Thingyan, also known as the Myanmar New Year, is a festival that usually occurs in middle of April. Thingyan marks the transition from the old year to the new one, based on the traditional Myanmar lunisolar calendar. The festival usually spans four to five days, culminating in New Year’s Day, and is one of the most anticipated public holidays across the country. The highlight of the celebration is the symbolic throwing of water, representing the washing away of sins and bad luck from the previous year. People engage in water fights using buckets and water guns, especially during the first four days. Streets become lively with music, dance troupes, and temporary stages called pandal (မဏ္ဍပ်,mandat).
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar near Meiktila on Sunday, marking one of the strongest aftershocks since the deadly..