Dear Reader,

On this traditional Songkran Water Festival, we wish you happy holidays and a prosperous New Year 1372. The word “Songkran” is Sanskrit for sankranti which means “the shift of the sun from one zodiac sign to another.” According to legend, this festival was held to mark the day when the goddess Sangkhan passes by, which is the last day of the old year.  

Water is a source of fertility and protection in Southeast Asia including Laos, Burma, and Thailand. For many centuries in Thailand, the Songkran festival was created to uphold female status and to support the renewal of nature through lovemaking rituals. Traditionally, local beauty contests are held for young and old women where they are blessed in a water ritual. Generally, it is a time when social rules are turned inside out and thrown out the window in a “no holds barred” party atmosphere. Ordinary Burmese and Thais, young and old alike, will let their hair down and shut their eyes to seniors, the military, and the Buddhist Sangha.

With an eye toward the future then, it is time to thank all of you who have contributed in the last couple of years for supporting Kaowao. Your support allowed for the expansion of the Kaowao office and maintained living expenses for our staff, who work hard to ensure regular communication with our reporters inside Burma who gather news for the Mon people.

You have made a real difference in supporting our commitment for peace, justice, and democracy in Burma. Your encouragement and financial support directly affects the amount of articles we publish which in turn increases local and international awareness regarding Mon State and southern Burma.

Many thanks to all donor organizations and individuals who have contributed funds, equipment, training and other contributions for the operations of Rehmonya Radio, Video, Kaowao E-news and the four language versions of the Kaowao Website.

We hope to serve you better in the coming New Year.

Editor

editor@kaowao.org

Kaowao Newsgroup