COVID-19 and coup could have changed Thingyan forever

13 Sept 21:40 Key points summarised by AI

Thingyan, Myanmar's traditional New Year, has been profoundly transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 military coup, leading to a significant decline in public festivities.
The military administration's attempts to host "staged" celebrations were largely shunned by the public due to anti-government sentiment and security concerns, resulting in empty pandals.
Citizens now largely avoid public celebrations associated with the military government, opting instead for private parties, hotel "staycations," or leaving major cities to escape both the political climate and daily power outages.
Ongoing conflicts, such as recent airstrikes, and daily power blackouts further dampen the celebratory mood, pushing people towards private, air-conditioned venues during the hottest time of the year.

Lamphun in a New Light

Today 15:02 Key points summarised by AI

Lamphun illuminates its ancient city with two concurrent light festivals: the high-tech VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN and the traditional Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival.
VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN transforms historic landmarks into an outdoor gallery, using projections and multimedia to animate Lamphun's history, including Queen Chamadevi's story.
The Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival, part of Yi Peng, fills temples and streets with countless traditional lanterns, symbolizing Buddhist devotion and personal wishes.
These festivals offer a unique after-dark experience, blending contemporary light art with centuries-old Lanna traditions, connecting visitors to Lamphun's past and faith.