Thingyan festival to be held crowdedly this year
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Phyo (NP News) - Mar 19
It has been reported that the Thingyan festival, also known as the Myanmar New Year, which typically takes place in the middle of April, will be held with large crowds in various areas this year, according to government plans.
In Upper Myanmar, the 2025 Inle Lake Thingyan will be held, as confirmed during a coordination meeting at the General Administration Department in Nyaung Shwe Township, Shan State (South).
The Inle Lake Floating Thingyan Festival was first held in 2019. While the festival was not celebrated from 2020 to 2022, it made a return in 2023.
The natural beauty of Inle Lake, combined with the unique customs of the indigenous people, such as rowing boats with their feet, makes it famous among both domestic and international tourists.
Similarly, in Central Myanmar, this year’s Naypyidaw Walking Thingyan will be held with larger crowds than in the previous two years, according to U Maung Maung Ohn, Union Minister for Information, during a coordination meeting in Naypyidaw on March 7.
He also emphasized that "Having held the Naypyidaw Walking Thingyan twice, Naypyidaw has gained much experience. Since Myanmar’s traditional Thingyan is listed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, it must be given more importance than in previous years."
Historians note that Thingyan was first celebrated during the Bagan period, coinciding with the establishment of the Bagan Kingdom in the 9th century. Since then, the festival has been celebrated annually in mid-April.
However, the celebration faced significant obstacles in 2021 due to political turmoil in Myanmar. Terrorist groups threatened participants with bomb attacks and other violent actions, which led to smaller and less crowded celebrations. Since then, the Thingyan festival has been much quieter.
Following Thingyan’s inclusion on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list on December 5, 2024, the government has announced that this year’s celebrations will be more crowded than in previous years.