Mon Culture Contest and award ceremony held in Moulmein

IMNA – The first Mon Culture Contest in a quarter century, which includes categories for Singing, Dancing, Composing, and Musical Instrument Performance, was held in Moulmein on September 24 and 25 and concluded with an award ceremony yesterday at 9am. After being organized annually since 1980 as part of the Mon National Day Ceremony, the contest was prohibited after the 1988 military coup.

“I haven’t participated in a state-level Mon Singing Contest for 25 years. My friends who competed with me in the past have long been doing their own businesses. Only very few Mon artists exist now,” said Nai Chan Aye.

Ministers and members of the Mon State government led by Chief Minister of State U Ohm Myint, the State Parliament President U Kyin Phay, and government staff from other states, provinces, and townships presented at the ceremony.

Awards were given for male and female categories in basic and free-style traditional and modern Mon singing, song composition, dance including Mon traditional partner dance and basic and free-style solo dance, and free-style Mon Crocodile Zither.

“More than 280 Mon professional and amateur artists competed. They came from all townships except Belin,” said Min Aung Htoo, Secretary of the Mon Culture Contest Organizing Committee.

The chief judges were Nai Kyan Yit for Singing, Mi Mya Than for Dancing, Min Aung Htoo for Composition, and Nai Htaw Paing for Musical Instrument Performance.

In the Mon Traditional Music free-style category, Nai Chan Aye of Thanbyuzayat Township and Mi Saw Pu of Kyaik Htoo were given special honors. In the free-style Group Dancing Category, which showcases 24-partner dancing, Mi Ohm Mar Chan and Group from Mudon Township won first prize, Mi Nyi Nyi Hlaing and Group from Kyaik Mayaw Township won second, and Mi Ngu War Hlaing and Group from Ye Township took third place.

Although Mon National Day was cerebrated three times between 1994 and 1996 when the New Mon State Party entered a ceasefire agreement with the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), the Mon Culture Contest was excluded from the ceremony.

Also on September 24 and 25, the 19th Nationwide Burmese Culture Contest was held at Township, State/Division, and Central levels. In Mon state, the singing category was held in No (8) BEHS, the musical instrument performance category was held at the Education College, and the dancing competition was held in the State Hall.