In spite of the political and military instability in Rakhine State, the Ngapali Beach Autumn Festival annual ceremony was held on November 21 to benefit the interests of the locals and to attract tourists.
At 6:00 AM on November 21, the event started with a bicycle parade from Ma Zin neighbourhood of Ngapali to Thandwe township and a follow-up opening ceremony was held at the Ngapali Paradise Hotel.
At the opening ceremony, to show the importance of Rakhine culture, Rakhine traditional drums were played, and Rakhine dances were performed. The event included sand sculpture displays, bicycle parades, dances and other entertainment programs, as well as greasy pole climbing, tug of war and volleyball competitions, organizers said.
“The essence of Rakhine culture was revealed in the opening ceremony. Rakhine traditional drums were played, and Rakhine dances were performed. Young people wanted to organize stage shows by Rakhine singers, but the State government did not allow it for security reasons.
More than 3000 people participated in the Ngapali Beach Autumn Festival opening ceremony,” said U Tun Thant Kyaw, an elder of Ngapali.
Compared to previous years, this year’s opening ceremony was a bit more crowded. Access to the hotel where the ceremony was held was limited due to security reasons, but everyone could come and enjoy the opening ceremony programs on the beach area, he said.
Aiming to promote the interests of local people and attract more local and foreign tourists, this festival is held to welcome the Ngapali Beach Autumn tourism season, he added.
“ Today’s opening of the Autumn Festival means a declaration that Ngapali Beach is open and the main objective of the festival is to attract tourists. When there are more visitors, the interests of the locals will also develop. For example, there will be more income opportunities for three-wheel motor taxi drivers, taxi drivers, restaurants, and souvenir shops”, he explained.
Last year, the Ngapali Beach Autumn Festival was held for five days, but this year it will be held for a single day on November 21.
