WATER FESTIVAL THAT I OBSERVED

MYANMAR ETHNIC GROUP

 The water Splashing Festival is originated in Brahman of in Brahmin of ancient India. The Brahmans used to go to the rivers at the beginning of a year to take a bath to wash away sins and evils and pray for the Sakra-devanam Indra to come down from heaven to see whether secular people are kind or evil.  

The Water Splashing Festival lasts three to four days.  After announcing the results of the prediction, the Brahman followers would slash water to one another, as a way of praying for rain and good harvest.

 

When Buddhism is spread into Southeast Asia and today it is to the western countries, the water splashing festival changed its original religious meaning, which was replaced by Buddhist stories.  Water splashing is no longer mainly a way of praying for rains and good harvest.  It became a Buddha bathing festival. The Buddhist legend had gradually been mingled with the customs of the local tradition since their conversion to Buddhism.  The modern festival is changed as water festival.

                Today people are totally forgotten the spiritual values of the water festival.  It became a holiday enjoyment.  People, mainly youngsters are couldn’t practice five precept during the festival days. it needs to be reformed.

 

A scene is in water festival on 14^th April, 2016 near SULE Pagoda

at Yangon, Myanmar.