Revolutionary Than-gyat and Thingyan

It has already been about a year since Wai Moe Naing, a leader of the Monywa Protest Committee, was taken by the junta after they hit him from behind with a truck. During last year’s Water Festival, he and his team created popular Thangyat performances. I can still see him dressed like a woman, with thanatkha on his face and flowers on his head. 

Thangyat is a traditional Burmese performance art in which performers sing and chant folk verses in harmony. Thangyat are typically heard during Water Festival (Thingyan) for the Myanmar New Year. Thangyat usually contain social and political commentary, and express public opinion with humor and satire, such as by criticizing the mismanagement of the rulers and the unfair treatment of different members of society. Ever since the time of the Burmese kings, Thangyat were performed to inform the king about mismanagement or misbehavior (abuse of power, corruption, etc.) by the king’s ministers and members of the royal family. Because of this, the people enjoy seeing and participating in Thangyat, especially during Thingyan. 

However, the military dictatorship from 1974 to 2013 was a dark time for Thangyat, which were banned for reasons of “national security.” The military governments were scared of Thangyat and made sure they were banned. Starting in 2013, the Thein Sein administration (which included former generals) allowed performances with the stipulation that Thangyat troupes had to submit their lyrics to local authorities for approval. During the NLD administration from 2015 to 2020, some members of a Thangyat troupe called Daung-toe-myo-sat (Peacock Generation) were arrested by the military for the satirical content of its performances, such as jokes that the generals were scared of the International Criminal Court. 

After last year’s coup, the people of Myanmar did not take part in Water Festival as usual to show their disapproval of the military and the regime. Peaceful protest committees called for people to refuse to participate in festival activities organized by the junta. The result was a clear and harmonious expression of disapproval throughout the nation. The protest leaders also organized some Thangyat troupes to entertain the public, who mostly stayed home and did not take part in the festival. They also named the 2021 Water Festival, “Revolutionary Thingyan.” This year again, local defense forces and protest committees have appealed to the people not to travel or take part in Water Festival events being organized by the junta to show the international community how well the country is doing. Many protesters are calling this year’s festival “Thingyan to cut down the facist military at the root.” As this name implies, the people are hoping that the new year will bring a bright day for the country with the quick restoration of freedom and democracy.