28 January
The Myanmar Ethnics Culture Fest continued for the third day, with Kyaikkasan Grounds, the venue of the festival, attracting a large crowd in the evening hours.
“First, we faced some difficulties as this is the first ever fest of its kind in Myanmar. But we could overcome them and hold the festival successfully thanks to the support of the Union Government, the Yangon Region Government, and the Myanmar Ethnic Entrepreneurs Association (MEEA), the main sponsor,” said U Khet Htain Nan, the chair of Kachin entrepreneurs association.
“If we have the wish to underpin the nation with the force of ethnic races, such festivals are the answer,” he said.
In addition to Myanmar ethnic races, the booths of Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Bamar, Mon, Rakhine and Shan and Ta-aung (Palaung), Kokang, Danu, PaO, and Wa self-administered areas were also crowded with Japanese tourists who are currently in Myanmar to attend the Myanmar-Japan Sakura festival, and travellers.
“Yangonites can now see with their own eyes the cultures, customs, and traditions of our ethnic brethren in one place, as the fest is being held in the city. I could see the costumes of ethnic races and taste their traditional dishes. It is a unique fest. I had never seen some of the ethnic dresses,” said a visitor from Yankin, a township in Yangon.
“The Mano dance of Kachin ethnics was the heart of today’s fest, as people of all ages from other ethnic races joined in with Kachin chorus dancers to express unity and progress. In fact, the Kachin ethnics performed Mano as a symbol of peace, progress, and prosperity,” said U Khet Htain Nan.
The fest is serving as a one-stop venue where people can enjoy ethnic dances, traditions, cultures, lifestyles, items, and foods, and buy local goods and souvenirs.—Thi Thi Min
(Translated by TMT)
