The fourth Chiang Mai Ethnic Market was held under the theme “Traditional New Year and Water Festival: Foods and Cultures in Thailand and Myanmar” at Lan Din Cafe in Chiang Mai, Thailand, April 4-5.
The event highlighted the shared heritage of the annual water festival such as Thailand’s Songkran and Myanmar’s Thingyan, featuring cultural performances and intercultural dialogue before the traditional new year begins.
“Thingyan, or Songkran, or the water festival, is like the common theme that will bring about the new year, the new start, and also the family and friendship time. And this is a way of bringing more happiness to the communities,” Pi Ae, the organizer of the Chiang Mai Ethnic Market, told DVB.
Myanmar university students performed traditional Thingyan dance, and a Lanna New Year ceremony, such as pouring fragrant water into the palms of elders, asking for blessings, to offer blessings, emphasizing themes of respect, renewal, and community unity.
