Kayin New Year ceremonies held countrywide

December 18, 2017

Kayin national New Year festival organizing committee (Greater Yangon) for the year 2757 continued the second day of traditional boxing competition yesterday afternoon in Insein railway compound football ground, Insein Township, Yangon attracting crowds of (boxing) enthusiasts.

There were 12 ordinary and special bouts with most ending in a knock out or stopped by referee making the bouts enjoyable and interesting for the spectators.

The Kayin national New Year festival was being held in Maha Hsay Wingaba Arlane Nga Hsint monastery, Insein Township from 17 to 19 December and yesterday morning saw a flag raising ceremony, following by saluting the national and Kayin flags followed by Kayin traditional performances and talks. In the evening, in addition to Kayin “don” dance, Kayin traditional culture and music entertainment program were conducted in Myanmar Convention Center – MCC) hall in Mindhamma Road, Mayangon Township.

In Kyonpar Village, Thaton Township, Mon State, 79th Kayin New Year ceremony was held on Kayin Year 2757, 1st Waxing of Pyatho, the Kayin New Year day, yesterday morning. The New Year ceremony was held with an aim to retain Kayin history, literature, culture and language and Mon State Chief Minister Dr. Aye Zan delivered a speech praising the virtues of the Kayin ethnic nationals. This was followed by reading of the New Year message, history of the Kayin New Year explained in Poe Kayin, Sgaw Kayin and Myanmar languages.

Next, respect and homage was paid to elders above 80 years of age with donations and distinguished students of 2016-2017 matriculation examinations were honored. Dance troupes representing villages in Thaton Township then entertained with dances including “Don” dances.

There are about 80,000 ethnic Kayin nationals in Thaton Township and of the 46 village tracts, 37 village tracts where ethnic Kayin nationals lived held traditional new year festivals consisting of “Don” dance competitions, traditional boxing matches, sports and entertainments, plays and Kayin literature and culture exhibitions.

Hpa-An also held Kayin New Year ceremony yesterday by raising the Kayin flag with blowing of a buffalo horn and striking of a Hpasi (frog drum). The flag was raised by Kayin State Hluttaw Speaker U Saw Chit Khin.

Afterwards, the ceremony was continued with reading of the Kayin New Year message, reading of the messages sent by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Amyotha Hlutaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than. History of the Kayin New Year was explained in three languages (Myanmar, Poe Kayin and Sgaw Kayin) and then the ceremony was concluded with singing of Kayin song meaning “unity in strength”.

After the ceremony, traditional festivals were continued followed by Kayin traditional lunch. The ceremony and festivals were attended by State Hluttaw Speaker, Deputy Speaker, state government ministers, southeast command commander and high ranking officials from the civil and military, Taiwan, China, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar and other business persons who were attending the Kayin State Investment Forum, representatives of regional peace organisations and Kayin ethnic nationals.

GNLM

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar