Associated Press
2009-04-13 05:46 PM
It's Monday _ and far from a typical day in Yangon, whose 5 million citizens normally proceed with caution under the ever-present eyes of the ruling military.
The whisky has flowed since early morning and teens in water-soaked clothing dance to pulsating music in the streets. A typically reserved woman good-naturedly takes a foreigner by the shirt collar and pours a bottle of water down the back of his neck.
"It's water festival. Best time of year," a man in his early 20s explains in stilted English, jiggling in his hand a plastic bottle of whiskey although it is only midmorning.
Many Buddhists who frown on excessive drinking make a spectacular exception during the four-day water festival known as Thingyan _ a celebration of public disorder that Myanmar's ruling junta has learned it must warily endure.
Myanmar, like its neighbors Thailand and Laos, ushers in the Buddhist New Year with the water fights _ held annually during the hottest month of the year.
Although the holiday, which began Monday, was once celebrated with the gentle sprinkling of scented water, it now see battles with high-powered hoses and revelers dancing en masse to hip-hop music.
Every year, the government warns that misbehavior and immodest dress will not be tolerated, but the warnings are ignored by a repressed, socially conservative people who are determined to let their hair down.
"Rules come out every year, but who cares about rules," said Thin Thiri, a 17-year-old girl who dyed her hair red for the occasion. "Thingyan comes only once a year and we won't let regulations ruin such fun."
Police officers in sodden trousers battle to keep traffic flowing through flooded streets. The military are tolerant but nervous. Soldiers waiting in the backs of parked trucks wear combat helmets and are armed with automatic rifles.
Young children love it and so do the teens and 20-somethings who often use the occasion to dress like rock and roll rebels. It is a marked departure from the regularly conservative dress code of Yangon's streets.
"We let go of the bad things that have happened and look forward to a better year," said a saturated man in his 20s, who gave his name only as Nandar.
Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962. The current junta came to power in 1988 after crushing pro-democracy demonstrations and killing as many as 3,000 people. It called elections in 1990 but refused to honor the results when pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party won overwhelmingly. Suu Kyi has spent 13 of the last 19 years under house arrest.
Source: http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=918940&lang=eng_news
2009-04-13 05:46 PM
It's Monday _ and far from a typical day in Yangon, whose 5 million citizens normally proceed with caution under the ever-present eyes of the ruling military.
The whisky has flowed since early morning and teens in water-soaked clothing dance to pulsating music in the streets. A typically reserved woman good-naturedly takes a foreigner by the shirt collar and pours a bottle of water down the back of his neck.
"It's water festival. Best time of year," a man in his early 20s explains in stilted English, jiggling in his hand a plastic bottle of whiskey although it is only midmorning.
Many Buddhists who frown on excessive drinking make a spectacular exception during the four-day water festival known as Thingyan _ a celebration of public disorder that Myanmar's ruling junta has learned it must warily endure.
Myanmar, like its neighbors Thailand and Laos, ushers in the Buddhist New Year with the water fights _ held annually during the hottest month of the year.
Although the holiday, which began Monday, was once celebrated with the gentle sprinkling of scented water, it now see battles with high-powered hoses and revelers dancing en masse to hip-hop music.
Every year, the government warns that misbehavior and immodest dress will not be tolerated, but the warnings are ignored by a repressed, socially conservative people who are determined to let their hair down.
"Rules come out every year, but who cares about rules," said Thin Thiri, a 17-year-old girl who dyed her hair red for the occasion. "Thingyan comes only once a year and we won't let regulations ruin such fun."
Police officers in sodden trousers battle to keep traffic flowing through flooded streets. The military are tolerant but nervous. Soldiers waiting in the backs of parked trucks wear combat helmets and are armed with automatic rifles.
Young children love it and so do the teens and 20-somethings who often use the occasion to dress like rock and roll rebels. It is a marked departure from the regularly conservative dress code of Yangon's streets.
"We let go of the bad things that have happened and look forward to a better year," said a saturated man in his 20s, who gave his name only as Nandar.
Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962. The current junta came to power in 1988 after crushing pro-democracy demonstrations and killing as many as 3,000 people. It called elections in 1990 but refused to honor the results when pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party won overwhelmingly. Suu Kyi has spent 13 of the last 19 years under house arrest.
Source: http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=918940&lang=eng_news
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