Thagya Min or King Of The Celestial Beings comes to visit the abode of humans annually during the Thangyan or the Myanmar New Year time. But when will he arrive? This question is settled by the wise astrologers who with their complex charts and calculations determine when he will be in the abode of humans. Also the astrologers will tell what animal he will be riding and what colour of clothes he will wear and what kind of instrument will be in his hands etc for all these will influence the future in the coming year!

All these complex questions and the forecast for the New Year are printed on what the Myanmar people know as "Thigyan Sar" or the Thingyan Letters and sold to the general public

Since then this annual water festival called Sung Karn is celebrated at Kyainge tong according to the ancient custom.

In this Thingyan Sar are included such information as the astrological positions of the various planets and their influences on the lives of the people, advice for the farmers as to when to start planting, the amount of rain expected in the beginning, the middle and the end of the monsoon.

Also the beginning and the end of the Buddhist Lent are calculated and the time for the monks to observe the Buddhist Lent.

The Thangyan Sar also advises those born on the First Day of the New Year to take special note as they are blessed with good fortune but for the rest there is also advice what to do if they are confronted with any misfortune.

And one of the most important of Thagya Min's job is to make a list of good and bad behaviour. Children are cautioned to be extra good at this time of the year because Thangya Min is in town and making a list of good children on gold leaf but the bad ones will be recorded on dog skin. Even teenagers are wary of this danger for whoever wants their name recorded on dog parchment!

Myanmar is a rural country. The majority of the people are engaged in agriculture. Traditions and customs are also deeply rooted. So it is no surprise that Thingya Sars are still consulted even in this era of satellites and interplanetary rockets. This notion of forecasting the future with the help of astrologers and Celestial Beings traveling in space and riding on animals seems strange and funny but whatever it is old habits die hard. And for this year the Thingyan Sar says that the Thagya Min is to visit the abode of humans from April 13 to April 16. He will be wearing a red dress and riding a garuda with a scepter in one hand and a sickle in one hand. So be extra good and try to get your name on the gold leaf.