18th Rakhine traditional Thanaka grinding festival, ceremony of sacred bathing of Buddha Images celebrated in Yangon

The 18th Rakhine traditional Thanaka grinding festival and ceremony of sacred bathing of Buddha Images were held at Rakhine Religious Hall located in the eastern stairway of Shwedagon Pagoda in Bahan Township of Yangon Region yesterday.
During the ceremony, Rakhine Literature and Culture Association (Yangon) Chairperson Daw Saw Khin Tint briefed the holding of the Rakhine traditional Thingyan festival.
Then, the chairperson of the association and officials poured the scented water on the Buddha images.
“We hold Rakhine traditional water festival with three stages. In the first stage, we organize Thanaka grinding ceremony, the second one is the sacred bathing of Buddha Image, and the third one is playing water in line with our Rakhine tradition and culture. On the morning of Thingyan Akyo Day, Rakhine Literature and Culture Association (Yangon) and association members conducted sacred bathing of Buddha images,” Daw Saw Khin Tint, chairperson of the association, said during the ceremony.
Then, the association chairperson and officials re-freshened the Buddha images with the scented water.
Finally, Vice-Chair U Than Maung of the association expressed words of thanks and concluded the ceremony. – MNA