National Day of the Thet people will be officially observed on 1 May in Maungdaw township of Rakhine State. Thet ethnic community, which has about 3,000 people in Rakhine State, is going to celebrate it on the western border township for the first time.

Thet National Day celebration committee chairman Hla Tun Kyaw informed that it would be the first time where the Thet people organise such a public ceremony.

“This year the State government has extended necessary help for the ceremony. The government has recognized the Thet National literary and cultural body officially. Thet National Day will be observed at Ma Kyi Gone village in Lay Mai ward of  Maungdaw,” he added.

The tribal members and concerned departments in Rakhine have also been invited to participate in the ceremony, which will comprise several events including  public talks, traditional dance competitions, other sports, etc. The winners will also be awarded on the occasion.

Traditional ethnic items, costumes and ancient accessories will be showcased in the ceremony.

Thet community experts reveal that the ceremony inspires the people to maintain the traditional values of farming and mountain cultivation.

Ma Khine Kyaw Yee, a young woman from Aung Thiri village under Mrauk-U township expressed her happiness that the Thet people are coming together during the observation.

"First of all, I am glad that our people have shown their dignified existence on the planet. I hope the festival will be an annual affair. I will  do whatever possible for my community,” said the young woman.

Thet people are normally famers and mountain cultivators. They are primarily settled in Maungdaw  locality. Some families are also living in the townships of  Mrauk-U,  Buthidaung, Rathidaung, Ponna Kyun, Ann,  Kyauk Pyu and Sittwe.

They are one of the early settlers in Myanmar along with Pyu and Kayan communities.  Across Myanmar the Thet community has about 6,000 population, while some families are living in  neighbouring Bangladesh too.