The Mon State government will provide 50 million kyats (US$31,300) for the upcoming 72nd Mon National Day commemoration in early 2019, officials said.

Mon National Day is scheduled to be observed on February 20, 2019. Mon State National Resources and Environment Minister Dr. Min Kyi Win said that 40 million kyats would go toward the central celebration, and 10 million kyats would be delegated to township level events.

“We already made the decision,” he said.

The main celebration will be held in the compound of the Shwe Maw Daw pagoda in Bago, which was the ancient Mon capital of the Hongsawadee Kingdom. The total cost of the event will be 150 million kyats ($93,920), according to the organizing committee. The committee requested assistance from the Mon State government, and that was when they offered the 50 million kyats, Dr. Min Kyi Win said. It is the same amount that the Mon State government provided for the 71st national day celebration last year, which took place in Zar Ta Pyin Village under Hpa-an Township, Karen (Kayin) State.

“We also requested 50 million kyats from the Bago regional government. They didn’t reply to us,” said organizing committee vice chairperson Nai Shwe Phoo.

Mon National Day’s organizing committee was formed with representatives from Mon and Karen States and Yangon and Bago regions in 1997, and the celebration is subsequently held in different locations, with a rotation through townships. It has been held in 10 Mon State townships.

Mon kings Thamala and Wimala founded the Hongsawadee capital on the day after the full moon day in the month of Thabodwe in the year 573 AD. The Mon people mark Mon National Day on this day annually.