BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

NEW Myanmar Ambassador-designate to Brunei U Cho Htun Aung and his spouse Daw Nann Yin May Win yesterday welcomed guests to the Myanmar Water Festival celebration at their residence in Rimba.

Among the guests were diplomats from other countries, Myanmar nationals and Bruneians.

Speaking at the start of the event, the Myanmar Ambassador-designate shared that he and his spouse had just arrived in the country two days ago.

“I have two particular reasons to hold this occasion, one of which is I would like to meet all of you as the new ambassador of Myanmar. It is a great honour to be representing my country in Brunei Darussalam,” U Cho Htun Aung said.

The ambassador-designate said he also wanted to introduce guests to the traditional Myanmar Water Festival.

According to our traditions, the last three days of each year in the Myanmar calendar is considered as the period of transition from the old year to the new, he said.

“What we always do during this transition period is to celebrate the occasion with a water festival. The reason for this is to “wash away” the sins of the past year and to keep everyone cool and refreshed in the year ahead,” he explained.

U Cho Htun Aung also shared that the Myanmar Water Festival traditionally takes place annually from April 14 to April 16, before April 17 which marks the Burmese New Year Day “Thingyan”.

In concluding, the Myanmar Ambassador-designate imparted his new year’s greetings to all the guests, as well as the people of Myanmar and Brunei.

Some Myanmar cultural performances in the form of traditional songs and dances ensued, before guests tucked into a buffet featuring traditional Burmese cuisine.

According to a Myanmar embassy spokesperson, there are some 550 Burmese currently residing in Brunei.

The Brunei Times