon round trip air-conditioned transport. Prices for foreigners are $255 per person for the four-night package and $370 for six-night package.