The traditional wrestling (Kyin) will be included in a Buddhist festival inviting the Muslims to participate in it as a message of communal harmony between the two communities.

The festival is scheduled to take place at  Kanphe village under Minbya township of Arakan State on 2, 3 and 4 May with Rakhine traditional ways.  Arakkha Mandaing art and cultural troupe is also going  to perform for three nights during the Pagoda festival.

Aye Kyaw Win, an organiser of the festival, informed  Narinjara News that the Kyin will be incorporated with an aim to promote friendly relationship between the  Rakhine (Buddhist) and Muslim people.

"Muslims are interested in the Kyin. To enhance the socio-economic relation between the two communities we have planned accordingly,” he said.

It was learned that the land needed for pagoda road was donated by the Muslim landowners. Moreover, U Habi Alaung, who is now living in Australia, donated kyats 35 lakh for the event. The donors will be provided certificates at the festival.

"The donors for the pagoda road and festival will be specially honoured with mementos and citations,” he added.

In earlier years, the Muslim wrestlers were allowed to participate in the festival, but it was not organized for a period of 10 years as the sectarian violence broke out in 2012.

Hla Maung, chairman of the event, said that he is feeling proud to invite everyone living in Rakhine State, irrespective of one’s religion, for the grand festival.

“In the past, we had  a Rakhine-Muslim festival and now we are planning to repeat the same enthusiasm,” he added.

It is expected that residents from fourteen Rakhine villages and four Muslim villages under Minbya township will participate in the festival.

About a hundred years ago, three Buddha images were found at a field near  Thinhgazar village as the villagers worked for a pond. Since then the villagers started worshiping the image during the pagoda festival.