Myanmar Traditional Festival: Pwe Zay to be held in Yangon from November 6 to 8

The Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust will organize a Myanmar Traditional Festival "Pwe Zay" from November 6 to 8 at the Yangon Convention Centre (YCC) in Yangon.

A press conference for the festival was held at LOTTE Hotel Yangon on Thursday.

The festival is being organized with the aim of preserving Myanmar’s traditional heritage and passing it on to younger generations.

It will be open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., featuring 155 stalls showcasing traditional foods, regional food products, ethnic specialties and consumer goods from different parts of Myanmar.

On November 6, the San Yay Moe theatrical troupe will perform for visitors. On November 7, a live demonstration of Pon Ye Gyi, a traditional fermented soybean paste, will be accompanied by a musical performance by Project K.

Sanda Khin, Chairperson, Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust said "Myanmar has various seasonal festivals, ethnic traditional festivals and community festivals. Many of these festivals take place after the monsoon season. I chose the name ‘Pwe Zay’ for this event because ‘Pwe’ means performance and ‘Zay’ means market. Visitors can enjoy performances while strolling around the market and shopping."

The market will be divided into three zones. Zone A will feature food and refreshments, while Zone B will showcase food products from various regions. Zone C will display and sell regional products from ethnic communities, along with a range of consumer goods.

Sanda Khin, Chairperson, Myanmar Cultural Heritage Trust said "Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of foods from different regions of Myanmar in one place. The festival will also showcase the rich traditions of Myanmar’s festivals and encourage younger generations to appreciate and preserve their cultural heritage. In addition, it will help promote Myanmar’s tourism industry by raising awareness of the country’s cultural attractions through media coverage."

In addition to the market stalls, the three-day event will feature cultural knowledge quizzes, panel discussions and live demonstrations of traditional Myanmar food preparation.

A discussion session titled “Myanmar Food and Nutrition” will be among the activities planned for the festival, alongside practical demonstrations of traditional Myanmar snacks.

The festival is expected to provide a platform for showcasing Myanmar’s traditional foods, regional products and cultural practices while encouraging younger generations to appreciate and preserve the country’s cultural heritage.