Tagu is
a month of Myanma New Year fell on second week of April. It is celebrated with
three days of water throwing. Thagyarmin King of celestials comes down to the
human abode to bring in the New Year celebration for 3 days. The true spirit of
the water festival is to have nice clean fun with dear friends sprinkling
scented water on one another with goodwill and loving kindness. Among friends,
all the teasing and playing and joking go with the spirit of season. It is not
all fun and play however; there are chores
to do, like preparing shampoo water
and giving personal service to older folks. With the sound of the Ohzie drums,
cymbals and flute in the air, every task is a joy to do.
Perhaps, this
kind of spirit is not so evident in the heart of cities like Yangon, where there
is rough play with water hoses. The revealers seem more intent and embarrass and
aggravate than to be playful and give pleasure. Much of the finer aspects of the
festival are to be seen in small towns and villages. Yet even in cities, while
the wild celebrations are rampant, the monasteries and pagodas are full of
people of all ages. Most of them are there with serious purpose of doing good
deeds. Young people sweep the grounds, wash buildings and help older people with
chores of cooking alms food for monks.
