The Union-level Ministry of Ethnic Affairs has donated 3.5 million Kyats for the 72nd annual celebration of Mon National Day (Central), which will take place in Bago Capital, Bago Region this year.

The 72nd Mon National Day (central) Organizing Committee received the donation at a meeting with Nai Thet Lwin, the Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs on January 21 in Naypyitaw.

“The Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs was the chairman of Mon National Day (central) many times, so he has experience. This year, the central celebration will take place in Bago for the first time, and we are here to get his advice,” said U Soe Thein, the chairman of the 72nd Mon National Day (central) Organizing Committee.

At the meeting, the central committee formally sent invitations to the celebrations via the Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs to the President, Vice President, State Counselor and other officials.

Representatives of 72nd Mon National Day Organizing Central Committee meet with the Union Minister for the Ethnic Affairs (Photo: MNA)

The 72nd Mon National Day (Central) Organizing Committee also had a meeting led by the Karen Ethnic Affairs Minister at the Bago Region Government Office, on January 22, according to Min Banyar Nyan Htun, general secretary of 72nd Mon National Day (Central) Organizing Committee.

“We briefly presented about how the celebration will take place over three days. We also explained the way people from the government departments should participate, especially for security and municipal matters,” said Min Banyar Nyan Htun.

The central three-day celebration of the 72nd Mon National Day will be held in the Shwe Maw Daw Pagoda compound in Bago Capital, starting February 20. On the morning of the event, three groups of marching bands will march from three different places. The parade will be followed by a Mon flag ceremony. In the evening, there will be talks, Mon heritage dances, a modern music performance, and a choral dance performance.

According to the 72nd Mon National Day Organizing Committee, 120 million Kyat was allocated as a budget for the 72nd celebration of the Mon National Day (Central).

Mon National Day celebrates the founding of the longest-ruling Mon kingdom, the Hongsawatoi, by the two princes – Samala and Vimala – on the 1st Waning of Tabodwe, in the year 1116 of the Buddhist Era. Since 1947, Mon people have celebrated Mon National Day on that day annually.