A historian and writer from Sittway, Rakhine State, Sittway Nyo Thant, reports preparations to submit Rakhine traditional Thingyan for inclusion on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.
To facilitate the submission of Rakhine Traditional Thingyan to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list, historical researchers and writers from Sittway, Rakhine State, including Sittway Nyo Thant, Lwan Pyay Aung and Khine Maw Kun conducted discussions with officials from the Department of Archaeology and National Museum during the second week of September.
During the discussion, it was highlighted that the Rakhine traditional Thingyan festival differs from the Thingyan festival celebrated in Myanmar and Thailand in five distinct ways. There are five notable aspects of the Rakhine Traditional Festival. The Rakhine traditional incense is offered on 12 April, a day preceding Thingyan, on the second day, 13 April, holy water is offered using perfumed water obtained from the incense, starting from the third day, from 14 to 17 April, traditional boats are used for water play, and young men travel around the town/village in bullock carts, paying drums and cymbals. The fifth day, 16 April, is the day of Thingyan, so it is often regarded as a sign of poor luck for those who fall on this day, in the morning of that day, they offered alms. In the evening, they visited the pagoda and made offerings of water to their birth corners.
On the sixth day, 17 April, which serves as the New Year’s Day, various good deeds are performed. Paid respect to the elders, release fish, and it is reported that the traditional Rakhine rituals such as washing their heads in front of the house and placing a pot in front of the house are observed. — ASH/KZW
