Myanmar people on Monday morning started to greet the country's new calendar year by doing deeds of merit according to Myanmar traditions and customs after the four- day Thingyan water festival.

The centuries-old heritage of Myanmar people, who are mostly Buddhists, includes visiting pagodas, paying obeisance and bathing the Buddha statues.

The Myanmar new year day begins with the dawn feasting of monks, followed by freeing of fish and other life, shampooing and bathing of the old-aged and offering natural fragrant bark scents and manicuring.

Community welfare works such as dredging of wells and lakes, renovating of roads and bridges and sanitation tasks are also carried out along with recitation of Buddhist classics by monks for the people to be free from all forms of dangers.

Meanwhile, Monday's official newspaper New Light of Myanmar in an editorial called on the country to renew and double their efforts for peace, progress and prosperity not only of Myanmar but also the region and the world in the new Myanmar calendar year.

Source: Xinhua