Myanmar New Year Celebrations: A time of meritorious deeds and tradition

Myanmar people performed meritorious deeds on the Auspicious New Year Day which falls on Wednesday.
After the country has celebrated the traditional Thingyan Water Festival resoundingly for 4 days, Buddhist devotees visit pagodas and monasteries across the country to take Sabbath, and meditation.
Warsawa, HsinKyone Monastery, Ottarathiri Township said "Today marks the beginning of the Myanmar New Year Day. According to our tradition, all Buddhist devotees across the country visited the monasteries and pagodas to perform good deeds. I wish all Myanmar citizens peace, prosperity, and safety as they serve the nation's interests.."
MyintHtay Aung, LetpanKhala Village said "Since this is the auspicious New Year for Myanmar people, I wish all citizens to possess peace of mind and prosperity, with physical and mental well-being."
On this auspicious day, people also release fingerlings and pay respect to the elders, a tradition handed down from the ancestors.
MyintThaung, Zeyathiri Township said "During Myanmar New Year, I wish for all danger to be thwarted in our country and the world at large.May all human beings be free from the three catastrophes of famine, war, and epidemic diseases. May all the ongoing conflicts be ended as soon as possible. During this time of the New Year, we use to perform meritorious deeds, visiting to the monasteries, paying respect to the elders and pouring water to the Buddha Image, safeguarding the tradition. I wish this tradition may hand down to the posterities cherishingly and peacefully. "
Myanmar Buddhists they begin New Year Day with charity activities as they believe that throwing water during Thingyan wards off the bad things of the past year, ushering in the New Year with a fresh mind and body.