Increasing exposure in the UK: Shan events in April

Mai soong kha.
Although the search continues, I am always surprised at the amount and diversity of information on the Shan that is increasingly available. And most of it, however, hidden, can be uncovered with just a little creative research.

However, instead of my usual off-the-wall postings - I am writing on Shan cuisine in Tokyo, which will follow shortly - the following post is a mini-list of upcoming events. April is an integral time in the Shan cultural calendar, and these events will be of particular interest for Shan, Thai, Burmese peoples as well as those from other mainland South East Asia ethnic groups and cultural enthusiasts alike. Have a look below:

15 April: The annual Songkran ('Water Festival' or Thai New Year) celebrations in London are upon us (Songkran is known as Thingyan for the Burmese*). However, this year, amid the usual bustle and endless events, members of the Shan Cultural Association of the UK (SCA_UK) and other enthusiastic volunteers will perform a 'Sip Song Pana**'-style dance at the main festival location: Wat Buddhapadipa in Wimbledon, South West London. The festival is a fantastic event visited by thousands each year. The temple grounds are transformed with the festival atmosphere, and there is everything from Thai (and other cultures that celebrate Songkran) music, dancing and other performances to food and drink booths, which sell Thai and other specialties; other cultural items are also for sale. Last and most importantly, if you plan to visit Wat Buddhapadipa for Songkran, please give generously: the temple relies on the patronage and support of everyone for its livelihood. And, to make this more authentic, a traditional Thai temple donation booth/shrine is available where people can make an offering to monks who bless well-wishers.

*The Burmese New Year, which is called Thingyan, also falls in April. For a more local and personal opinion on modern Thingyan, please visit here for thoughts on water throwing: is it for fun or in malice?
**Sip Song Pana (also written Sipsong Panna, Sipsong Banna and, in Chinese, Xishuangbanna) is an area of what is now labelled The Golden Triangle. Officially, for the Chinese at least, this area of southern Yunnan Province is called Xishuangbanna Daizu Zizhizhou (Xishaungbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture), and it is home to many groups of the Tai (or Dai) ethnic family as well as other groups including the Yi. There is a long and confuisng history about the area, including the many variations on its name, which I will avoid here. Simply put, it is an area that the Shan are historically linked to. I will write more on this in a future piece.

22 April: Shan celebration of Songkran in Oxford. This annual event allows devotees, trustees, observers and cultural enthusiasts and onlookers to gather and raise funds for the Oxford Buddha Vihara (OBV), a Buddhist study centre established in 2003 by the abbot, the Venerable Dr Dhammasami. These events, which are a true reflection of traditional, religious observance of Songkran, are a wonderful event, and the centre, in addition to its devouted practitioners and visitors, is a great place to experience this celebration. Everyone is welcome.

Once again, thank you for visiting.

Khun Naw Liang

Note: The photo above is of Shan celebrations of Songkran in 2006 along the Sino-Burmese border. For further details, please visit Shanland.org website. The link is also available on the rightside links toolbar under news.