Narinjara News, 15 April 2023

Thousands of Arakanese young people are taking part in Zee Chuang Thingyan/ Songkran (or water festival)in Kyauk Taw township of Arakan (Rakhine)State, which is organized by the Arakan Army (AA).

A reporter from Narinjara News also participated in the event and informed that tens of thousands ofpeople have been participating in thecelebration. Many young women are also joining the festival for fun.

The four- day water festival began at Zee Cheung Dam on 14 April which included a stage show too.

"We are coming from Mrauk U township. The AA organised festival is very popular and we have arrived hereto play with water,” said one youngwoman participant.

This is the second time the AA has organized the traditional festival where Rakhine youths are participatingwith the nationalistic spirit.

Zee Chuang Thingyan, where young men and women splash water on each other, is termed as an occasion toshowcase their support to the AA.

Rakhine people, who could not celebrate the festival due war and corona restrictions in the last fewyears, have been enthusiastically participatingin the traditional Thingyan this year.

The AA has observed a humanitarian ceasefire with theMyanmar military since November of last year.