TAGU (Thin-Gyan Water Festival/ Myanmar New Year Festival)
The first month of the Myanmar calendar is 'Tagu' (April). It is the
time of the Water Festival-we calls it "Thin-gyan' which means 'change'.
This is often symbolized with the change of duty from one celestial
daughter to another to hold the severed head of the 'Brahma' lest it
might fall into the sea or on land and cause a complete dry-up in
wherever it happens to fall. But, that belief may originally belong to
Hinduism. The people of Myanmar usher in their 'New Year' around the
middle of April with the showers of blessing in the form of water, which
is thrown over friends and even strangers on the streets. Even
foreigners and all other believers can participate in the festival
together like the same family of Myanmars during three of four days.
Everybody can see the enjoyable sights and sounds as others do so, or
perform religious meritorious acts or just enjoy rest and recreation in
festive atmosphere all around. There is also pageantry with decorated
pandals (Mandats), floats, music, songs and dances, celebration of
'Thin-gyan' in a cultured way is being promoted by the State and People
of the Union of Myanmar.
Pouring water in ' New Year' is believed to cleanse the body and mind of
evils of year that was left behind. There is merriment and fun galore.
But it is not all fun and play; the elderly and the pious perform a lot
of meritorious deeds to usher in the 'New Year' . People keep Sabbath;
go to pagodas and monasteries; and offer foods and alms to monks and
nuns. Even children and youths too welcome the 'New Year' by paying
respects to their parents, teachers and elders. To gain merit, fish and
cattle are also set free. Though merriment and fun and meritorious and
pious deeds, the Myanmar usher in a 'New Year'.
According to belief, it also marks the time when the King of Nats, 'Tha-gya-min',
descends to Human World for a visit to check on the conduct of human
morals. He carries with him two books-one covered with 'dog-skin' and
the other bound with 'gold' .He records the names of those who have
committed sin into the 'dog-skin' book, while he enters the names of
do-gooders in the golden book.
