It is 13th January 2021 and a public holiday in Myanmar. It is on the first day of Pyathoe, the tenth lunar month in the Myanmar calendar. The rice harvest is completed before Pyathoe, and there must be a celebration for the consumption of the new crop.
All over Myanmar there are other ceremonies to present the Kayin cultural heritage, like the Kayin Done Dance or the Kayin Bamboo Dance. The traditional sounding of the Karen horn and drum will be heard across Kayin state to welcome the new year. Young and old Kayins wear their traditional costumes of woven tunics over longyis and go around the cities to visit friends and relatives. Dance contests and kickboxing competitions are held every year in Hpa An, the capital of Kayin State.
The Kayin national flag is hoisted at dawn, and the ceremony is followed by dancing shows, while steamed sticky rice is served. There are speeches and awards for the best students of the year, while traditional and cultural exhibitions are also held about Kayin people’s history.
References & photo credits
https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/myanmar/kayin-new-year-day https://www.toursinmyanmar.com/travel-guide/kayin-new-year-festival.html
https://www.gnlm.com.mm/kayin-community-celebrates-new-year/
Kyaw Kyaw @kywa_kyaw, Twitter
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