The Myanmar traditional Thingyan festival has been officially recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture. This inclusion marks a significant milestone for Myanmar’s cultural heritage on the global stage.
The nomination for Myanmar’s New Year Thingyan festival was submitted to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee on March 24, 2023. Its recognition was officially decided during the 19th Intangible Cultural Heritage Conference, held in Asunción, Paraguay, from December 2 to 7.
On December 5, the Thingyan festival became the first Myanmar festival to be inscribed on UNESCO's World Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
This year’s conference also acknowledged cultural heritage from 45 countries, including China's Chinese New Year and Spring Festival, and Thailand's Tong Yan soup, according to UNESCO.
Myanmar has previously earned UNESCO recognition for other cultural landmarks. In 2014, the ancient Pyu city-states of Sri Ksetra, Halin, and Beikthano were designated as World Heritage Sites, followed by Bagan in 2019. In 2018, the classic Myanmar film Mya Ga Naing was also listed as a UNESCO heritage of the Asia-Pacific region.
The Thingyan festival, deeply rooted in Myanmar’s traditions, derives its name from the Pali word Sankanta and its Myanmar equivalent Thingyan, meaning "transition" or "movement from one place to another."
Observed during Myanmar’s New Year period, the festival features both spiritual and celebratory activities. Many people engage in religious practices such as taking precepts and meditating, while others participate in lively water festivities, splashing and pouring water as a symbol of purification and new beginnings.
Respectful customs include avoiding splashing water on pregnant women, the elderly, individuals in delicate health, on-duty workers, and religious figures.
Historical records trace the celebration of Thingyan back to the Bagan era, showcasing its enduring significance in Myanmar’s cultural history.
