NAY PYI TAW October 23
The prize-presentation ceremony of the silver jubilee commemorative 25th Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competitions was held at MICC II here this morning, addressed by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present were Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General, Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, the Joint SAC Secretary and wife, SAC members and wives, union level officials, union ministers, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chair, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Nay Pyi Taw command commander, deputy ministers, members of the steering committee, work committee and subcommittees to hold the competitions, region /state chief ministers, judges, managers, coaches, supporting teams, prize-winner national races contestants, traditional dance troupes from regions and states and officials.
In his address, the Senior General expressed pleasure and honor as the Competitions was successfully held on a grand scale with full essence, and with the active participation of 180 judges and 2,584 contestants from all over the country under the State’s leadership.
The Senior General said although the Competitions lasted for just a week, it promoted the national essence and sense. It is a prestige for every Myanmar as the Competitions has clearly showcased the highly civilized values of Myanmar performing arts, Myanmar customs and traditions and basic principles of the views of Myanmar society with the power of art within a short period.
All along the course of history, Myanmar people never regarded cultural art just as an entertainment; they seriously treasured and preserved it as a national heritage that could directly support social progress.
Marionette and drama contests of the Competitions could revitalize the majestic and priceless value and essence of marionette and drama. It is a satisfactory result of the Competitions, especially, the scene of young artists enthusiastically playing and singing the songs composed by great composers of the ancient times has enhanced the nationalistic fervour.
The government is supporting the Competition step by step annually under systematic programs to further enhance its quality and standard. Hence, the power and value of Myanmar cultural arts is now in the hearts of the entire nation including the new generation, and the national strength has been promoted to the most possible degree.
National culture, national spirit and value system are the basic forces that are vitally important for the independent development of a region.
The people must be aware of the alien cultural penetration through national outlook.
Hence, continued efforts must be made for further flourishing of Myanmar ways, styles, culture and arts of the cultural and art field, one of the arenas to ward off cultural penetration.
In all seriousness, all the veteran and new generation artists are urged to apply the power of arts for the country to steer straightly on the path to promote national interest in the future.
I would urge all the relevant officials and artists to strive for further flourishing of Myanmar culture, art and national characteristics to enable the Union of Myanmar to stand tall in the international community as long as the world lasts, to join hands with the power of arts while preserving and valuing the genuine Myanmar culture that has flourished since many years ago for ever activating and thriving of the national dignity, nationalistic fervour of Myanmar people, to instill the fine historical traditions, ancestral pride, high level of culture and civilized attributes of Myanmar in the hearts of new generation and to cement national strength through the power of art for the people to ward off cultural penetration.
The Senior General presented honorary awards to ethnic traditional dance troupes from Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Rakhine and Shan states whereas the wife of the Senior General gave honorary awards to folk cultural troupes from Sagaing, Taninthayi, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Yangon and Ayeyawady regions, respectively.
The Rakhine ethnic traditional music band played the song with the title of “Rakhine music in variety of instruments”.
SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win presented honorary prizes to ethnic traditional cultural troupes from states and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, medals and certificates of honour to first, second and third prize winners in the Maha Gita (classic song) female amateur (first grade) contest.
SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo gave medals and certificates of honour to first, second and third prize winners in the Maha Gita song male amateur (first grade) and amateur (second grade) contests and council members, winners in the Maha Gita song male higher education level and basic education level (aged 15-20) and (aged 10-15) contests.
The wife of the Joint Secretary and wives of the SAC members handed medals and certificates of honour to the winners in the Maha Gita female amateur (second grade), higher education and basic education level (aged 15-20) and (aged 10-15) female contests.
Council members awarded winners in the old/modern song amateur (first and second grades), higher education, basic education (aged 15-20) and (aged 10-15) male contests and wives of the council members, winners in the female contests.
The council members and their wives gave medals and certificates of honour to winners in the amateur (second grade) and higher education female and male prestige and integrity uplifting song contests.
Ma Thoon Wady Htut representing Mandalay Region who won the gold medal in the old/ modern song basic education (aged 10-15) contest sang the song “Flourishing of Myanmar music”.
Council members and their wives presented medals and certificates of honour to the winners in the dancing female and male amateur (first and second grades), higher education and basic education (aged 15-20) and (aged 10-15) contests.
Maung Hein Lin Marn Thway from Ayeyawady Region who was the youngest contestant in the basic education (aged 10-15) dancing contest performed dances.
Union-level dignitaries, Union ministers, the Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman and senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief also awarded winners in the dancing, song-composing and music contests respectively.
After the awarding ceremony, Ma Eaindray Myint Mo from Yangon Region in the basic education (aged 15-20) songcomposing contest sang the song “Lasting strength of youth” and Maung Hein Htet Paing from Bago Region who won the gold medal in the music contest (Donmin) in the basic education (aged 15-20) contest performed the song “Shwe Min Gan”.
The wife of the Senior General presented medals and certificates of honour to first, second and third prize winning troups in the marionette troupe contest and the outstanding puppeteers, song performers, supporting music and script writer respectively.
The Senior General presented medals and certificates of honour to the first, second and third prize winning troupes in the Maha Zanaka drama contest and outstanding performers, duet dancer, script-writer, director and supporting music respectively.
Later, the Senior General and his wife cordially greeted the attendees.
