Naga New Year Festival – 2020 was held in the town of Lahe in the Naga Self-Administered Zone, Sagaing Region, at 9 a.m. yesterday. President U Win Myint and First Lady Daw Cho Cho were present at the event.  The Union Flag was first saluted, after which Naga ethnic resident U Mon Pi delivered the opening speech and Naga ethnic resident Daw Khaung explained the history of how the Naga New Year Festival came to be.

Next, President U Win Myint delivered his Message of Greetings for the Naga New Year – 2020.

Next, a message of greetings sent by the Speaker of the Pyidaungsu and Pyithu Hluttaws was read by U Khun Maung Thaung, Chairman of the Pyithu Hluttaw Ethnic Affairs and Internal Peace Implementation Committee, and the Regional Chief Minister then explained programmes for socioeconomic development of Naga region.

Naga Traditional Literature and Culture Central Committee Patron U Yu San Kyuu then spoke words of gratitude.

Next, Chairman U Kay Saing of the Naga Self-Administered Zone’s Leading Body handed over a traditional Naga New Year gift to President U Win Myint, who handed over 4,000 rice bags and 3,000 sheets of zinc roofing provided by the Union Government for the development of Naga Self-Administered Zone in return.

This was followed by Union Ministers, the Regional Chief Minister, Northwest Command Commander and officials handing over cash assistance and other items for development of Naga Self-Administered Zone to Hluttaw representatives, Naga Self-Administered Zone’s Leading Body members and other officials.

Next, the chair delivered the closing speech, extended good wishes on the nation and the citizens, and concluded the ceremony.

Afterwards, the President and First Lady cordially greeted the Naga ethnic residents at the ceremony and observed their traditional dance performances.
Next, the President and First Lady observed the exhibition booths for Naga traditional handicrafts and culture, struck a traditional drum, and observed the department exhibition booths for Naga New Year Festival – 2020.

In the afternoon, the President held a meeting with the Union Ministers, Sagaing Region cabinet, Hluttaw representatives, Naga Self-Administered Zone’s Leading Body, department officials and local elders and discussed the need for cooperation in developing the Naga Self-Administered Zone.

From there, the President and entourage visited the Theravada Buddhist Missionary Central Academy in Lahe Town and paid homage and made offertories to the presiding Sayadaw and members of the Sangha.

Later in the evening, the President, First Lady and entourage participated in the traditional bonfire festival to commemorate Naga New Year Festival – 2020.

Sagaing Region Chief Minister Dr Myint Naing, Naga Self-Administered Zone’s Leading Body Chairman U Kay Saing and Naga Traditional Culture Committee Chairman U Paung Khu inaugurated the bonfire by lighting the flames. Traditional dance troupes of different tribes were then performed.

The President then presented cash rewards to each of the dance troupes.

Also attending the festival were Union Ministers Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Dr Myo Thein Gyi, Dr Myint Htwe, U Han Zaw and Nai Thet Lwin, Regional Chief Minister Dr Myint Naing, Regional Hluttaw Speaker U Than, the Commander of the Northwest Command Maj-Gen Soe Tint Naing, regional ministers, the Chairman and members of the Naga Self-Administered Zone’s Leading Body, representatives of the Pyithu, Amyotha and regional Hluttaws, department heads, leaders of ethnic Naga tribes, the Patron and members of the Naga Traditional Literature and Culture Central Committee, local Naga ethnic residents, elders, invited guests and other officials.

MNA

(Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)

PHOTO: MNA

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar