For the first time ever, Karen New Year in Mon State will be a state-level affair.

Respect for our “culture and tradition” and for other ethnic groups to participate in this year’s event are important factors of the upcoming Karen New Year celebrations in Mawlamyine, said Saw Aung Kyaw San, chairman of the organizing committee.

“The objective of this year’s Karen New Year celebration is that all brothers and sisters of all ethnic people are united and participate in this celebration,” he said.

This is the first time state-level celebrations have been organized in Mon State.

In previous years, Karen New Year was celebrated in the townships and villages where Karen reside. This is the first time the community in Mon State can celebrate in one place.

There are an estimated 300,000 Karen living in ten townships in Mon State, with the majority in Thaton and Beelin townships.

Karen traditional Don dance teams will be organized from the ten townships to compete.

The Mon State government has set aside over 40 million Myanmar kyat (about US$26,000) to hold Karen New Year, said Saw Aung Myint Khine, Karen Affairs Minister for Mon State.

Saw Aung Myint Khine said they will try to rotate state-level celebrations every year in the different townships.

The celebrations will take place in Salween Garden park on January 6.