Fun activities promised as Myanmar celebrates traditional New Year

While Bangkok’s Songkran festival has gained fame among international revellers, more foreign visitors are joining Myanmar’s Thingyan water festival. This year, the holiday period in Myanmar starts from April 12, when revellers will be on major roads particularly in Yangon to enjoy the water festival. After the water festival ends on April 16, all Myanmar people are celebrating their traditional New Year. The New Year public holiday period is slated for April 17-April 21.

Last year, Yangon's Kabaye pagoda and Pyay roads were filled to capacity.

This year, the authorities have permitted more than 40 pavilions to be built in the city for the festival.

Reflecting high anticipation for more revellers, Yangon City Development Committee received the applications for a total of 204 pavilions. Of total, 152 applications have been made for Kabaraye Pagoda Road and 42 around Kandawgyi Lake. The Yangon regional government and mayor will also have their own pavilions.

At the pavilions, activities are organised including concerts which had drawn huge traffic in the past years. It is strictly forbidden to resell the permits.

The New Year arrives amid several challenges in the country. Amid doubts, the economy is set to experience an unabated growth with continued growth in foreign direct investment and the number of international visitors.

Myanmar this year expects 5 million visitors, a sharp increase from 3.5 million last year. Under the Tourism Master Plan (2013-2020), the tourist flow into Myanmar is likely to increase at a rate of 1.5 million visitors per year and is expected to hit eight million in 2020. The income from international visitors should reach $10 billion in 2020, according to the tourism master plan.

Thirty eight projects were planned during the year to improve tourism infrastructure, with support from the Asia Development Bank and the Norwegian government. They would require a total of US$486.6 million. 

The ministry has currently received $215.6 million for 21 projects, according to Hlaing Oo, director of the Hotels and Tourism Ministry.

Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle, Kyaikhteeyoe and Ngapali are the highlights of the master plan. 

The infrastructure in Chaungtha and Ngwe Saung beaches will also be developed, and the roads connected to Putao, Myeik Archipelago, Naga Land, Natmauk Mountain and Loikaw will be upgraded to ease transportation.

The Hotels and Tourism Ministry recently also unveiled the plan to establish a “multi-development” tourism market in Nay Pyi Taw. It hopes to make Nay Pyi Taw a Mice (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) destination. Tours of the Lower House of Parliament and launch a website for visitors are mulled. The ministry has been working with Air KBZ to run Nay Pyi Taw-Mandalay flights from April. It is also planning sports events. 

 

 

 

 

Yangon Thingyan  

Yangon will play host to many entertainment pavilions as well as normal water pavilions. As usual, they will be very crowded. 

 

Yangon Mayor Pavilion

The Yangon Mayor pavilion will swing into action on Monday on the eve of Thingyan. Many artists including Khine Htoo, Wai La, Ye Yint Aung, Htet Aung, Poe Ei San, and Eaint Chit will perform at the pavilion. Besides, A May Myar group, comprising elderly female actresses, and Ma Ma Myar group, comprising veteran female actresses, will perform traditional Thingyan dances. The pavilion runs entertainment programmes at different showtimes every day.

 

Grand Royal Entertainment Pavilion

The Grand Royal entertainment pavilion will be at Kandawgyi. Veteran rock artist Lay Phyu, A Nge, Myo Gyi and Y Wine will welcome the traditional Myanmar New Year with rock music together with Iron Cross band. There’s the Signature Blue Zone Water Festival at Kandawgyi for lively acts by international DJs – Dan, Yukie and Athena – and local DJs – Thaw Thaw and Thaw Lay. 

 

Coca-Cola Pavilion

The Coca-Cola pavilion on Pyay Road features performances by many artists including R Zarni, Wai La, Ye Yint Aung, Chan Aye Win, Bo Lay, Wine Su Khine Thein and Mi Sandi. Entertainment is divided into two sections and starts on Monday. Besides, the audience can participate in Coca-Cola’s fun activities.

 

G Shock Pavilion

Hip-hop and R&B take centre stage at Bo Bo Entertainment’s G Shock Pavilion on Kabaraye Pagoda Road. The line-up includes notable artists such as Ar-T, Nine One, Jauk Jack, Hlwan Paing, Ei Chaw Po, and Bobby Soxer, with guest appearances by Ye Yint Aung and Myanmar Girls. 

 

Alphine Pavilion

Fans of popular hip-hop idol Sai Sai Kham Leng and Snare should make a beeline to Alphine pavilion on Pyay Road where it’s easy to get soaked amid some great live performances and a string of fun-filled activities.

 

Polo Club Residence

Chit Kaung, Connie, Ringo, Alex, R Zarni, Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein, and Thiri Swe will perform at Polo Club Residence on East Horse Race Course Road. Special guests include beautiful Thai performers and DJs. The “Dream Boat” team is on hand to lead fun games.

 

Mandalay Thingyan

 

Lots of fun activities will be concentrated around the moat of Mandalay. Soe Paing, Zaw Paing, Graham, Phyo Gyi, Thar Soe, Soan Thin Par, L Sai Zee and other artists will perform at Mandalay Mayor pavilion. The performances start on Monday for a four-day run. Traditional barges roam the moat at night.

Alpine, a bottled water company, runs a pavilion in Mandalay where Bo Bo Han, Han Tun, Phoe Kar, Kaung Myat, Htun Eaindra Bo, Chaw Su Khin, Ni Ni Khin Zaw, and other artists will perform with the band, Trees. Entertainment kick off on Monday with different showtimes. 

Lovers of traditional music will enjoy performances by Myoma, the icon of Mandalay Thingyan. The ensemble will perform old and new traditional Thingyan songs.

Besides, popular rock outfits Big Bag, Idiots, Wanted and Reason are also planning to perform in Mandalay.

 

Nay Pyi Taw Thingyan  

 

Entertainment pavilions – situated in Nay Pyi Taw’s hotel zone – bring together many film and pop stars. Artists to perform at the pavilion in front of the ACE Hotel include Saw Phoe Kwar, Htoo L Linn, L Loon Wah, Htun Htun, Moe Moe, Min Maw Kun, Kyaw Kyaw Bo, Khin Wint Wah and May Myat Noe. 

  Many film stars including Nay Aung, Phoe Thaukkyar and May Than Nu will perform at Sky Net entertainment pavilion. Up-and-coming starlet Myo Myo Khine will also lead a traditional thangyat performance at the pavilion.

 

 Thingyan Thangyats

With Thingyan and thangyat somewhat inseparable, Thingyan thangyat groups are preparing to speak out via their satirical music and poetry on behalf of the public. These young thangyat groups have now taken over the noble duties of their fathers who have kept the tradition alive for many years. This year, the Yangon Regional government instructed thangyat groups to submit their scripts in advance for official review. However, this has not dampened their spirits and they have grown even more enthusiastic about entertaining the public.

 In a few days, the public will find out how much freedom has been granted to the groups by the government despite the rhetoric about reform and transparency.

 

Thingyan on TV

Among various Thingyan entertainment programmes for those who want to stay in and living overseas, there’ll be live broadcasts of thingyan celebrations in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw on various channels like MRTV-4, Channel 7, ForTunes and Sky Net.  

Thingyan films 

Every year during the Thingyan Festival, TV viewers are treated to films and direct-to-videos about Thingyan. Academy award-winning film Thingyan Moe (“Thingyan Rain”) is a must-see for anyone looking for the traditional way of celebrating Thingyan that has become tainted with modern revelries involving scantily clad girls, alcohol and wild music.