Amanda Wong 11, and Matthew Lam, 6, above, got ready to celebrate the Burmese New Year Sunday with their water blasters at the Chinatown Burmese Water Festival in Sara D. Roosevelt Park. Councilmember Alan Gerson sprinkled some water on William Su, chairperson of the Myanmar Chinese Association of New York. The water festival has several purposes including cleansing away the year’s tribulations, blessing the new year, paying respect for elders. It is a mating ritual in which men ask for the water the women are guarding. There will be a second festival July 17 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the J.H.S. 56 courtyard, 220 Henry St.
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