The celebration of the sand stupa festival will take place at the Ngapali Beach in the Rakhine State, western Myamar, on the fullmoon day of Tabaung, which falls on March 1.
The sand stupa festival, which is known as Shite-thaung Hmyauk Festival, will be celebrated tomorrow, on the fullmoon day of Tabaung month, for second time, following the first celebration in 2017.
“We are holding the festival with the aim to preserve Rakhine culture,” said Ko San Ko, the festival organzing coordinator.
Dwayawaddy youths are assisting in organizing the festival under the guidance of Aung Myay Tharzi Sayadaw Ashin Kusala from Thandwe Town.
The first Shite-thaung Hmyauk Festival was celebrated in 2017, with the assistance from the Thargi Mandai Rakhine Culture Uplifting Group. The festival attracted a large number of crowds.
“We were able to hold it with a teeming crowd in the first year. Foreign tourists also participated and they were happy to get the chance participating [in the festival]. They told us that it was memorable for them and they enjoyed it,” said Ko San Ko.
At the festival, Migalar stupa will be set up, and the ceremony will be open with the performance of the Rakhine traditional drums. There the participants can build stupas of their choices,and snacks and cold drinks will be offered to them.
Shite-thaung Hmyauk Festival had been held during the times of the Rakhine kings.
