New Year Celebration of Kayin People: Yangon celebrates Kayin New Year Festival

Kayin New Year Celebration for 2762 Kayin Era was held at the National Races village in Thaketa Township, Yangon region on Thursday.

The Kayin New Year flag hoisting ceremony was held at 6:00 am and Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs U Saw Tun Aung Myint hoisted Kayin national flag. Later, attendees paid tribute to the State flag and Kayin National flag and sung Kayin national song.

It was followed by the ceremony at the Union hall of National Races village (Yangon). Members of the State Administration Council Jeng Phang Naw Taung, U Saw Daniel, Union Minister U Saw Tun Aung Myint, Yangon Region Chief Minister and the Region Command Commander formally opened the ceremony by playing frog drum while Kayin youths blew buffalo horn and perform Kayin traditional dance.

In his Kayin New Year greetings, SAC member U Saw Daniel said that Kayin New Year Day ceremony is held in unity throughout Myanmar regardless of religion. To preserve their traditional cultural heritage for future generations, Kayin ancestors tried to pass a law recognizing Kayin New Year Day together with their fellow ethnic groups in 1937 when Myanmar was ruled by the British.

Kayin New Year day has been held and now it had been 85 years. He called other national brethren to preserve their literatures, languages and cultures like Kayin New Year celebrations and participate in the nation development tasks whatever role they are with union spirit, unity and amity.

Later, Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs extended greetings. Chairman of Yangon Region Kayin Literature and Culture Association then explained about the emergence of Kayin New Year celebration.

At the ceremony, Kayin traditional dances were staged. Yangon Region Minister for Ethnic Affairs U Saw Jat Kaw Htoo presented Kayin New Year gifts to the guests. SAC members, Union Minister, Yangon Region Chief Minister, the Region Command Commander, deputy Minister and the Regional Ministers then presented cash for Kayin New Year Day Organizing Committee.