Ethnic Kayins celebrate New Year

Ethnic Kayin people celebrated their New Year with traditional dances and songs in Insein, a satellite town in the north of Yangon yesterday evening.

Kayin New Year Celebrations Central Committee (Greater Yangon) Chairman Mahn Shwe Pyi Aye declared the celebrations open.

The New Year celebrations also served as the showcase of Kayin culture as it exhibited an array of boots displaying folk art, souvenirs and other utensils of Kayin people. The event drew a large crowd as its included sports activities, games, funfairs, shops and restaurants.

The second day event will see ethnic Kayins saluting the State Flag and the Kayin Flag and talks in commemoration of the New Year at 6 am, followed by sports activities, games, and funfairs till noon.

In the evening at Myanmar Convention Centre there will be traditional dances of various categories, performances of the Attachment of the Clouds violin group, modern Kayin songs, poem recitations and children’s programs.

Prize presentation will be held on 19 December the final day of the celebrations. The New Year originates from the collective harvesting festivals held by the Kayin ancestors.

Zaw Gyi