ITANAGAR, Apr 14:
The traditional Sangken Water Festival begun with great enthusiasm and fervour across the State on Friday morning with beating of gong, drums
and cymbals and Fra-loung (bringing out images and idols of LordBuddha to makeshift temple) ceremonies held in Theravada Buddhist inhabited districts.

Sangken marks the beginning of the Tai New Year and is celebrated in a three-day water festival. The timing of thefestival is calculated according to the Tai Lunar calendar, which this year begins on 14 April at 4:56:29 AM and culminates with New Year’s Day on 16 April at 09:01:10 AM.
It is an occasion for merry-making and purification. For devotees, the morning will begin with a visit to their local temple, to wash images and statues of Lord Buddha, or to clean and redecorate their house
shrine. All these gestures are intended to initiate purification of the self and washing away of personal sins and bad luck in the past year. The young would pour water over the palms of the elderly as a
sign of reverence. Other form of merry-making will include the usual offering of food to monks or less commonly, the release of wild creatures such as birds or fish. Most of the people during the three-day celebration would also observe the three rules of conduct: don’t work, don’t spend money and don’t tell lies.
The water throwing is at its most energetic level in places of Namsai, Empong, Phaneng, Kongmukham of Namsai district and Itanagar. Water is a symbol of not only cleanliness but also auspiciousness.
 

In Namsai, the ceremony was celebrated along with the 126th Birth Anniversary of Dr. BR Ambedkar at Namsai Buddha Vihara. The event was jointly organized by District Administration and Namsai Buddha
Vihara Committee. 

Speaking on the occasion, MLA Chau Zingnu Namchoom, announced to erect a life size statue of
Dr. BR Ambedkar at Namsai Buddha Vihara complex. The head Monk of the Temple Ven Vedanta Aggadhamma Mahathero blessed the gathering and
highlighted the persona of this Great Man.

In Itanagar, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein participating in the celebration at Kyong (Temple) Theravada, Vivek Vihar extended Sangken New Year greetings.
 He called on locals to celebrate the festival in a more traditional way and preserve the aged-old values.
The highlight of the celebration was Soun Fra (pouring of scented water) to images of Lord Buddha and splashing of water by revellers on passerby and enjoying the typical Sangken snacks.
Among many festivals of the Theravada Buddhist throughout the year, the Sangken water festival represents the grandest which brings peace
and prosperity to everyone.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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