YANGON, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's vibrant Thingyan water festival continued into its second day, as people across the Southeast Asian country immersed themselves in the joyous festivities.

The time-honored tradition of splashing each other with water represents a symbolic cleansing of past wrongs and a fresh beginning for the upcoming year.

Throughout the country, lively dance performances contributed to the festive atmosphere, marking the official opening of the Thingyan Water Festival on Saturday morning.

In the capital Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday, the opening ceremony was graced by Secretary of Myanmar's State Administration Council Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dwe and officially commented by Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Transport and Communications General Mya Tun Oo, Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn, and Mayor Than Tun Oo.

In Yangon, the former capital and the commercial hub of Myanmar, the water festival was officially opened at the mayor's pavilion in front of Yangon City Hall on Saturday. Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein extended his best wishes to the people.

Among the revelers in front of the Yangon mayor's pavilion on Sunday, Hein Thura, 6, was also playing with a water gun with other children. "I'm happy playing with water during the Thingyan festival. I came here with my family," the boy said, rubbing water from his face.

Hein's grandmother, Daw Tin Tin Than, 60, watching the children playing, said, "I brought my grandchildren here because I want to make them happy. I want them to see how people celebrate Thingyan. I will also bring them to People's Square."

In Yangon, the largest walking Thingyan celebration was taking place at the People's Square. "In addition to splashing water, we also give away charity foods and do merits such as taking precepts during the festival," she added.

From Ayeyarwady region's Bogale township, Shine Win Tun told Xinhua on Sunday "In our village, there is a communal novitiation and ordination ceremony this year. Many boys were novitiated, and some men over 20 years old were ordained. I went to the communal novitiation ceremony yesterday."

"Thingyan festival is culturally very important for the people in Myanmar," the 31-year-old school teacher said.

"It is the longest holiday in Myanmar. Most people working away from their native places come back home for family reunion during the holiday," he said.

In Kayin state, Ah Phyu, 31, said she went out with her friends in Hpa-an on Saturday, the first day of the Thingyan festival.

"Here in Hpa-an, people enjoy giving away charity foods. Nearly every day during the festival, people give away charity foods. My elder sister is also giving away charity foods with her friends today," she said on Sunday.

"In the past years, I used to visit famous travel destinations across the country during the Thingyan holidays. This year, I'm not traveling anywhere. I'm just going around the town," she said.

This year's traditional Myanmar Thingyan water festival will run for four days until Tuesday. The Myanmar New Year falls on Wednesday.

In Myanmar, the Thingyan water festival holds immense cultural significance, standing as the most famous celebration among the 12 monthly seasonal festivals observed throughout the year. Enditem

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