Monday, July 27, 2009

7th Annual Myanmar (Burmese) Water Festival
















Yesterday, Burmese Americans and their friends celebrated the 7th Annual Myanmar (Burmese) Water Festival at the Sara D. Roosevelt Park on Chrysties Street (between Broome & Delancey Streets) near Chinatown. The Myanmar Chinese Association of New York sponsored this event which also featured cultural performances and martial arts exhibition. Traditionally, the Burmese Water Festival welcomes the arrival of the Burmese New Year. One of the water festival’s key celebrations is the act of water play where children and adults joyously pour our douse water on each other to cleanse away the previous year’s sins and tribulations and to give blessing and thanks for the coming year. There were lots of kids running around with water guns at the festival. What a great celebration and a practical way for kids to cool off on a warm Sunday afternoon.

5 comments:

The Nomadic Pinoy said...

With this jubilant celebration done in New York, one wonders how the other side in Burma is celebrating.

Great shots with the kids and their reflections on the water run-off.
You must have taken a great deal to protect your camera from unwanted water!

Noel Y. C. said...

Thanks. I'm really glad those water blasters didn't hit my camera, but my shorts and shoes got wet. It was fun though. I like the cultural diversity here in the city.

Anonymous said...

Do u happen to know where and when this year's festival is locaTed? Can't seem to find the website.

Noel Y. C. said...

No, sorry.

Anonymous said...

This year's festival is on Saturday, July 13 at Sara Roosevelt Park. There's a Facebook event for it.