The Opening Ceremony of the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition was held in accordance with the restrictions for prevention and control of COVID-19 at the Myanmar International Convention Centre-2 in Nay Pyi Taw on 11 October. At the ceremony, the Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, in his capacity as the Patron of the Leading Committee on Organizing the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition, delivered a speech as follows:
- It has been five years since the 22nd Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition which was held in 2016.
- In 2022, due to the encouragement of the Prime Minister of the SAC, efforts of the cabinet member union ministers from relevant ministries, traditional cultural performing arts competitions, which have been desired by enthusiasts of traditional cultural performing arts for long, can be organized on a grand scale in the same manner as previous competitions at township, district, state and regional and national levels.
- The civilization of Pyu state cities along the Ayeyawady River, the lifeblood of Myanmar, is the earliest evidence.
- Scholars regarded the earlier Pyu Period as 200 BC, Beikthano, Maingmaw, Tagaung, Halin, and Sri Ksetra are the ancient Pyu city states of significance.
- Pyu people were Buddhists and well-versed in irrigated cultivation, handicraft, casting coins, jewel ornaments, gold filigree work, pottery and systematic construction of houses and religious buildings.
- There was concrete evidence that religion, culture and fine arts have flourished from the Pyu era to successive eras such as Bagan, Pinya, Inwa, Toungoo, Nyaungyan and Konbaung.
- The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is a country where various national races have been living in unity. The country is still blessed with the literatures and fine arts of all national brethren.
- In the 23rd competitions this year, traditional dances of ethnic Mon will be staged by contestants from the various regions and states.
- The traditional cultural performing arts born together with the country’s history have been maintained and safeguarded as a duty given history until the time of the present State Administration Council government.
- World countries define national values of a country considering not only its economy, education and defence capabilities but highly valuable cultural history of the country. Our country is full of long cultural histories of various ethnic peoples.
- The Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition, which will kick off today, includes the contests of oldies and classical song singing, Myanmar traditional musical instruments playing contests including Myanmar orchestra, (SaiWaing), World instrumental performances, Myanmar traditional dances, song composing competition, verbal skill of Myanmar’s performing arts (KwetSeik), Myanmar traditional puppet competition which was popular among the foreign countries, in addition to, the competition of Yamayana drama that is treasured by nations in Asia. The Yamayana drama competition will be particularly staged with the art of Myanmar drama.
- Despite the traditional cultural performing arts competition, it is scheduled to include not only competition of classical songs that were famous in successive eras and modern songs but that of the songs that uplift national prestige and integrity for the youths of today.
- All professional and amateur participants are urged to cherish and value the national culture and national dignity and preserve them as long as the world exists.
Then, the Vice-Chairman of the SAC Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, SAC member Mahn Nyein Maung, and Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Ko Ko cut the ribbon to open the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition.
After the Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Ko Ko, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Leading Committee on organizing the Competition, briefed on the schedules of the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition, the artists presented a song “Let’s Preserve Traditional Culture” composed by Alinkar Kyawswa U Maung Maung Latt in honour of the competition.
Also present at the occasion were members of the SAC, the Chairperson of the Constitutional Tribunal, the Chairman of the Union Election Commission (UEC), Union ministers, Union level officials, judges of the Supreme Court of the Union, members of the Constitutional Tribunal, members of the UEC, the Commander of the Nay Pyi Taw Command, Deputy ministers, members of the Union Civil Service Board, members of the leading committee, work committees and subcommittees on organizing the competition, state and regional ministers, judges, managers, instructors, assistants, participants from national races and officials.
The 23rd Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition is held with the four objectives: To uplift national prestige and integrity and to preserve the cultural heritage and national characteristics; To discover, preserve and uplift the traditional cultural heritage of performing arts of ethnic nationals and national cultural characteristics; To preserve traditional cultural performing arts in order to further revitalize adoration of the State and hand it down to new generation youths; and To contribute much to the restoration of perpetual peace, it is reported.
Source: Myawady Daily Newspaper (12.10.2022)
- There was concrete evidence that religion, culture and fine arts have flourished from the Pyu era to successive eras such as Bagan, Pinya, Inwa, Toungoo, Nyaungyan and Konbaung.
- The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is a country where various national races have been living in unity. The country is still blessed with the literatures and fine arts of all national brethren.
- In the 23rd competitions this year, traditional dances of ethnic Mon will be staged by contestants from the various regions and states.
- The traditional cultural performing arts born together with the country’s history have been maintained and safeguarded as a duty given history until the time of the present State Administration Council government.
- World countries define national values of a country considering not only its economy, education and defence capabilities but highly valuable cultural history of the country. Our country is full of long cultural histories of various ethnic peoples.