68^th Chin National Day held in Mandalay   

Photo: Thiha Ko Ko(MDY)

THE 68^th Chin National Day was celebrated in Mandalay on 20 February with a speech by Dr. Van Lian Thang, Chairman of the Chin National Day Holding Committee.

Present at the ceremony were members of the Social Organisations of  Kachin, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan national races, members of the Association of Chin National Literature and Culture and special guests. Vice Chairperson Daw Swe Nwei Mway elaborated on Chin National Day and the aims of holding events in its honour. Chin nationals performed traditional folk dances for spectators.

The chairman and officials of the holding committee presented awards to outstanding students who passed the matriculation exam for the 2015-2016 academic year, and outstanding university students.

Students from Chin State then performed traditional the Chin Bamboo Dance and traditional folk dances.

In the Bamboo Dance, the dancers move among bamboo poles which are constantly hitting each other. The dance is said to be very difficult, requiring coordinated timing between the dancers and the bamboo holders. One wrong move can result in a dancer’s ankle being struck hard with one of the bamboo poles, a traditional method that encourages concentration.—Thiha Ko Ko (Mandalay)