Myanmar traditional New Year Atā Thingyan festival

The term Tejeng is derived from Pali, Tengganda meaning transition. In the Myanmar traditional calendar, the month of Dabao is the last month of a calendar year while Degu is the first month of the next. The Myanmar New Year Ata Tejeng Festival is celebrated in the month of Degu. Enjoyment of pouring water on one another on the occasion of the auspicious Myanmar New Year Festival is believed to bring auspiciousness through its symbolic cooling and cleansing effects, enabling the new year to start without the dirt from the old while heralding the same effects for society, bringing unity and harmony for all the national races. The New Year Ata Tejeng Festival is celebrated in the month of Degu. According to the Myanmar traditional calendar are the dates determined by the Myanmar Calendar Advisory Board, most commonly beginning with the 13th of April. Tejeng forecasts for the year are also published by those proficient in the traditional practice which include the potential good and the evil that the year has in store as well as the do's and don'ts. During the Myanmar traditional New Year Ata Tejeng Festival, the Badawk flowers of the season usually bloom. Badawk symbolizes the Myanmar New Year Ata Tejeng Festival and is designated as the national flower. At that time, the tejeng rain is also expected around the country. Since the Bagan period between the 11th and 13th centuries AD, the royalty and commoners alike have taken part in Myanmar traditional New Year Ata Tejeng Festival and references to the tejeng can be found in Asian stone inscriptions, ink inscriptions on stucco and Myanmar historical records dating back to the Bagan period. In Asian Myanmar history treatises, it has been mentioned that Myanmar traditional New Year Ata Tejeng Festival has been celebrated since the Bagan period. Of the 12 festivals held in each month of the Myanmar calendar, the traditional New Year Ata Tejeng Festival is the national level of festivities participated by all the national races around the country. Male or female, young or old, enjoy pouring water on one another regardless of race or religion. To ensure that the next generation has the awareness and knowledge to appreciate, cherish and safeguard tejeng, it is included in school curricula of basic education schools. Tejeng songs performed during the festival have characteristic melodies and lyrics, and the synchronized tinjen yin dance groups are also performed at this time. The Myanmar traditional New Year Ata Tejeng Festival is influential as is evidenced by the large number of tinjen-themed Myanmar films. The tinjen festival period is designated as a special long holiday as the entire country participates in rivalries pouring water. Many people who are living and working away from the native towns and villages go back at this time for a reunion with their families and enjoy the Tinjen is a five-day festival consisting of a jiu or pre-day, a jia or first day, a jia or middle day, a jia or last day and the new year day. On a jiu, the pre-day, leaves, sprigs and schools of trees and flowering plants symbolizing the seven days of the week are arranged in an earthenware vase known as a dao, the jian vase which is placed at the front of the house to welcome the new year. Long-standing tinjen traditions include going to pour water on Buddha images as well as to clean and wash pagodas and stupas and sprinkling grandparents, parents, teachers and mentors with ku, the jian water, scented with the naka and herbal perfumes using eugenious sprigs while friends enjoy pouring cool water on one another and children play pouring water. Around the country both in urban and rural areas water-throwing pendals are set up, tinjen yin synchronized dance performances and competitions are organized. Tanjia and diphonal chants were performed, decorated floats move around the communities giving singing and dancing performances. Young people and institutions organize toasts by car or on foot to enjoy the water pouring. The national races across the country also enjoy Myanmar traditional New Year Atatijan festival in line with their traditions and customs in their local areas. Foreigners stay in Myanmar also enjoy participating in the revelries of Myanmar traditional New Year Atatijan festival. Myanmar citizens in foreign countries go to respective Myanmar embassies to participate in the Myanmar traditional New Year Atatijan festivities organized there. During the Myanmar New Year Atatijan period, Myanmar traditional food are offered to all comers regardless of race and religion in addition to pouring water. The health, hygienic and ingredient standards are strictly adhered to in the preparation of traditional refreshments to serve revelers during the festival at events such as tinjen rice, bulge rice balls and Myanmar traditional food. At this time, some young people choose to join the older generation in merit-making activities such as observing sabbath and joining meditation retreats. Families also organize charitable donations as well as ordination and novitiation ceremonies. On the Myanmar New Year Day which is the first day of the new year, the national races have the practice of merit-making by going to pagodas and monasteries to observe sabbath and silat moral precepts, organizing collective cleaning of temples and stupas. Other common activities include organizing charitable donations, freeing animals as jividaktanak donation of life, providing hair washing, manicures, pedicures and baths to the elderly, grandparents, parents, teachers and mentors and pay homage to them as a New Year tradition. On the New Year Day, both urban and rural communities around Myanmar invite members of the Sangha to recite Pali verses known as paritta, protection from danger, as the traditional practice has been transmitted. The Myanmar traditional New Year Atatijan Festival is a living tradition celebrated proudly through the ages from the time of Myanmar kings to the present day. It is being transmitted continuously to the new generation youths who will safeguard and give it new life for years to come.