‘Myanmar’s Pride’ Event Showcases National Crafts and Culture

By Lwin Mar Htun 4 October 2019

‘Myanmar’s Pride’ has opened at the Secretariat to showcase traditional culture, entertainment and high-quality products.

The three-day event runs until Oct. 6 organized by the Amazing Myanmar Group and Creative Hub Marketing Agency. It aims to exhibit Myanmar’s natural resources, culture and products in one place.

“We want to show that we also have a lot of good-quality, ‘Made in Myanmar’ products. And we want to share our culture and the history of the Secretariat with the younger generations,” said Ko Win Maw Oo, the public relations manager for ‘Myanmar’s Pride’.

“While enjoying an evening at the Secretariat, visitors can find a variety of traditional food stalls, handmade arts and crafts, fashion products, handicrafts and souvenirs.”

The Secretariat in downtown Yangon hosted Myanmar’s first independence ceremony in its courtyard. Independence hero General Aung San and his cabinet were gunned down in 1947 by a political rival inside the building.

The event includes more than 200 vendors and live demonstrations of traditional arts and crafts, including how to make a Pathein umbrella using a century-old technique.

Visitors can rent traditional ethnic clothing for 25,000 kyats for residents and US$25 for foreigners and have a vintage picture taken in front of the Secretariat by a professional photographer.

A photo exhibition, “Bagan in our Heart”, on the newly Unesco-listed ancient city of Bagan, is also featured.

Between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., students from the National University of Art and Culture will perform Bagan traditional dances featuring the comic dance characters U Shwe Yoe and Daw Moe.

Products are available in both dollars and kyats.

The event is open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the entrance fee is US$5 (about 7,700 kyats) for foreigners but it is free for residents.