Myanmar Revellers Cautiously Return to Thingyan Festivities After Years of Boycott
Five years after the 2021 military coup, citizens in Myanmar have begun returning to the streets for Thingyan, the country’s traditional New Year water festival, marking a shift from previous years of public boycotts. While participation was muted in the past as a form of protest against the junta, this year saw a cautious resurgence of celebrations, driven by a desire for normalcy and emotional release amid ongoing armed conflict and economic hardship. The festivities occurred against a backdrop of significant challenges, including a devastating earthquake that killed approximately 3,800 people last year and current fuel shortages linked to broader regional conflicts. Consequently, authorities encouraged participants to celebrate on foot rather than using vehicles, a change some revellers welcomed for avoiding traffic. The military government, led by Min Aung Hlaing who was recently sworn in as president, aims to project stability and normalize relations with ASEAN. However, the return to public celebration remains tentative, reflecting the complex interplay between political repression, civil resilience, and the population's exhaustion from overlapping crises including the pandemic and natural disasters.
Wire timeline
Myanmar Revellers Cautiously Return to Thingyan Festivities After Years of Boycott
Five years after the 2021 military coup, citizens in Myanmar have begun returning to the streets for Thingyan, the country’s traditional New Year water festival, marking a shift from previous years of public boycotts. While participation was muted in the past as a form of protest against the junta, this year saw a cautious resurgence of celebrations, driven by a desire for normalcy and emotional release amid ongoing armed conflict and economic hardship. The festivities occurred against a backdrop of significant challenges, including a devastating earthquake that killed approximately 3,800 people last year and current fuel shortages linked to broader regional conflicts. Consequently, authorities encouraged participants to celebrate on foot rather than using vehicles, a change some revellers welcomed for avoiding traffic. The military government, led by Min Aung Hlaing who was recently sworn in as president, aims to project stability and normalize relations with ASEAN. However, the return to public celebration remains tentative, reflecting the complex interplay between political repression, civil resilience, and the population's exhaustion from overlapping crises including the pandemic and natural disasters.
Latest News