Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) On the first day of the 1387 Burmese Water Festival, the opening ceremony of the Yangon Water Festival Pavilion was solemnly held in front of the Yangon City Hall in Kyauktada Township. Yangon Chief Minister U Aung Naing Htut and his wife, Yangon Command Commander Brigadier General Tun Min Hla and his wife, ministers and their families from various ministries, Yangon Mayor U Myo Min Aung and his wife, along with relevant government officials, invited guests, artists, and special dance troupes, attended the ceremony to witness the opening of the festival.
At the opening ceremony, Yangon Chief Minister U Aung Naing Htut delivered a speech, extending his blessings to the people of Yangon for the Water Festival, reviewing the cultural connotations of the festival, including prayers for good fortune and harmonious neighborly relations, and encouraging citizens to inherit traditions and share joy during the festival. Subsequently, Chief Minister U Aung Naing Htut, Brigadier General Tun Min Hla, and Mayor U Myo Min Aung jointly cut the ribbon, officially launching the series of 1387 Thingyan celebrations in Yangon. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, artists presented a variety of song and dance performances to lively traditional music. A dance troupe ignited the atmosphere with an elegant and graceful Water Festival-themed dance, immersing guests and the public in the joy of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new.
On the same morning, Chief Minister U Aung Naing Htut and his wife, along with party representatives, attended the opening ceremony of the walking Water Festival held at the People's Square in Dagon Township. The event featured themed water pavilions and food stalls, with a wide array of traditional snacks and interactive water-splashing facilities attracting a large number of citizens to participate in the festivities. People splashed each other with water basins and water guns, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
It is reported that during the 1387 Burmese Water Festival, various districts and townships in Yangon simultaneously set up multiple water-splashing pavilions and walking water-splashing areas, forming a "citywide联动,全民参与" (citywide linkage, universal participation) festival format, allowing citizens and tourists to experience the joyous atmosphere of the Water Festival anytime, anywhere. To ensure the safe and orderly conduct of the festival, the Yangon Command and police forces deployed special security measures in advance, strengthening patrols and control in key areas; medical personnel and Red Cross members were on standby throughout the event, setting up temporary medical points at various activity sites to provide timely medical services to participants, and making every effort to ensure that the public enjoys a safe, peaceful, and joyful Lunar New Year.
The Water Festival, as Myanmar's most important traditional festival, carries the beautiful meaning of washing away the dust and welcoming new life. This year, Yangon City focused on "cultural heritage + safety and order," revitalizing the traditional festival through multi-point activities and improved security measures, creating a Lunar New Year celebration that combines cultural heritage and interactive fun for citizens and tourists. (End)
