Tradition & Culture Preservation: 23rd Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition

The opening ceremony of the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition 2022 took place in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday.

Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, members of the State Administration Council, Chairman of the Constitutional Tribunal, the Chairman of Union Election Commission, the union ministers, many other officials, panel of judges and contestants attended the opening ceremony at the Myanmar International Convention Center 2.

In his opening speech, the Vice-Senior General said that the Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition could not be held for 5 years after the 22nd Cultural Performing Arts Competition that was held in 2016. Now, the competition could be held again in a grand manner from the township, district and state levels to the national level like before.

In this competition,  the oldies and classical song singing, Myanmar traditional musical instruments playing contests including Myanmar orchestra (SaiWaing), the dancing contests, song composing competition, “KwetSeik” or a verbal skill of Myanmar’s performing arts, Myanmar’s a traditional puppet competition, Ramayana contest with playing music and beautiful dancing style would be included. 

Although the competition is a traditional cultural singing, dancing, and playing, it has been planned to include songs promoting national prestige to be able to sing and compete the young people of the modern age in addition to the old and modern songs that have appeared throughout the ages.

He added that the Competition that has been suspended for more than half of a decade could be held again due to the encouragement of the Head of State, efforts of the Leading Committee, the Work Committee and Sub-committees and the supports of experts, participation of the Region and State Governments in the time of the State Administration Council.

The Vice Senior General called for the artistes and the new generation contestants to hand over the traditional culture for as long as the world exist while cherishing abd preserving the cultural dignity and value of the nation and the people.

Later, the Vice Senior General, member of the SAC Mahn Nyien Maung and Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Ko Ko formally opened the competition. Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U KoKo explained the competition plans.

The artists also entertained with the song entitled “Let’s preserve traditional heritage” composed by composer Alinka Kyaw Swa U Maung Maung Latt in honour of opening the ceremony.

Objectives of the 23rd Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition 2022 are 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.

The Competition at the Myanmar International Convention Center 2, National Library, National Museum and Yadana Hall and Training Theatre under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture is set to take place till the 18th of October.