Mandalay Region Department of Archeology and National Museum, under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, has documented 75 kinds of intangible cultural heritage in Mandalay Region, an official from the department told The Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM) yesterday.
“Intangible cultural heritage is something like a custom, tradition, creation and fine arts accepted by a country, race, or community. The current list includes oral history or stories, descriptive languages, performing arts, traditional social practices, natural and universal knowledge and related traditional practices, traditional arts and crafts,” the official said.
In addition, Mandalay, preserving a great cultural tradition, is in a position to gather additional lists, and there is still a lot left to collect in the performing arts section.
In performing arts, the Myanmar Puppet Show, Myoma Band and Magalulin long drum band are listed. Unique pagoda festivals, traditional events and ceremonies, including Taungpyone festival, Waso Chinlone playing (Cane Ball) festival, Novitiation ceremony for boys and ear-piercing ceremony for girls (Shinpyu & Natha Ceremony), elephant festival, clayware festival, traditional boat racing, hoisting pagoda umbrella ceremony, Vesak Day celebration by pouring water at banyan trees (Bo trees), Mandalay water festival (Thingyan), traditional hairdo art and, Pantthaku celebrations in Tazaungdaing festival are documented for social customs and traditions list.
Myanmar traditional medicine is recorded under the list of natural and universal knowledge and related traditional practices. A total of 75 business categories, including stone carving art, traditional paper crafting art, Pyu-period beads manufacturing, bronze casting, iron umbrella, jam varieties production, Montseinpaung snack, gold foil packing paper manufacturing, Poneyaygyi (horse gram paste) and Montlinmaya (husband and wife snack) snack businesses are documented for traditional arts and crafts.
Data regarding Myanmar’s intangible cultural heritage has been collected since 2014 to protect and preserve them. — ASH/TH
