Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar,  Chairman of State Security and  Peace Commission of the Republic  of the Union of Myanmar, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing addresses  the prize-presentation ceremony of the 26th Myanmar Traditional  Cultural Performing Arts Competitions

In his address, the Senior General extended greetings, saying may you all strive for raising and glorifying the integrity of the country and race in the world, while preserving, cherishing and promoting national culture.

Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions has been held as a treasured tradition, and the 26th competitions has been successfully concluded. It is common know-ledge that the competitions has preserved and promoted various branches of arts, alongside the achievement of beneficial results of strengthening and highlighting the national characteristics and arousing patriotism and Union spirit.

The government, on its part, is annually celebrating the Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions, which is completely filled with national essence, and because of the support of the region/state governments and the public, it is achieving meaningful success. The Senior General praised the noble spirit, goodwill and merits of all judges, the well-versed artists, and contestants to study and preserve the traditional cultural performing arts with love and admiration and their core quality, along with the support and involvement of parents and relatives and enthusiasts.

He said the national culture is the heritage of a nation and people that must be preserved and protected as their lifeblood. A higher level of culture of a nation and its people will raise their standard and enable them to stand tall among the global nations. Normally, the national identity, inherent value and standard can be expressed only through national culture.

Every country must cultivate the dress code, behavior, vision, and nature of its people to be courteous and impressive through the work of preserving, protecting and promoting its national culture.

The unique costumes, performances and musical instruments of Myanmar traditional performing arts in genuine Myanmar style will proudly stand as the gifted cultural heritage among the global countries.

It is true that by witnessing the prestigious and honorable Myanmar cultural heritage presented by the Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions, new general youths will understand the splendor and richness of the delicate arts, and will have love, respect, and appreciation for the Myanmar culture. He then expressed honour for all contestants including prize-winners for their love for national culture and efforts.

He stated that the Myanmar people have a long-standing tradition of standing proudly throughout history, thanks to their own national characteristics, high-standard national culture, deep and subtle cultural customs and philosophies, and the virtue of their social ethics and discipline.

He stated that it is their national duty, now resting on the shoulders of all citizens, to strive to leave behind good foundations and a worthy inheritance for future generations. This must be achieved by combining the excellent opportunities of the present with the preservation and enhancement of these noble past traditions and valuable legacies.

Therefore, he urged and expressed the desire for all to continue striving to preserve and enhance the valuable legacy of the national cultural structure, including the Myanmar traditional arts (Anu Thukuma) inherited from ancestors. He stressed that this should be done with noble efforts in the present, combining them with the positive outcomes of the recently concluded Traditional Myanmar Cultural Performing Arts Competition to ensure the continuation of a genuine artistic heritage for the future.

 He expressed his wish and urged everyone to strengthen the inherited national cultural resources throughout history by combining traditional preservation with innovation and creativity. He called on them to raise the national pride of the ethnic peoples, safeguard the Myanmar traditional national culture, and prevent the infiltration and dominance of foreign cultures. Finally, he encouraged the use of the power of cultural arts to promote and strengthen the foundational spiritual principles of national spirit, ethnic solidarity, and the Union Spirit.

Following this, the Senior General presented honorary awards to ethnic traditional/rural cultural groups from Kachin State, Kayah State, Kayin State, Chin State, Sagaing Region, Taninthayi Region, Bago Region, Magway Region, Mandalay Region, Mon State, Rakhine State, Yangon Region, Shan State, and Ayeyawady Region.

Afterwards, the Dawei Traditional Cultural Music Group from Taninthayi Region per-formed a traditional Dawei “Yang” dance.

Next, Vice-Senior General Soe Win presented awards to the groups that won Special, First, Second, and Third prizes in the Taninthayi Region traditional Dawei “Yang” dance competition and the impromptu poetry competition.

Subsequently, Commission members presented awards and honorary certificates as follows: Union Prime Minister U Nyo Saw presented to the winners of the First, Second, and Third prizes in the Maha Gita competition Advanced Level (Male)(Female); Commission Secretary Joint Executive Chief General Ye Win Oo, presented to the winners of the First, Second, and Third prizes in the Maha Gita competition Basic Level (Ages 15-20)(Male)(Female); Commission Member Union Minister for Defence General Maung Maung Aye, presented to the winners of the First, Second, and Third prizes in the Maha Gita competition Basic Level (Ages 10-15)(Male) (Female); Commission Member Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, presented to the winners of the First, Second, and Third prizes in the Classical/Modern com-petition Advanced Level (Male(Female); Commission Member Union Minister for Border Affairs and National Races Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, presented to the winners of the First, Second, and Third prizes in the Classical/Modern competition Basic Level (Ages 15-20)(Male)(Female); Commission Member Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Kyaw Swa Lin, presented to the winners of the First, Second, and Third prizes in the Classical/Modern competition Basic Level (Ages 10-15)(National)(Female).

After that, Ma Moe Myint San, the First Prize winner from Mandalay Region in the Classical/Modern Basic Level (Ages 15-20) competition, performed the song “Ananta Nga Pyar”.

Following this, Union-level persons, Union Ministers, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Commander-in-Chief’s Office, and the Nay Pyi Taw Command Commander presented honorary awards and certificates to the winners of the dance, composition, and instrumental competitions.

During the award ceremony, representatives from states and regions who won first prizes in the dance, composition, and instrumental competitions performed.

After the award ceremony concluded,   Senior  General Min Aung Hlaing cordially greeted the attendees.

In the 26^th Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition, 1,672 com-petitors from various regions and states participated. The award winners were: Yangon Region (59 prizes), Mandalay Region (47 prizes), Ayeyawady Region (37 prizes), Sagaing Region (33 prizes), Bago Region (22 prizes), Mon State (21 prizes), Magway Region (14 prizes), Kayah State (17 prizes), Shan State (13 prizes), Rakhine State (10 prizes), Kayin State (12 prizes), Taninthayi Region (13 prizes), Chin State (10 prizes), and Kachin State (5 prizes).