Myanma LAPHET Festival: MLF to be held at Seinn Lann So Pyay Garden

A media briefing for the "Union Day Commemorative" Myanma LAPHET Festival, jointly organized by the Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust and the Myanmar Tea Cultivation, Production, Export, and Sellers Association, was held on February 2 at Seinn Lann So Pyay Garden on Inya Road in Yangon.

The primary objective of organizing the Myanma LAPHET Festival was explained by Daw Sandar Khin, Chairperson of the Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust.

Daw Sandar Khin, Chairperson of Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust said " To obtain a laphet (pickled tea leaf salad) that we Myanmar people consume, it is a combination of products from the highlands and the plains. In other words, by enjoying laphet together and gathering, it also fosters peace and social cohesion, which is truly admirable. Therefore, the intention also includes that all ethnic groups, including youth, protect and preserve this tradition of eating laphet so that it does not fade away or disappear."

The Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust is the main organization that worked towards achieving UNESCO recognition for the traditional Myanmar New Year Thingyan Festival. It is understood that a key purpose of organizing the Myanma LAPHET Festival now is also to seek UNESCO recognition.

Daw Sandar Khin, Chairperson of Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust said " Regarding Myanmar culture, our traditional New Year Atar Thingyan festival has already been recognized by UNESCO. The practice of applying thanakha is also currently nominated. Now, we further wish to present and aspire to gain recognition for the intangible cultural heritage of laphet consumption. That is why we are holding this promotion event."

The festival will be held from February 11th to 14th, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, at Seinn Lann So Pyah Garden. Since it is also an educational area where the education-related events are regularly held three or four times a year. As it is a laphet festival, laphet shops from various places and laphet associations will sell and present various types of laphet. Assorted fries combined with laphet will also be presented and sold. And since it is an ethnic festival, various ethnic foods will also be presented here and sold accordingly in designated areas, it’s reported.