Kaung Htet Zaw SMART Language and Discussion
Unit - 2: Cultures and Beliefs
Ice-breaking questions
● What types of festivals are popular in your country?
● What is your favorite festival in your country?
● What is the festival about or what does the festival mark?
● How do people celebrate it?
Look at the words and phrases in the following word cloud and guess what festival you
are going to learn. Then, check the meaning of each word in dictionary.
Splashy spring good deeds
Wash away annual festival religious activities
rebirth
Soaked yellow flowers
Purification
Look at the collocations of the word “festival”.
Verbs
1. Water festival in Myanmar is annually celebrated each April. (to celebrate a festival)
2. Roughly 300000 people attended the color festival.
3. A lot of young beautiful girls take part in Thingyan festival. (they perform in the festival)
Adjectives
1. Thadingyut is a cultural festival.
2. Hot-air balloon festival in Taunggyi is an annual festival held in winter.
3. Spring festivals are coming at the end of winter.
Write a relevant word(s) from the box below each picture.
Soaker fortune soaked myth
Green shoots feasting misfortune prosperity
Kaung Htet Zaw SMART Language and Discussion
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Kaung Htet Zaw SMART Language and Discussion
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Kaung Htet Zaw SMART Language and Discussion
Water Festival
Spring festival
Spring, the season of green shoots and colorful flowers is just around the corner.
Cultures around the globe welcome the new season differently. For example, Indians will
welcome the spring by celebrating “Holi” known as the “festival of love” or “color festival” getting
drenched in colorful powder; some Christian countries will kick off their spring by celebrating
Easter egg.
Origin
In Myanmar, a very cultural country, people start their spring by throwing water
everywhere on everyone by celebrating Thingyan festival which occurs in the middle of April.
Not only Myanmar but also some countries in Asia such as Thailand, Laos and Indonesia
celebrate it. This special event may take four to five days. It marks the beginning of Myanmar
new year and the dates of festival are observed as public holidays in Myanmar. Although this
festival is held nationwide, some do not know where it started. There is a legend about this
festival. Thingyan is originally derived from a HIndu myth in which the king of Brahmas and the
king of Devas had a wagner. The Brahmas king lost the bet and he was beheaded for his loss
as they agreed. The Brahma king was so mighty that his head could not be thrown into the sea.
If the head was thrown into the sea, it would dry up. If it was placed in the air, the sky would
burst into flames. If it was placed on the earth, the land would become scorched. Therefore, the
king of Devas ordered that the head must be carried by one goddess after another, taking turns
each year.
Water is everywhere
It is time to pour out the street and collect the water with pots, buckets, or the soakers or
water blasters. Water plays a major role in the festival. Symbolically it washes away the
misfortunes of previous year so people can get ready for the next one. And, it is also believed
by Burmese people that water can fix mistakes,chase away bad luck and bring health,
happiness, joy and prosperity. People, especially the younger ones, will spend the days of
festival splashing water on each other. You cannot be afraid or angry to get wet. If you are an
unmarried beautiful girl, it is sure that you will get poured or get sprinkled with scented water by
the unmarried boys. Most young children bring their soakers or the water blasters to have fun
during the festival period.
Customs and beliefs
The very first day of the festival is called Thingyan eve when people start throwing water
at each other. You will certainly see bamboo stages called "Mandat” which are beautifully
decorated with the leaves of coconut palm. Younger people will wash the head of older ones,
help cut their fingernails and toenails. People will prepare traditional snacks such as floating
balls (Mont Lone Ye Paw) and dessert called Shwe Yin Aye.
