Rakhine traditional incense grinding, water festival commence

The Rakhine Literature and Culture Association (Yangon) and Rakhine social organizations organized a traditional Rakhine incense grinding and water festival at the Rakhine State Religious Hall on the Martyr’s Road in Bahan Township, Yangon, yesterday morning.
It aims to strengthen friendship among all ethnic nationalities and all citizens to make Thingyan an honourable cultural festival, identify Rakhine traditional cultural Thingyan based on Buddhism and build and promote the unity of all Rakhine people and Rakhine Traditional Cultural Thingyan in Myanmar,
First, the incense grinding festival was held, and Rakhine Nationals and Rakhine Literature and Culture Association in Yangon participated in it.
After that, the Rakhine traditional culture Thingyan festival was celebrated with religious recitations and prayers.
Patron Dr Aye Chan of the organizing committee on Rakhine traditional incense grinding and pagoda water festival gave an opening speech on the origin of the Rakhine Thingyan.
Then, Chairman U Than Maung of the Rakhine Literature and Culture Association (Yangon) and Chairman U Ba Thein of the Rakhine State Dhamma Hall delivered speeches.
Next, the Rakhine cultural groups sprayed scented water on the Buddha statues.
The festival was initially held in 2004 in Yangon Region, with Rakhine ethnic people participating.
The Rakhine traditional water festival originated in 568 BC during the reign of King Sandathuriya and King Dhanyawady of Rakhine State.
The people sprayed the scented water on the Buddha image on behalf of Lord Buddha. — Ko Ko Zaw/GNLM