NAY PYI TAW January 15
Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the Naga Traditional New Year Festival in Lahe of Naga Self-Administered Zone this afternoon.
On arrival in Lahe where the festival would be held, the Senior General and party were welcomed by Commander of North-West Command Maj-Gen Than Htike, Chairman of Naga Self-Administered Zone Administration Body U Tun Tun Win and party with traditional dances of Naga ethnics.
The Senior General and party took the positions at the traditional ground in Lahe where the festival would take place.
Also present at the festival were SAC Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, Council members General Mya Tun Oo and Jeng Phang Naw Taung, Union ministers U Win Shein, U Hla Moe, U Thaung Han, Dr Nyunt Pe and Dr Thet Khaing Win, Sagaing Region Chief Minister U Myat Kyaw, Chairman of Naga Self-Administered Zone Administration Body U Tun Tun Win, senior military officersfrom the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of North-West Command, Patron of Naga Traditional Literature and Culture Central Committee U Maung Nyan and party, town elders, dance troupes of Naga ethnics and Naga people.
As the festival was launched, the Senior General delivered an address. He expressed his pride in attending the festival.
He expressed his wishes for all ethnic people in Naga region and all entire national brethren of the Union to enjoy physical and mental wellbeing with auspiciousness.
Although ethnic national people residing in Myanmar are different in culture and customs, they all have been living in the Union with the family spirit by adoring each other.
No matter what different they are in birthplaces, customs and traditions, they all are joining hands in the same places in sharing the future through thick and thin. Naga is not concerned with nationality, natives, religion and faiths of each tribes but it means integration of all Naga tribes and families.
All ethnic national brethren as well as Naga ethnics residing in Myanmar have to preserve their traditional and customs as well as heritages to posterities through the unity.
Only when they enjoy improvement of social life should they have to place an emphasis on nondisappearance of traditions and culture.
The government is managing all responsibilities of the State in line with the Constitution and striving for development of socioeconomic life of the ethnic people and peace and stability as well as development of the nation in implementing the fivepoint roadmap and nine political, social and economic objectives as fundamental principles of the SAC.
If the Union wishes to have harmonious development, the whole nation needs to restore peace and stability. The people should join hands with the government which is striving for national reconciliation and peace and stability of the whole Union. All ethnic nationals residing in Naga region are to strive for further storing peace and stability.
The entire people are to harmoniously participate in the measures for accelerating development of Naga Self-Administered Zone in cooperation with the Union government,Sagaing Region government,and Naga Self-Administered Zone Administration Body. In so doing, they all have to culture the spirit to take responsibilities to do their functions with goodwill. Departmental personnel who serve for allround development of administration, education and health sectors are to provide necessary assistance for improvement of socioeconomic life of national brethren.
With Ks-5 billion in cash assistance provided by the SAC from the national economic development fund to revive the socioeconomy of the people and the State economy impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts must be made for agricultural and livestock breeding activities and public welfare till success is achieved.
It is heartening to see better road transport of the townships Zone, and the efforts of relevant departments are praiseworthy.
Our government will be striving for greater development of the Naga region in all sectors including transport. Particularly, measures will be taken for balanced development of the education, transport and health sectors of the Naga people.
Now is the New Year of the Naga nationals, and at this auspicious time, I wish all the national people of the union as well as the ethnic Naga people good health and happiness. And May their prayers be answered.
Next, Naga damsel Ei Kyan Htway Nyu briefed on the background history of the Naga New Year Festival.
U Paung Khu, chairman of Naga Traditional Literature and Culture Central Committee, presented a New Year gift to the Senior General.
Then, the Senior General presented supplies for the Naga region development, agricultural equipment, sport gear and food, which were received by committee patron U Maung Nyan and members.
The Sagaing Region Chief Minister also presented Ks-100 million for the festival to the chairman of the Naga Self-Administered Zone Administration body.
Afterwards, the Senior General and party watched performances of the Naga nationals with their tribal dances and the song “the lasting beauty of the Union”, and enjoyed traditional food.
After the performance, the Senior General presented flower baskets and cash awards to the traditional dance troupes.
The Senior General and party viewed round the Naga traditional booths where they were conducted round by officials.
In the evening, the Senior General and party attended and participated in the Naga traditional bonfire together with the ethnic locals. First, the Senior General and the chairman of Lahe Township Naga Traditional Culture Committee formally opened the bonfire.
Later, the Senior General and party watched the performances of Naga nationals with their traditional dances.
The Senior General presents honorary flower basket and cash awards to Naga dance troupe, and Jeng Phang Naw Taung, on behalf of SAC members and Union ministers, cash awards through officials.
Then, the Senior General and party cordially greeted traditional dance troupes and local national races.
Naga New Year Festival is held with aims of safeguarding Naga traditions and cultural heritage, exposing and maintaining Naga culture and fine arts, strengthening mutual friendship and understanding among the Naga tribal groups, enabling the Naga people to actively participate in regional development tasks and promoting the Union spirit based on the amicability among the Naga tribes and national unity. Previously, the festival was separately in the townships. Since 1992, it has been held alternatively in the townships. Both local and international tourists come to the festival with enthusiasm and take part in the bonfires.
