Thousands of Myanmar residents ushered in the country’s traditional new year on Sunday under the shadow of devastation, marking the start of the normally exuberant Thingyan water festival in the ruins left by last month’s catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake.
Typically a time of celebration, joy, and renewal, this year’s Thingyan is a subdued affair, especially in Mandalay and Sagaing — two of the regions hardest hit by the March 28 quake, which claimed over 3,600 lives. The tremor flattened thousands of buildings, including apartment blocks, tea shops, and hotels, leaving thousands homeless and millions in urgent need of assistance.
The festive spirit has been dampened by the scale of the tragedy. Myanmar’s military-led government ordered that the five-day festival be observed without music or dance. For many, joy is hard to summon.
“Everyone is in trouble this year,” said Ma Phyu, 55, who is sheltering in a tent with nine family members near the quake-damaged Royal Palace in Mandalay. “I have to prepare the pot with the flowers because it is our tradition. But my heart is heavy.”
Despite the dire conditions, families still performed traditional rituals, like placing flower-filled clay pots inside their shelters to welcome the new year — even when they had no proper homes in which to place them. Children were told not to splash water, a customary Thingyan practice, fearing backlash from grieving neighbors.
With daytime temperatures in Mandalay reaching a blistering 44 degrees Celsius and mosquito-filled nights offering little rest, those displaced by the earthquake rise early to queue for aid. Basic needs like clean drinking water and working latrines remain scarce. And with rain in the forecast, many fear that their makeshift shelters will not withstand worsening conditions.
According to the United Nations, more than 5,200 buildings were destroyed and over two million people are now in urgent need of assistance. The UN has issued an emergency appeal for $275 million to fund its response efforts. But humanitarian operations face steep challenges after former U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping cuts to America’s aid budget hampered several UN programs in Myanmar.
As the quake-hit communities grapple with grief and survival, Thingyan 2025 has become less a celebration and more a quiet act of resilience. In the absence of song and dance, what remains is the silent determination of families clinging to tradition — and to one another — amid ruins.