UNESCO inscribes Myanma Thingyan on ICH List

AT the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Asunción, Paraguay, on 2-7 December 2024, Myanmar’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture proposed the nomination file of “Myanmar’s Traditional Ata Thingyan Festival” to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The decision was officially made to include it, marking the first time that Myanmar’s “Traditional Ata Thingyan Festival” has been officially added to the world list of intangible cultural heritage.

On 24 March 2023, a nomination file containing information related to Myanmar’s Traditional Ata Thingyan Festival, communities’ statements about Myanmar, and video recordings of the Thingyan celebrations and traditional practices were submitted to the UNESCO Committee of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The successful completion of the submission process was made possible by the support and cooperation of the government, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, the Myanmar Cultural Heritage Preservation Committee and its chairman and members, NGOs from regions and states, ethnic communities, media and social media users, and the public who value Myanmar’s cultural heritage, as well as relevant experts and organizations.
This achievement was the result of the enthusiastic collaboration of the local communities.
The “Myanmar’s Traditional Ata Thingyan Festival” has been included in the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition highlights the ongoing efforts to preserve and pass down the traditions of “Myanmar’s Traditional Ata Thingyan Festival” from the Bagan period to the present day.
With increased global awareness, it is expected to attract more international tourists, contribute to national development, and offer opportunities for the younger generations to inherit this cultural heritage.
It also aims to raise public awareness to help preserve and celebrate the Thingyan Festival in its traditional form. Furthermore, this recognition may lead to more opportunities and experiences for Myanmar to nominate other intangible cultural heritage elements for inclusion in the global list. — MNA/TTA

Source- The Global New Light of Myanmar