Myanmar’s traditional New Year festival, Thingyan, began on Sunday under the shadow of devastation, as survivors of last month’s powerful earthquake marked the normally joyous occasion amid rubble and grief.
The Thingyan festival, usually characterized by boisterous water-splashing and street celebrations, has been subdued this year, especially in central Myanmar’s hardest-hit cities of Mandalay and Sagaing. The 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on March 28 claimed over 3,600 lives and left widespread destruction in its wake. More than 5,200 buildings were flattened, displacing hundreds of thousands, according to official figures. The United Nations reports over two million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance.
On the streets of Mandalay, instead of crowds and music, silence hung heavy as families gathered not to celebrate, but to survive. Many remain camped in makeshift tents beside the ruins of their former homes—razed tea shops, crumbled apartment blocks, and destroyed hotels serving as grim reminders of what was lost.
“I used to buy squirt guns for my grandchildren during Thingyan,” said 55-year-old Ma Phyu, who is now sheltering with nine family members near the damaged Royal Palace in Mandalay. “This year, I have nothing to give them. My heart is heavy.”
In the early morning, families could be seen buying small clay pots and sprigs of plants, traditional symbols of renewal and blessings for the new year. Yet many had no homes to place them in. “I don’t want to stay like this,” wept 65-year-old Mar Tin, recalling how she would normally spend the holiday at a Buddhist meditation center, which is now closed.
To further dampen the mood, a 5.5-magnitude aftershock struck Mandalay on Sunday, triggering panic and evacuations. Meanwhile, residents contend with extreme daytime temperatures exceeding 44°C (111°F) and swarms of mosquitoes at night, as they queue daily for drinking water and aid.
The ruling military junta has ordered a toned-down five-day festival with no music or dancing. AFP reporters observed few signs of festivity—just a handful of children quietly playing with water pistols. “I wish my children could splash water and laugh like I did when I was young,” said 47-year-old Aye Aye Myint, who is sheltering with her three children at an open market.
The humanitarian crisis is being compounded by funding shortfalls. The UN has appealed for $275 million in emergency aid. The World Food Programme warns it will be forced to cut off assistance to one million people in Myanmar this month due to dwindling donations.
Even as survivors struggle to rebuild, conflict continues to plague the nation. Despite a declared ceasefire, Myanmar’s military has resumed airstrikes, with the UN accusing the junta of obstructing relief efforts. “At a moment when the sole focus should be on ensuring humanitarian aid gets to disaster zones, the military is instead launching attacks,” said UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani.
