From Burma to Atlanta:
 

Photos of resettlement of refugee families from Burma

Resettlement: Arrival | Orientation | Casework | Children | Volunteers   Events: Karen New Year | Chin Festivals | Burmese Thingyan | Karenni deeku

Culture: Food | Craft & Clothing | Tradition & History | Worship | Sports | Sharing    Stories: Nuag Reh, a Karenni elder

Like others across southeast Asia, the Buddhists of Burma celebrate the new year event known as  the Thingyan  water festival.  While seen as a time of spiritual cleansing by washing of water for those practicing the religion, it is also a large fun community event that all ethnic and religious groups from Burma enjoy with music, dancing, and  people dousing each other with water.

Check out video of the 2010 Thingyan festival on youtube

A lovely Buddhist statue welcomed visitors to the Thai temple that hosted the first big Burmese Thingyan festival in Atlanta. Details of a building at the Laotian Buddhist temple in Snellville called Wat Lao Buddha Khanti that hosted a large Thingyan event.
People from all the ethnic groups of Burma gather to enjoy a colorful day of celebration. A much loved part of the celebration of the water festival is the chance for karaoke singing as community members get up and have fun sharing in song. A major part of the Thingyan festival is the splashing, pouring, or dumping of water on participants. The kids especially enjoy the chance to throw buckets of water or shoot water pistols at all their friends. A much loved part of the celebration of the water festival is the chance for karaoke singing as community members get up and have fun sharing in song . As with any event, there is lots of traditional food for sell including all the barbecued pork and such seen here. Some young Burmese girls show off some traditional dance accompanied by famous Burmese singer May Sweet.