TAUNGGYI- According to the traditional Shan (Tai) calendar, the New Year is celebrated during the first moon of the first lunar month causing this 2114 year to fall on November 21st.

Thousands of Shan locals joined in the grand scale event held in Taunggyi Township, Shan State, yesterday morning.

Shan locals gathered in front of Kungtung Shan Monastery and marched to the Office of Shan Literature and Cultural Association along Bogyoke Aung San Street via east circular road. Likewise, Shan national youths collected the rubbish along the road.

Shan New Year Festival 2114 is being held at the Ah Wai Yar Kone Thayar Ground in Taunggyi Township, Shan State, from November 21st to 27th.

Fireworks shooting event was held at the Ahwaryar Playground, in Taunggyi Township, Shan State, on the night of November 26th, according to the Chairman of Observance Committee Sai Tun Mya.

During the event, there are Shan Cultural booths, traditional deer dances and Kinnara-Kinnari dances, Shan traditional music and Shan theatrical performance amongst other funfare.

Many from Shan ethnic groups across the nation and as well as those abroad returned home to attend the festival.

Taunggyi celebrated the Shan New Year festival jointly in cooperation with the  Shan Social Network Associations from Taunggyi and Shan Literature and Culture Association since the beginning of 1997 and it was taken over 22 years.

The Shan New Year Festival alternately was held in southern, northern and eastern parts of Shan State.