Thousands of Arakanese young people are taking part in Zee Chuang Thingyan/ Songkran (or water festival) in Kyauk Taw township of Arakan (Rakhine) State, which is organized by the Arakan Army (AA).

A reporter from Narinjara News also participated in the event and informed that tens of thousands of people have been participating in the celebration. Many young women are also joining the festival for fun.

The four- day water festival began at Zee Cheung Dam on 14 April which included a stage show too.

"We are coming from Mrauk U township. The AA organised festival is very popular and we have arrived here to play with water,” said one young woman participant.

This is the second time the AA has organized the traditional festival where Rakhine youths are participating with the nationalistic spirit.

Zee Chuang Thingyan, where young men and women splash water on each other, is termed as an occasion to showcase their support to the AA.

Rakhine people, who could not celebrate the festival due to war and corona restrictions in the last few years, have been enthusiastically participating in the traditional Thingyan this year.

The AA has observed a humanitarian ceasefire with the Myanmar military since November of last year.