Projects
(Youth)
THINNGYAN 2005
COOL BURMESE WATER FESTIVAL
FOR A HOT LONDON DAY !!!
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MBRWA celebrated the Burmese New Year Water Festival, one of the most popular of the Burmese social events, by holding the UK’s first ever public celebration of the festival “London Thinngyan 2005” on Sunday 29th May 2005 at the Camden Town Hall in London.
The event presented an afternoon of Burmese classical & contemporary dance and music by acclaimed artistes, such as Ko Than Win, Ma Thet Thet Lwin and Ma Tin Zar. A “Thinngyan” song and dance was performed by the UK’s only Asian Wheelchair Dance Group, “MUSKAAN”, and with The Mauritius Children’s Dance Group as guest performers at the event.
The 650-seater venue was full to capacity, with a diverse wealth of Burmese people and their family & friends who took a moment out of their busy lives to gather and celebrate together their love and interest in the Burmese culture and its traditions.
The attendees of the event came from all over the UK, and as far away as Yorkshire, Lancashire & Wales. The event also attracted Burmese visitors from America & Europe, who were visiting the UK.
The Burmese group form Lancashire said “In our 30 years in the UK, this is the first time we have had a chance to join our fellow Burmese people from so many diverse backgrounds, and have fun & enjoyment together in a relaxed and unified environment.”
The event was a great success in the celebration of the New Year Water Festival, and the audience were given a delightful surprise “sprinkling” of scented water at the end of the stage show.
Michael Jeewa, Chairperson of MBRWA, said “With this event, we have established an excellent foundation for the UK Burmese community to bond with each other, irrespective of whichever ancestry we descended from. We can all become ‘ONE’ and also help each other to participate fully in and enrich the British Society we live in. We look forward to the Celebrations growing into a positive, happy, and bigger cultural event in the future.”
Messages of Support:
“I pass on to you and all concerned my good wishes for an enjoyable and successful occasion.”
Prime Minister, Tony Blair
“I would like to congratulate the Myanmar Burma Relief & Welfare Association for organising the first Burmese Water Festival in London to mark the New Year’s celebration for London’s Burmese community and their cultural heritage.
London takes pride in its multi-culturalism, and recognises that it is one of our greatest assets. London’s different communities are what makes the capital such an exciting and successful world city were London’s communities live side by side in harmony. I am delighted to have this opportunity to send my best wishes to MyanmarBurma Relief & Association for organising this event.
Burma Relief & Welfare Association is to be commended for its work and achievement to date and for the positive and valuable contribution it makes to London’s multi-cultural community.”
Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone
“Unfortunately, due to diary commitments at this time, I will be unable to attend. However, I send my best wishes for a successful event”.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell