THE 2026 Maha Thingyan Fes­tival in Shan State will feature a grand celebration of the Inlay Floating Thingyan Festival in the Inlay Lake area in southern Shan State, according to the Di­rectorate of Hotels and Tourism (Shan State).

During this year’s Thing­yan festival period, major cities in southern and eastern Shan State, where tourists frequently visit, will host lively celebrations with water-splashing pavilions and entertainment stages. The well-known Inlay Floating Thing­yan Festival will also be held on a grand scale.

“Shan State is one of the regions that receives a high number of tourists throughout the year. As visitor numbers are expected to increase during this year’s Thingyan festival, celebra­tions with water-splashing pavil­ions and entertainment stages will be organized in towns such as Taunggyi, Kalaw, Inlay, Aung­ban, Pindaya, Tachilek and Kengtung.

At the Inlay Lake in Nyaungshwe Township, the traditional Myanma Ata Thingyan Festival will be celebrated this year with the Inlay Floating Thingyan event. Thingyan pavil­ions will be set up along Bogyoke Road in Taunggyi, while the In­lay Floating Thingyan Festival will include traditional Thingyan dance competitions and enter­tainment programmes. Addition­ally, we are arranging for Satudi­tha (charity food donations) and a traditional Myanma Thanaka Thingyan,” said an official from the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism (Shan State).

During the Inlay Floating Thingyan Festival, activities on the waters of Inlay Lake will in­clude the offering of the early year rice alms offering to Bud­dhist monks, Dhamma talks, water-splashing celebrations using boats and rafts, perfor­mances of traditional Myanmar Thingyan dances accompanied by music, and ethnic traditional dance competitions. These ac­tivities will take place from the Thingyan eve until the Myanmar New Year’s Day. — ASH/MKKS