Narinjara News, November 23, 2022

The 6th New Year celebration of the Khamipeople, an ethnic tribe in Rakhine State, washeld on November 23^rd Mrauk-URakhine State.

The unstable security situation in the region dictated thatonly a modest ceremony couldbe held according to U Wai Sein Aung, an official of the event organizing committee,as well as the vice president of KhamiLiterature and Culture Association.

U Wai Sein Aung observed, “The celebration is aimed atmaintaining the tradition of Our ancestorsas key part of our way of life, order to be mentally and physically alert, andto avoiddiseases and disasters in the new year, he said.

At the ceremony, Rakhine and Khamitraditional dances were performed, and more than300 peopleincluding officials from government departments attended.

Ko Zaw Zaw, a Khamiman who attended the ceremony commented , “Wewant the entireRakhine State to be at peace as soon as possible. We hope that in the new year wewill be able to freely invite our brothers from every township in Rakhinestate. But fornow we are sad that they cannot attend the ceremony, due to instability inother townships.”

KhamiNew Year is celebrated on the first day of the Nattaw month of the Arakanese calendarevery year.

This year as a celebration of the KhamiNew Year festival, Khami people who are in Thailandand other foreign countries, also carried out campaigns by holding placards withslogans.

There are more than 100,000 Khamipeople in Myanmar, and they mainly live in Kyauktaw,Ponnagyun, Pauktaw and Buthidaung townships in Rakhine State.