Teacher U Hla Htun (Naga Thein Myanmar) - Seventh Grade Practical Practice Essays

Enjoy traditional festivals

Maung Zaw Wunna Maung Maung

We have twelve months in Myanmar. Since the time of the ancient Burmese kings, festivals have been held every month. We have preserved our traditional festivals. Myanmar traditional festivals include traditional cultural festivals, religious festivals, military festivals, etc. Among the traditional cultural festivals, my favorite traditional cultural festival is the Thingyan Festival.

The Thingyan Festival is one of the twelve seasonal festivals celebrated during the month of Tagu. The word “Thingyan” comes from the Pali word “Sanganta” which means “transition”. It is a festival celebrated to mark the end of the old year and welcome the new year.

The Thingyan Festival is not just about splashing water. It also holds meritorious festivals such as Baiyin Hluttaw, Satuditha Yay, etc. The Thingyan Festival is celebrated for five days: the day before the festival, the day after the festival, the day after the festival, the day after the festival, and the day after the festival. On some days, the festival is celebrated for six days, excluding the day after the festival. Therefore, the Thingyan Festival is the longest festival among traditional festivals.

Everyone yearns for the Thingyan festival. They wait for the day when the Thingyan festival will be held. This yearning has various purposes. Some yearn for the Thingyan water festival. Some yearn for the joyous celebrations. Some yearn for the meritorious deeds. However, the only goal of their yearning is to welcome the new year.

The festival is held during the month of Tagu, the middle of the summer season. Therefore, all people suffer from the heat. Therefore, the Thingyan festival, which is eagerly awaited by all people, is in perfect harmony with the weather.

The purpose of the water festival is various. The water is cool and clear. Similarly, the hearts of those who are splashed with water are also meant to be cool and clear. Water can extinguish the fire of heat. It is meant to extinguish the fire of greed and sorrow in the hearts of those who play in the water. Water cleanses the impurities. Those who celebrate the water festival intend to cleanse the impurities of the bad deeds done in the old year with water and welcome the new year with purity. Because of such noble intentions, I like the Thingyan festival.

On the eve of Thingyan, the pavilions are opened and the water festival is held. It is fun to sprinkle water on the passers-by with the water bottles and water cups that we have bought before Thingyan. I feel happy when I see the hot water of the person who is splashed cool down because of the cool water that I have sprayed. Therefore, I cannot help but enjoy the fun Thingyan water festival.

During the Thingyan Festival, not only water games are held, but also charity events are held throughout the country. We Burmese people are very generous in our donations. During the Thingyan Festival, we hold Satuditha festivals with lotus root soup, golden rice, etc. The Satuditha pavilions, where anyone can come and eat, show the generosity and devotion of the Burmese people.

As is the custom of the Burmese who are happy, they serve the fried rice with green chilies or without any other ingredients, and they tease the visitors who come and eat it. Those who get the green chilies continue to eat carefully without losing their smile. In this way, the Thingyan Festival is also a festival of charity. The golden yellow lotus flowers bloom during Thingyan.

In addition, there are those who welcome the new year with virtue by observing the fast and performing the Dhamma in temples. In this way, saints in temples and monasteries perform good deeds such as sweeping the floor and pouring water on the Buddha.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the Thingyan festival is the elderly festival. Young people and children earn merit by trimming their nails and washing their heads during the Thingyan festival. In addition, the scene of young people respectfully bowing to the elderly reflects Burmese culture. Therefore, the Thingyan festival is a festival where people can give gifts, enjoy the water, and perform good deeds. Therefore, the Thingyan festival is a festival that every human being longs for.

Furthermore, the Thingyan festival shows that the Burmese people are not only a people who help each other, but also a people who are compassionate towards animals. The fact that animals are released without harm on the first day of the new year is one of the beauties of the Thingyan festival.

Therefore, Thingyan is one of the traditional festivals of Myanmar, both joyful and auspicious. The Thingyan festival is filled with the love and generosity of the Burmese people, and every Burmese person, including me, longs for it.

It is a traditional cultural festival.