A New Year Day celebration for the Kayan (Kareni) year 2762, which fell on November 23 was held in Pekon township, Karen State.
The annual ceremony includes: Saluting the Kayan national flag, reading about the history of the Kayan New Year, and reading out the messages from Kayan Literature and Culture Central Committee, Kayan New Land Party and Kayan civil societies. It also includes cultural activities including the performing of Kayan traditional dances.
This year the Kayan New Year Day celebration was successfully held, despite facing various challenges and many difficulties.
The first secretary of the Kayan Literature and Culture Central Committee U Khun Myo Aung observed.
“ Early on, we considered holding the ceremony somewhere west of Pekon. But the place was no longer suitable due to the barrages of artillery. Last night while the ceremony was being held, we were vigilantly monitored the situation. We were anxious about the arrival of warplanes. We were worried about facing the same situation as in Kachin State(Where the regime’s air force bombed the anniversary gathering of the KIO in Hkapant). Anyway the ceremony turned out to be a success, We are happy and proud”, he commented.
Kayan Literature and Culture Central Committee members, officials from the Kayan New Land Party, representatives from Kayan civil societies, Kayan local zonal organizers and local people all attended the Kayan New Year ceremony.
Khun Ri Bek, a Kayan youth who helped organize the program,said, “ We faced a lot of difficulties and obstacles due to politics and various other situations. But we were able to celebrate our Kayan New Year festival, so we are very proud and happy for all the Kayan people and our village.”
On Kayan New Year’s Eve, sports events such as volleyball and sepak takraw as well as traditional games like cooking Kayan porridge, and Tumee rifle and crossbow shooting were held. Beauty contests and group dance contests were also held zonally.
Kayan organizations, Kayan civil societies and the local people provided financial and labour support to hold the New Year celebration.
