INDONESIA

Thin Gyan

Thin Gyan

For four days in April Myanmar comes to a standstill as everyone gathers in the streets across the country for massive water fights, dancing and music to bring in the New Year. Water cannons, hoses and buckets drench anyone and everyone in sight.

The Buddhist New Year in Myanmar, or Thingyan, is a time of celebration.

The country has seen big changes since the semi-civilian government came into power in 2011. And last year for the first time in nearly three decades Thangyat was allowed back on the streets.

Thangyat is an important part of the New Year’s festival. It’s an old Burmese art that combines poetry, music and dance. People chant anthems to each other while joking about the events of the past year.

“It’s about the woes people are facing about electricity and education and such,” Pa Pa Lay says.

Pa Pa Lay is a famous comedian in Myanmar. He’s part of a group called the Moustache Brothers. They make satirical jokes for their Thangyat.

“The hardship people are suffering from their hearts and artists are expressing these issues through Thangyats.”

Comedians, writers and poets show off their skills during Thangyat. The messages are often political or satirical.

Thangyat has existed since the ages of the Burmese kings.  It was practiced during the times of British rule and even under General Ne Win’s government people could make fun of the single party system through Thangyat during the New Year.

“Thangyat is an antiphonal chant, usually amusing or satirical,” says Suu Ngyat, prominent Burmese writer.

“It is used to point out the wrong things in the old year and to draw lessons from that for a new year. But it is done in a constructive or kind manner. It has been popular, not only in Mandalay or Yangon, but all over the country.”

But in 1985, Thangyat was heavily censored.

After the 1988 military coup Thangyat was banned. Although the water festival Thingyan was allowed to continue, the ancient art of Thangyat disappeared from the country. While the art was dead in Burma, it survived through the exiled community.

Since 1996 a group of activists in India have been producing Thangyat records for the exiled community each year.

Last year in Yangon the leaders of the old Thangyat groups were back in town.  88 Generation Student Min Ko Naing organized groups of young people to get involved.

“I don’t think a New Year festival without Thangyat is a New Year festival,” says Min Ko Naing, leader of the 88 Student Generation.

“Thangyat represents the real voice of the people.So Thingyan without the people's voiceis like seeing something with no legs or hands.It's incomplete.”

This year more Thangyat groups are performing. But they still had to get permission and their words have been checked by authorities.

Thangyat is back – but the government is still keeping an eye on what’s being said.



And here's the crowd this year... wild! 


  • Burma
  • Thingyan
  • New Year Water Festival
  • Thangyat
  • Ke Khaung DVB

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