15 April

THE central pandal infront of Yangon City Hallyesterday was packed with revellers playing with water and looking on as their favourite artistes performed and signing competitions were held. 

They also strolled through the splashwalk in Maha Bandoola Park nearby. Pandals lined up on Pyay Road were packed with people on cars or walking on foot getting drenched and dancing to the music. Yangonites also strolled through the splashwalks on Inya Lake, Inya Road, and Mya Kyun Thar.

Ko Tun Tun from Thuwanna walked along Inya Road’s splashwalk with his family, one of five such events in Yangon. He said there were crowds of people participating in the walk and famous singers entertaining them.

Yangonites also played with water in large or small roadside pandals in Bahan, Yankin, Latha, Kyauktada, Pabedan, Botahtaung, Thingangyun and Kamayut townships. Shine pandal in Kyauktada, SKY NET pandal on 19th Street in Latha, Botahtaung family pandal near 43rd Street in Botahtaung, and DR Z family pandal on Kyuntaw Road will also provide charity food to everyone till the fourth day of Thingyan.

Dr. Thar Nyan of Botahtaung family pandal said they have been setting up this pandal every Thingyan for twelve years already, giving out charity food from the first to the fourth day of Thingyan. 

Locals in Thakayta, Dawbon, Thingangyun, Dagon Myothit North, Dagon Myothit East, Dagon Myothit South, Dagon Seikkan, Hlinethaya, and Shwepyitha townships set up their own pandals with coconut leaves and the same type of pandals were set up in Thanlyin Township along with satuditha charity food.

Ko Maw Gyi of Dagon Myothit (North) said he spent yesterday just walking around his own township. While there weren’t any large pandals, the small family set-ups were everywhere and revellers were many, he said. 

Ye Kaung, Min Thit 
(Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)