THE Naga Literature and Culture Committee organized the 2025 Naga New Year Festival at Naga tradition ground in Homalin township, Homalin District, Sagaing Region, on 15 January.
The festival was inaugurated in accordance with Naga tradition and culture. Patron of committee U Peter and District Administration Body Chairman U Ye Win made greeting speeches, and relevant officials explained the emergence of the Naga New Year Festival.
Naga leaders then presented New Year gifts and awarded the winners of volleyball and futsal competitions marking the 2025 Naga New Year festival.
Makuri Naga traditional dances, including male dance, female dance, Tankun dance, female fire dance, Payar female dance, Naga’s traditional fashion show, Naga youth dance and modern Naga dance were also performed.
The Naga New Year Day is a festival to exchange harvesting experiences, negotiate the work plans for coming year, admit sins and apologize, pray for abundant rice and foodstuffs and reunite relatives.
Attendees to the festival were served with traditional Naga food and juice. — Lin Lin (IPRD)/KTZH

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

State Administration Council Member Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister at the Prime Minister Office Admiral Tin Aung San attended the 73rd Anniversary of Kayah State Day held at Loikaw State Hall yesterday.
After the ceremonial procedures, the Admiral read out the message sent by State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing to the occasion.
The recipients of honourary certificates and titles marking the 73rd Kayah State Day and the winners of the Fifth National Sports Competitions and 25th Myanmar Traditional Performing Arts competition were also awarded at the event.
The Union Minister Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung handed over 100 solar panels (50kW) and K15.1million worth of basic foodstuffs for the staff serving duties in Kayah State and Union Minister U Nyan Tun gave 50 DTH satellite receivers and 100 Set Top Box donated by the Ministry of Information, to the relevant officials.
The ceremony included traditional sports events and physical activities for kindergarten. The Admiral and party also awarded the winners of these events.
On 14 January, the Admiral and party attended the opening ceremony of the new tar road marking the 73rd Kayah State in Lawka Dhamma and Dawtama wards of Loikaw township.

After the ceremony, they observed the construction project of the New Thiri Mingalar market and ongoing construction plans and made the necessary instructions. On arrival at Loikaw General Hospital (500-bed), the Admiral met with the health workers and presented K5.5 million for medical funds, K1 million and foodstuffs for staff members.
They then observed the different medical departments in the hospital compound. At noon, they donated rice, cooking oil, beans and salt at Shwe Taung Pariyatti Monastery in Loikaw. Afterwards, SAC Members Porel Aung Thein and U Shwe Kyein handed over K239.06 million donated by the Ministry of Border Affairs for seriously damaged religious buildings in terrorist attacks in Loikaw and K15 million for the monasteries in Loikaw to the relevant officials. — MNA/KTZH

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

ACCORDING to locals, there has been a steady flow of tourists to major attractions in Hpa-an this month.
Tourists’ destinations include Kyaukkalat, Saddan Cave, Htuntpadaing, Kaukkhameit Bridge, Naung Lone Valley, and Kaw Ka Thaung Cave, in addition to Mount Taung Wine.
“Besides Taung Wine, people visit Kyaukkalat, Sadan Cave, Htuntpadaing, Kaukkhameit Bridge, Naung Lone Valley, and Kawkathaung Cave. In the west, they visit Zabar cave, Kawtgun cave, Rathepyan and natural water caves, after climbing Taung Wine. Tourist arrivals are constant, but we cannot compare it to December,” said Ko Myo, a local operator of the Hpaan Oway Tuk-Tuk (three-wheeled vehicle) Service.
Most visitors to Hpa-an came from Yangon, and there were more people on weekends. “There are many visitors every week. Many come from Yangon by express cars. Some people are from other places. The tourists are both young and old. This year, we saw monks too. They came in groups. It is not as many as in December, but there are tourists and we are busier on holidays,” he said. The travel and guide community reported that most of the travellers in December visited Taung Wine and other mountain destinations were Zwegabin and Kya In. — Thit Taw/ZN

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

OVER 450,000 domestic and foreign travellers visited tourist destinations in Kayin State from January to November 2024, according to the Kayin State Directorate of Hotels and Tourism.
As a result of more than 450,000 domestic and foreign travellers visiting tourist destinations in Kayin State during the 11 months of 2024, the income of hotels and guesthouses amounted to K4.761 billion.
Currently, 60 hotels and guesthouses are operating in the hotel and tourism sector of Kayin State, with a total of 2,159 rooms. The region’s beautiful water, land, forests, mountain landscapes, caves, waterfalls, springs, traditional culture, seasonal festivals, and rich natural resources have attracted many domestic and foreign visitors.
In addition, a resort project will be implemented in Kawmayan Village, Hpa-an Township, Kayin State, to develop agro-tourism based on agricultural tasks. Kawmayan Village is also the recipient of the Sustainable Tourism Award 2022, presented by Southeast Asian countries. — ASH/MKKS

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

NAGA New Year Festival will take place from 15 to 17 January in Lahe, Naga Self-Administered Zone on a grand scale, said U Aung Htut, chair of the Naga Traditional Literature and Culture Association (Central). Leshi, Lahe and Nanyun towns of the Self-Administered Zone rotate their turns to host this annual festival after the harvest season.
“The festival is held in Naga’s three towns in turn. The festival is hoped to strengthen ties of Naga ethnic people, promote culture and effectuate socio-development. Naga traditional dance, music, performance and Naga feast will be included,” U Aung Htut elaborated.
Naga traditional dance and performance with distinctive traditional clothes decorated with silver bangles, hornbills, plumes, goat’s tails, boar teeth and buffalo horns enhance the visitors and tourists with its rich and unique culture. The opening day of the festival coincides with the 35th anniversary of the Traditional Naga Literature and Culture Association. The Naga Traditional New Year Sports
competitions are being held between 7 and 14 January to mark the Jade Anniversary. — ASH/KK

