Kyaukse Thadingyut Festival Showcases Elephant Dance
THE annual Shwethalyaung Pagoda Thadingyut Elephant Dance Competition will be held in Kyaukse, Mandalay Region, according to U Aung Myo Thein, chairman of the festival’s organizing committee.
The elephant dance competition will be held on 16 October, the 14th waxing day of Thadingyut, at the Shwethalyaung Hill compound. The elephant offering ceremony will be held on the full moon day of Thadingyut, with alms offered to the participating teams.
At the opening ceremony, veteran elephant teams that have participated in the festival for more than 30 years will receive Perseverance Awards. Traditional awards will also be presented to teams that make three rounds of Kyaukse Myoma Market while playing traditional musical instruments. Traditional elephant, Bawkyal elephant and baby elephant competitions will also be held.
The Kyaukse Elephant Festival and alms-offering ceremony have been held annually since the reign of King Anawrahta, about 900 years ago. — ASH/ MKKS
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