The Water Festival (Burmese: သင်္ကြ န် , thingyan; Khmer: ពិធីបុណ្យអុំទូក; Lao: ສົ ງການ; Thai: สงกรานต์, songkran;
Chinese: 泼水节) is the New Year's celebrations that take place in Southeast Asian countries such as Burma,
Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand as well as Yunnan, China. It is called the 'Water Festival' by Westerners because
people pour water at one another as part of the cleansing ritual to welcome the new year. Traditionally people gently
sprinkled water on one another as a sign of respect, but as the new year falls during the hottest month in South East
Asia, many people end up dousing strangers and passersby in vehicles in boisterous celebration. The act of pouring
water is also a show of blessings and good wishes. It is believed that on this Water Festival, everything old must be
thrown away, or it will bring the owner bad luck.
The festival has many different names specific to each country, such as Songkran in Thailand and Pi-Mai Lao in Laos
(translates as "New Year"), Chaul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia, and Thingyan in Myanmar. The New Year is
celebrated in other South Asian countries, based on the astrological event of the sun beginning its northward journey.
Traditional dance, singing and cultural shows are performed together during the festival. Religious activities in the
tradition of Theravada Buddhism are also carried out at both Pagoda and Monastery. Young people visit elders to
pay respect during this period.
On April 15, 2010, a series of bomb explosions during the Burmese water festival killed 9 people and injured 170 near
Kandawgyi Lake in Mingala Taungnyunt Township in Yangon, Burma (Myanmar).[1][2]
Thingyan Water Festival Kicks off in Myanmar
People enjoy themselves during a celebration of
the traditional Thingyan Water Festival in Nay Pyi
Taw, capital of Myanmar, on April 14, 2010. The
Thingyan Water Festival kicked off on Tuesday
April 13 and will run for four days. (Xinhua/Jin Fei)
People spray water during a celebration of the traditional
Thingyan Water Festival in Nay Pyi Taw, capital of
Myanmar, on April 14, 2010. The Thingyan Water
Festival kicked off on Tuesday April 13 and will run for
four days. (Xinhua/Jin Fei)
Bon Om Touk - Water Festival
Festival Location: Phnom Penh,
Cambodia
Festival Type: Traditional Festivals
Photos provided courtesy of the Frizz Restaurant,
Phnom Pehn web site. Check out the Frizz
Restaurant web site for tons of useful information
for those visiting Cambodia, photographs,
traditional Khmer recipes and more.
Rangpanchami India.
One of the major festivals of India, Holi is celebrated with enthusiasm and gaiety on the full
moon day in the month of Phalgun which is the month of March as per the Gregorian calendar.
Great excitement can be seen in people on the next day when it is actually the time for the play
of colours. Shops and offices remain closed for the day and people get all the time to get crazy
and whacky. Bright colours of gulal and abeer fill the air and people take turns in pouring colour
water over each other. Children take special delight in spraying colours on one another with their
pichkaris and throwing water balloons and passers by. Women and senior citizen form groups
called tolis and move in colonies - applying colours and exchanging greetings. Songs, dance on
the rhythm of dholak and mouthwatering Holi delicacies are the other highlights of the day.
Both these festivals take place at approximately the same time in March-April every year and are
celebrated by throwing colored water over family and friends.
Songkran
is a Thai traditional New Year which starts on April 13
every year and lasts for 3 days. Songkran festival on
April 13 is Maha Songkran Day or the day to mark the
end of the old year, Songkran is a Thai word which
means "move" or "change place" as it is the day when the
sun changes its position in the zodiac. It is also known as
the "Water Festival" as people believe that water will
wash away bad luck.
The Songkran tradition is recognized as a valuable custom for the Thai community, society and
religions. The value for family is to provide the opportunity for family members to gather in
order to express their respects to the elders by pouring scented water onto the hands of their
parents and grandparents and to present them gifts including making merits to dedicate the result
to their ancestors. The elders in return wish the youngsters good luck and prosperity. In the
afternoon, after performing a bathing rite for Buddha images and the monks, the celebrants both
young and old, joyfully splash water oon each other.
Holi
The main day, Holi, also known as Dhuli Vandana in Sanskrit,also Dhulheti, Dhulandi or Dhulendi, is celebrated by
people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as
Holika Dahan (burning of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape
that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika
was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of god Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable
devotion. Holika Dahan is referred to as Kama Dahanam in South India.
Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna
(February/March), (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March. In 2009, Holi
(Dhulandi) was on March 11 and Holika Dahan was on March 10. In 2010, Holi was on March 1 and Holika Dahan
was on February 28.
Rangapanchami occurs a few days later on a Panchami (fifth day of the full moon), marking the end of festivities
involving colours.
World Water Day
Water covers 71% of the Earth's surface. A single cell of Escherichia coli contains 70% of water, a
human body 60–70%, plant body up to 90% and the body of an adult jellyfish is made up of 94–98%
water.
Thus it can be said that the colourless and odourless damsel forms an integral part of one’s life. Water
is also considered as a symbol of purification. International World Water Day is held every twelve
months to focus the attention on the importance of freshwater and to promote sustainable
management of freshwater resources.
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) decided to observe an
international day to celebrate freshwater in 1992 and thus the first World Water Day was observed on
22 March 1993.
World Water Day is celebrated every year with a new theme highlighting an explicit aspect of
freshwater.
Today one in every eight people in the world don’t get pure water inspite of spending hours by women
and children in collecting water from distant resources.
This day gives an opportunity to remember our commitment to achieve the day when everyone in the
world can have safe drinking water and also to celebrate the progress of bringing about 3 lakh people
in eight countries clean water and sanitation.
Themes of World Water Day Yester Years
World Water Day is celebrated every year with a new theme highlighting an explicit aspect of
freshwater. One of various UN agencies involved in water issues lead in promotion and coordination of
international activities for World Water Day each year. UN-Water has been responsible for selecting
the theme and messages since the inception of World Day for Water in 2003.
Aranmula-boat_race-_Kerala-India-1
Champakulam-Moolam-Boat-Race
Krishna’s pleasure-trip in a boat. The boat and figures are cut out from a print and collaged over a
Nathadwara painting. 1930s.
