Peaceful Thingyan in Chin State: Chin State CM opened the traditional festival

The opening ceremony of the 2025 Chin State Maha Thingyan Festival was held in front of the Chin State Government office in Hakha on April 13. The event was attended by Chin State Chief Minister Dr. Wong Sun Htan and wife, Chief Justice of the State High Court U Nay Soe, the Deputy Commander of the North-West Command Brigadier General Moe Hein, state ministers, the State Advocate General, the State Government Secretary and their spouses, Commander of stationed tactical Command and departmental officials from state, district, and township levels, along with traditional cultural troupes.

At the beginning of the ceremony, a one-minute silence was observed to pay respects to those who lost their lives and to the destruction caused by the major earthquake that struck Mandalay on March 28.

At the opening of the Chin State Maha Thingyan Festival, Chief Minister Dr. Wong Sun Htan delivered a comprehensive speech highlighting the essence of the festival. He emphasized the importance of preserving the traditional customs and cultural values of the Myanmar Thingyan Festival, urging all Myanmar ethnic nationals to take responsibility in safeguarding this cultural heritage for future generations.

Following this, the Chief Minister, the Chief Justice, the Deputy Commander, State Ministers officially opened the festival by cutting the ceremonial ribbon. They then sprinkled scented water and sprayed traditional Thingyan water onto cultural troupes and attending guests.

Later, at the General Administration Department’s meeting hall, a continuation of the event was held, led by the Thanaka Culture Promotion Work Committee under the Myanmar Maha Thingyan Festival Organizing Committee. At this part of the event, young maidens of the “Nway-Oo May Pyo Yein Troupe” ground the traditional Thanaka to get its paste on the stage. Dr. Thazin, a lecturer from the Zoological Department of Haka University, gave a talk on the cultural significance of Thanaka in Myanmar society.

Subsequently, the “Padauk-Shwe-Wah Yein Troupe” respectfully applied decorative Banyan leaf-shaped Thanaka designs to the Patron of Chin State Maternal and Child Welfare Association, the Chief Minister’s wife and members, and vice versa. They also honored the Chief Minister and the attending guests with respectful greetings, marking the conclusion of the cultural demonstration segment of the event.

The program ended successfully with a traditional offering of refreshments and treats.