The Buddhist New Year in Myanmar is known as Thingyan, and is the biggest festival on the Burmese calendar. As Thingyan dawns in April, businesses all across the countries shut down; transportation grinds to a halt; and the streets turn into a fun, wild and wet war zone.

During Thingyan, people celebrate by splashing water on almost everyone - a ritual repeated in adjacent Buddhist countries Thailand (which celebrates Songkran); Laos (which celebrates Bun Pi Mai) and Cambodia (which celebrates Chaul Chnam Thmey).

Far from causing anger, the splashing on the streets is welcomed with glee. Getting wet in this weather is a relief, as the Thingyan celebrations take place as summer reaches its peak.

Unlike most traditional festivals across Southeast Asia, Thingyan is locked to the Gregorian calendar, and takes place over four days from April 13 to 16.

The Religious Roots of Thingyan

Myanmar's Thingyan celebrations derive from a Buddhist version of a Hindu legend. Devout Burmese say that Thagyamin (Indra) visits the Earth during Thingyan.

To gain Thagyamin's approval, the Myanma perform certain rites in the hopes of making merit. Feeding the poor; paying respects and giving alms to monks in their monasteries; and respectfully bathe or douse their elders. (Read about etiquette in Myanmar.)

The splashing in the streets is also linked to local religious lore: being doused during Thingyan is said to wash away one's sins accumulated over the past year, allowing the devout to start over afresh.

Celebrating Thingyan in Yangon

While you'll get drenched practically anywhere in public during Thingyan, when in Yangon the best place to experience the holiday is at Kandawgyi Lake, where water is drawn straight from the lake to feed the locals' need for water.

Water spraying stations known as "man-dat" spring up all around the lake, all dressed up in padauck flowers (the official flower of the Thingyan holidays), and playing loud party music as their hoses drench all who pass by. The mood is near-euphoric, as locals and tourists alike enjoy the cooling effect of the evaporating water, and the occasional cold jolt of a water jet aimed their way.

Certain areas are set aside to provide live entertainment - stages show live acts like the Thingyan dance called the "Yane" - a group effort done in unison and in costume.

Eating during Thingyan

The Myanma love to eat, and their appetite for good food is only whetted during Thingyan. A number of dishes are prepared specifically for the holiday, and for no other time.

Thingyan rice is a gift from the Mon people of Myanmar to the rest of the country. The rice is seasoned and perfumed with special spices, then served with a garnish of crisp snakehead-fish meat, slivers of green mango and fried onions.

Mont lone yay paw is a Myanma dessert that resembles the Malaysian kueh known as onde-onde - it's made of balls of boiled rice dough with a syrupy palm-sugar center.

For more on Myanmar's famous dishes, read this list of must-try Myanmar foods.

Transportation and Hotels during Thingyan

While Thingyan may sound like the perfect time for a visit to Myanmar, it actually is a less than ideal season for outside visitors.

For starters, most of Myanmar is also on vacation during Thingyan. Most businesses will be closed throughout the holidays, and what tourist businesses are open during this time will be busy taking care of Myanma on vacation.

Ngapali Beach, for example, will be fully booked throughout Thingyan, as the Myanma will have gotten the best rooms before any of the tourists. Book early if you want a slot.

Bus and airline transport throughout the country will be almost impossible to arrange on short notice, as Myanma often go back to their hometowns during Thingyan. Bus companies will refuse to sell tickets to tourists if booking anytime between April 10 to 20.

If you still insist on visiting during Thingyan, make sure you stay in one place throughout the holidays, and make your arrangements long before the holiday.