[Myanmar] Rangoon Authorities Censor Water Festival Songs

Rangoon Division Assembly has announced that Thangyat songs and performances in the upcoming Burmese water festival, which is called Thingyan and starts on April 12, can only be performed with permission from its Thingyan Songs and Thangyat Scrutiny Committee. The Mirror, a state-run Burmese language newspaper, reported on Thursday that lyrics for all Thingyan songs and Thangyat must be submitted to the committee by March 22. Thangyat is one of the oldest examples of Burmese folk art. Usually amusing and satirical, Thangyat combines poetry, dance and music and is sung to the beat of a traditional drum. It is frequently used to express public grievances.