The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture successfully campaigned for the Myanmar Traditional Ata Thingyan Festival, also known as the Myanmar Traditional New Year Water Festival, to be included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A nomination file was submitted to the UNESCO Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage on 24 March 2023.

The nomination was officially approved on 5 December 2024, during the 19th Session of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee, held in Asunción, Paraguay, from 2 to 7 December. This achievement marks the Thingyan Festival as the first cultural element from Myanmar to be recognized on this prestigious global list.

This recognition was made possible through collaborative efforts involving the Myanmar Cultural Heritage Preservation Association, ethnic literature and cultural associations from various states and regions, civil society organizations, and active public participation.

The inclusion of Thingyan in UNESCO’s Representative List brings multiple benefits. It enhances global recognition of the festival, ensures the preservation and transmission of this cultural heritage to future generations, fosters public appreciation for celebrating Thingyan in its traditional form, and provides Myanmar with valuable experience to nominate other cultural elements for similar recognition.

MNA/TMT

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