On Maha Thingyan Akya Day, diplomats based in Yangon and their family members, representatives from the United Nations and its agencies, honorary consuls and their family members joyfully celebrated together with Thingyan-loving citizens on the morning of April 14 at the People's Square Walking Thingyan Festival, the Yangon City Maha Thingyan Pavilion, and the Walking Thingyan Festival on Maha Bandoola Park Street.First, the delegation of diplomats and foreign guests, led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs U Ko Ko Kyaw and his wife, arrived at the People's Square Walking Thingyan Festival, where they were welcomed by the Chief Minister of Yangon Region U Aung Naing Thu and his wife, the Speaker of Yangon Region Hluttaw U Htay Aung, the Yangon Region Minister for Development Affairs, the Mayor of Yangon U Myo Myint Aung and his wife, and responsible officials. Afterward, the Region Chief Minister and his wife, the Deputy Minister and his wife, the diplomats, and foreign guests happily played water together with Thingyan-loving citizens at the People's Square Walking Thingyan Festival and reciprocally applied traditional Myanmar thanaka to one another.Subsequently, the Region Chief Minister, Deputy Minister, diplomats, and foreign guests watched and encouraged the performance by the Foreign Affairs Department (Yangon) Yein dance troupe at the Royal Apex Pavilion. The Region Chief Minister presented cash rewards to the Yein dance troupe, and they enjoyed the musical and Yein dance performances.Then, the Ambassador of Nepal to Myanmar, Mr. Harishchandra Ghimire, delivered New Year's wishes. After that, the diplomats and foreign guests, led by the Region Chief Minister and his wife and the Deputy Minister and his wife, collectively sang the song "Mann Taung Yeik Kho or Resting in the Shadow of Mandalay Hill" together with the famous vocalists.Following this, the diplomats and foreign guests, led by the Deputy Minister and his wife, arrived at the Yangon City Maha Thingyan Pavilion and joyfully participated together with Thingyan-loving citizens in the Walking Thingyan Festival on Maha Bandoola Park Street.Continuing on, they watched and encouraged performances by the Foreign Affairs Ministry Yein dance troupes, Shwe Gonthu Yein dance troupes, and a dance troupe representing the Shan ethnic group at the Yangon City Maha Thingyan Pavilion.The Region Chief Minister and his wife, the Speaker of the Yangon Region Hluttaw, and the Deputy Minister and his wife presented cash of honor. Thereafter, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Myanmar, Ms. Ma Jia, and the Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Ponnamperuma Arachchige Prabashini Ponnam-Peruma, delivered New Year's wishes.The Region Chief Minister then hosted a lunch for the diplomats and foreign guests at the ground floor hall of City Hall, where he delivered a New Year's greeting speech. On Maha Thingyan Akya Day, the People's Square Walking Thingyan Festival, the Yangon City Maha Thingyan Pavilion, and the Walking Thingyan on Maha Bandoola Park Street are all bustling with Thingyan-loving citizens, it’s reported.mitv
Wed, 15-Apr-2026