Shans mark New Year

General

Shans mark New Year

The Shan New Year which falls Sunday, 12 December, corresponding to the First Waxing Moon of the First Lunar Month, was celebrated throughout Shan State and among Shan communities in Thailand.

In Lashio, where thousands turned out to join the festivities last year, authorities had forbidden the local Shan populace to use the city's stadium and instead allocated the field near the Manhsu Pagoda outside the old city. "The official permission came only on 6 December," said one of the organizers," giving us little time to make the necessary preparations."

The source said he had a sneaking suspicion the Burmese government did not like Shans to engage in any "different" cultural event. "Unlike us Shans, the Chinese face no problems like us in observing their New Year," he said. "We have even been warned to keep it as simple as possible."

Last year's celebrations were marked by the display of 1.1 million kyat ($ 1,100) worth of fireworks that "did not sit well" with the military authorities, he explained.

The First Waxing Moon of the First Lunar Month, Shans say, is not just Shans' New Year but that of Thais who have the same lunar calendar. The day however have long since ceased to be a date of any significance to the kingdom that has adopted the Gregorian New Year in its place.

In Bangkok, the New Year was observed in two locations. One was ordered to call off the request of the Burmese embassy citing the proceeds from the ticket sales would be donated to the Shan State Army "South" of Col Yawdserk, according to a Thai security officer.

The other ceremony, on the other hand, was allowed to go ahead without official disruption.