Traditional water festival kicks off in Myanmar

Myanmar's traditional Thingyan Water Festival kicked off in Yangon on a grand scale Monday with lively water-throwing festive activities launched across the city.

The opening ceremonies of the water festival were launched in the morning at two major water-throwing pandals of Yangon Region Government Office and Yangon City Hall.

Yangon Region Chief Minister U Myint Swe and Yangon Mayor U Hla Myint extended Thingyan New Year greetings and unveiled pavilions.

Performances by dancing and cultural troupes in colorful dress highlighted the opening ceremonies of Yangon's Thingyan Water Festival.

Roads and streets were thronged with people dancing and dousing each other with water.

Over 200 water-throwing pandals, big and small, have been erected to celebrate the festival.

Most of the big water-throwing pandals are located on two main roads in the city, Kabar Aye Pagoda Road and Kandawgyi Road.

Myanmar also preserves some unique styles in celebrating the water festival with Rakhine ethnic traditional water festival also being launched in Yangon, in which young men and women stand face to face and drench each other with water while standing in long boats.

This year's Thingyan water festival will run for four days until Thursday and the country will usher in Myanmar new year on Friday.

Water is a symbol of not only cleanliness but also auspiciousness. People in Myanmar believe that celebration of the water festival can wash away past evil and sin and prepare for a happy year ahead.

Among the country's 12 festivals, the Thingyan water festival represents the grandest, bringing peace and prosperity to the entire population. Endi