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

The opening ceremony for Ayeyawady Shukhintha Resort in Myitkyina marking the 77th Anniversary of Kachin State Day that falls on 10 January 2025 was held at the resort yesterday.
The event was attended by State Administration Council Member Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister at the Prime Minister Office Admiral Tin Aung San and SAC Member Daw Dwe Bu, Union Ministers Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, U Maung Maung Ohn, U Min Naung, U Hla Moe, U Nyan Tun, Jeng Phang Naw Taung, State Chief Minister U Khet Htein Nan, Northern Command Commander Brig-Gen Aung Zaw Htwe, Deputy Minister Daw Nu Mra Zan and relevant officials.
The state chief minister first the establishment of Ayeyawady Shukhintha Resort, and the Admiral and party cut the ribbon to inaugurate the archway.
Then, they observed the decoration, collective exercise section and performance of students in the resort, and gave cash prizes to them. They also enjoyed the performance of students marking the 77th Kachin State Day at Sitapur Manaw ground.
The Admiral and party attended the opening ceremony of the Manaw festival. They also participated in the Manaw dance together with all the participants happily. They observed the local agricultural products, goods, instant foods, traditional clothing, bamboo and cane products, and cultural and educational galleries.
During the awarding ceremony of the horticultural show, the Admiral and party presented prizes to the winners. They then proceeded to the opening ceremony of the first phase of the Kachin State Cultural Museum in Ayeya Ward, Myitkyina, marking the 77th Kachin State Day.
After the opening ceremony, the state chief minister, deputy minister and state head of department explained the construction of the newly extended museum building and displayed booths and a digital museum hall. The extended building is 60 feet in length, 120 feet in width, and 32 feet in height and it is a two-storey building. The Department of Buildings under the Ministry of Construction built it using K994.880 million of the Union budgets in the 2023-2024 financial year.
The Admiral and party arrived in Myitkyina on 8 January to attend the 77th Kachin State Day and were welcomed by the state chief minister and wife, and relevant departmental officials at Myitkyina airport.
After the greeting speech of the chief minister at the lounge of the airport, he presented Kachin’s traditional costume, knife, bag and turbans to the Admiral and party. — State IPRD/KTZH

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

CHAUNGTHA Beach, located in Chaungtha Town of Pathein District, saw an influx of visitors from various regions on 25 December for the Christmas holiday.
According to a street vendor U Ko Ko Naing, “Visitor numbers vary daily, but holidays like Christmas bring significant crowds. Hotels and guesthouses receive bookings, and with the New Year approaching, the beach is becoming increasingly lively”.
Chaungtha Beach usually attracts visitors on regular weekends and public holidays. However, it is more crowded on the days of special significance and during long holidays.
To ensure a pleasant and safe experience for all, township authorities, under the supervision of Township Administrator U Thiha Aung are actively managing security, cleanliness, and traffic flow.
Vendors are required to adhere to regulations to maintain order and hygiene along the beach. — Kyaw Kyaw (IPRD)/KZL

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Preparations are in progress in Hpa-an, Kayin State, for the Kayin New Year celebration, scheduled for 30 December 2024, which coincides with the first waxing of Pyatho. The first waxing day of Pyatho in the Myanmar lunar calendar marks the Kayin New Year. This year, 11 January also fell on the first waxing day of Pyatho, making the upcoming celebration the second Kayin New Year in 2024. “According to the Myanmar calendar, this rare occurrence happens every four or five years. During the last New Year, a large frog drum and a buffalo horn sculpture were crafted in the field of Taungkalay. This year, preparations are underway to create a large Kayin national flag,” shared a resident of Taungkalay village in Hpa-an Township. At the upcoming Kayin New Year Festival, food will be served to attendees of the unveiling ceremony for the ‘Kayin National Flag.’ Additionally, sports competitions and traditional Don Yein dance contests will take place across Kayin State on Monday, 30 December, to celebrate Kayin New Year 2764.SK

Source: Myawady Web Portal

During the trekking season of Mount Taungwine located in Mawlamyine resumed in December, the arrival of walkers and pilgrims has reached even over 2,000 on weekends, according to the Sasananwe Foundation. On 21 and 22 December, there were 1,200 and 2,000 walkers respectively and around 1,500 on some days. It is expected that the visitor arrival will be larger during coming long holidays, said residents. “Taungwine is like Mandalay Hill. We can view our town, Mawlamyine from the top of Mount Taungwine so people enjoy visiting here. The trekking path is crowded from 5 am,” said a resident. Recently, the weather has become cold at the foot of the mountain and walkers are advised to get dressed warmly. The three-month trekking and pilgrimage season, which is designated in December, January and February, started on 1 December, said the Sasananwe Foundation. 

Source: Myawady Web Portal

LAVENDER plantations near Pinlaung in the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone of Southern Shan State have become a popular destination for domestic tourists. According to local sources, the plantations attract 300 to 500 visitors daily, primarily from Taunggyi and Kalaw.
Located near Phayaphyu Village in Naungtaya of Pinlaung Township, the lavender patches were originally cultivated as part of Thailand’s Mae Fah Luang project.
Efforts are now underway to develop the site into a Photo Sightseeing Tour destination to draw more visitors. Travellers from Taunggyi can reach the plantations by taking the Taunggyi-Aungban-Naungtaya route and turning off at the Nyanpin Village junction before arriving at Phayaphyu Village. Visitors from Kalaw can use the Kalaw-Tikyit-Naungtaya route to access the site. — ASH/KZL

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar