Traditional Rakhine Celebrations ,
Ref: by Thein Win Nyo ( Myanmar Times special Feature - April 2007 )

Anyone interested in enjoying a special Thingyan experience should come and see the Rakhine Water Festival at Thein Phy driving training centre near Kandawgyi Lake.
Rakhine people follow some remarkable and unique traditions when celebrating their festival.
Women stand on pandals in front of water-filled longboats and face a line of men.
Men tour around the longboats in search of women to drench with water. If a man finds a lady he wants to drench with water he must seek permission from the Manndat Sin Ma ( female pandal owner ).
If he receives permission, he then asks the chosen lady if she wil fill a bucke of water for him. If permission is granted the man throws water on her. And then she is allowed to return the favour by drenching him with a bucket of water.
But if a man does not see a lady he wants to soak, he simply movers on to another pandal to continue his search.
Tradition allows men and women to speak freely during Rakhin Thingyan and people use the opportunioty to make friends.
The Rakhine Literature and Culture Committee in Yangon has organised the Rakhine traditional water festival to take place alongside normal Thingyan festivities from April 12-16.
U Aung Shwe Oo, chairman of the festival's organising committee, told the Myanmar Times. " We want everyone to view the Rakhine water festival as a part of our national culture".
On the first day of the festival, participants grind sandalwood on sandalwood. This poweder is then collected in glazed earthenwared jars and later used to perfume water.
The following day, women walk in procession to wash Buddha images with the newly perfumed water, while men accompany them playing musical instruments and singing traditonal songs.
Traditional songs and dances are also a feature of Thingyan eve celebrations and this year will be no exception-concert has been organisef for April 13.
On April 14, Rakhine people celebrate the start of their Water Festival and everyone joins in to have fun and throw water around.
President of the festival organising committee U Than Naing explained why celebrations are held in Yangon." We are trying to keep our traditions alive and we want other people to join in. Anyone who is inteested can come along and have a look", he said.
This year, 15 pandals will be built at the driving school near Kandawgyi Lake. There will also be 40 stalls selling food and soubvenirs from Rakhine state.
The admission fee of K500 is to help the organiser cover costs but foreigher wil be admitted free of charge.
Secretary of the organising committee, U Zaw Aye Maung said the whole compuund will be arranged to resemble a Rakhine village.
In previous year, tour companies brought tourists to the festival and the organising committee hopes to attract tourists again this year.

Ref: Myanmar Times- March 27 to April 2, 2006 issue

Inle lake in Shan State, one of the country's biggest tourist draw,is a national treasure and
a major attractive destination. The lake is also home to about 25,000 people- many from the
native Intha group-who have lived along its shore for centuries.

Now their homeland is danger. Sewage and agricultural chemicals are poisoning the water. Sediment
is making the lake more shallow, breeding weeds and algae while killing fish. Population growth
and tourism add to the strain, while new fish species threaten the fragile ecosystem.

The polluted water has become unliveable for some native fish. They also suffer from competition
with exotic fishes which have spilled into the lake from nearby fish farms during floods.

According to environmentalists's saying, the biggest pollutants are pesticides and fertilizers
from the floating tomato gardens scattered across the surface of the lake; the chemicals easily
seek to the water.

The population on the lake has jumped 20 per cent since 1983, according to Immigration and
National Registration Department statistics. Increased boat traffic, household waste,
agriculture and cottage industries have "compounded the acceleration of environmental
degradation", according to the report by the department.

Not long ago, the lake was the sole source of drinking water for Inle's residents. As pollution
rises they depend more on tube wells and bottled water. But many are stay left without a safe supply.

The sewage is a major source of pollution, and as the population grows, the risk of water-borne
disease is a major concern.

A bigger threat to long term sustainbility is the build- up of sediment on the bottom. This has
made the shallower and changed the balance of minerals in the water- letting plants and algae
thrive but hurting native fish.

The sediment has been increasing, mainly due to slash-and-burn agriculture on the hills around
Inle, which accelerates erosion into the lake. The build-up of sand and stones in the lake has
destroyed some farms.

The sediment is starting to build up in the middle of the lake, overriding Inle's ability to
clean itself.Nine artificial lakes built a century ago to catch sediment are mostly full.

Until about eight years ago, the lake bed was mostly clear of plants. Now weeds have choked the
bottom and are shooting up to the surface. Too many plants reduce the amount of oxygen in thewater, making it difficult for fish and other organisms to survive. The department of irrigration
has been trying to clear out the weeds on the main waterways, but it is an uphill battle. The
weeds have now spread across the entire lake.

"Our mother (Inle) has given us many resources so that we live well..... Now she is old and
wearing out",said a concerned Intha who is active in the conservation movement.

"It is a delicate time to realise that our turn has come to take good care of her".

   
 
Agencies work to bring Inle Lake back from the brink