More than 2,400 contestants from regions and states to compete through October 29.
The 27th Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition opened in Nay Pyi Taw on October 21, with more than 2,400 contestants from across the country set to participate in the event through October 29.
The opening ceremony was held at the Myanmar International Convention Centre (MICC-1), with President U Min Aung Hlaing attending, formally opening the competition and delivering an address.
Other attendees included Vice President U Nyo Saw and his wife, Daw San San Aye; Vice President Daw Nan Ni Ni Aye; Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U Khin Yi and his wife; Chief Justice of the Union U Tha Htay; and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services General Ye Win Oo and his wife. Union ministers, senior military officers, regional and state officials, judges, trainers, contestants and other invited guests also attended.
Vice President U Nyo Saw, Vice President Daw Nan Ni Ni Aye, Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U Khin Yi, General Ye Win Oo and Union Minister for Culture, Hotels and Tourism U Khin Maung Soe, who chairs the competition's organizing committee, jointly inaugurated the event by cutting a ceremonial ribbon. President U Min Aung Hlaing subsequently pressed a button to unveil the competition's signboard.
In his opening address, the president highlighted the role of history, literature, language, traditional customs and the arts in shaping a country's national identity. He said artistic traditions express human emotions, ideas, social values and ways of life, while serving as a means of passing cultural heritage from one generation to the next.
He noted that Myanmar's traditional singing, dancing, literary and musical arts had evolved through successive historical periods, from the Pyu and Bagan eras to the Konbaung dynasty. These traditions, he said, remain valuable cultural assets that younger generations should study, preserve and pass on.
The president said the competition was first held in 1993 to preserve and promote Myanmar's traditional arts, identify talented performers and transfer artistic knowledge to younger generations. The event had been held 22 times by 2016 before being suspended from 2017 to 2021. It resumed in 2022 with its 23rd edition and has continued annually since then, reaching its 27th edition this year.
He said the competition was intended to strengthen national pride, safeguard traditional cultural heritage and identity, promote Myanmar's music, dance and other traditional art forms, and encourage younger generations to appreciate their cultural roots.
The president stressed that the event should not be viewed solely as a contest for awards, but also as a platform for nurturing artistic talent and ensuring the continuity of Myanmar's cultural heritage. He urged contestants to demonstrate their abilities, continue developing their skills, respect fellow participants and accept victory or defeat with dignity.
He added that preserving traditional arts was the responsibility of the present generation and required collective efforts to ensure the heritage was passed on to future generations.
More than 2,400 contestants representing regions and states across Myanmar are participating in the competition, which will run until October 29.
