Travel Sector Updates

In the days running up to the Thingyan festival, people are talking more and more about what Thingyan events will be taking place – especially in Yangon and Mandalay. The walking Thingyan event is one of the talking points among the people for this year’s Thingyan festival.

This year Mandalay is focusing on presenting traditional Thingyan events unlike the previous Thingyan festival. A new event named Taw Thingyan (Myanmar country style Thingyan) is one of the events being prepared in the upcountry city.

According to Mandalay City Development Committee, with the aim of remembering and enjoying Mandalay Thingyans of times past, authorities and residents of the cultural city will promote the city’s tourism image in the forthcoming Thingyan days through holding some walking and country style Thingyan events with fresh and creative presentation.

The events include a fashion show of traditional clothes, traditional food fair, souvenir photos, Kyaukhse elephant dances and chinlone (caneball) demonstrations. Additionally, a collection of 300 cartoons will be shown by Myanmar Cartoonists Association between 73rd and 78th Streets along the south moat of Mandalay royal palace during the Thingyan days.

 Last year, the Yangon Region Government did not allow commercial Thingyan pandals at all. Although they have planned 95 water-throwing and entertainment pandals this year within the Yangon area, it is learnt that over a dozen profitable pandals have been granted permission so far.

 The authorities will organize walking Thingyan events on the streets around the Yangon City Hall and along Kanner Road also known as Strand Road and at Kandawgyi Park. At the Yangon City Hall Thingyan pandal, Thingyan dances, traditional dances of ethic peoples and songs by famous movie and music stars will be staged.