YANGON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar resumed its floating Thingyan water festival in Inle Lake, a tourist site in Shan state, after a three-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, state media reported Thursday.
The floating Thingyan water festival in Nyaungshwe township of Taunggyi District in Shan state kicked off on Thursday and will run until Sunday.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the floating water festival, Shan State Chief Minister U Aung Zaw Aye said that it is the second time celebration of the Inle floating Thingyan water festival.
The first celebration of the floating water festival was held in 2019.
Inle area is a tourist destination for local and international visitors, and the main economy of the region is tourism, he said, noting the participants joined the event to preserve the traditional culture in celebrating the floating water festival.
Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism U Aung Thaw participated in the opening ceremony of the water festival in Shan state.
As part of the celebration of the floating water festival, people splash water onto one another in boats to wash sins and make clear moral impurities from the old year. The Myanmar New Year falls on April 17.
The Southeast Asian country kicked off its traditional Thingyan water festival in all regions and states on Thursday.
Among Myanmar's 12 seasonal festivals throughout the year, the Thingyan water festival is grandly celebrated across the country with water-splashing and merit-making activities.
