February 22, 2020
Inter-ministerial 2nd Htamane making competition and fun fair was held at Wunna Theikdi Stadium in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than, Pyithu Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Tun Aung (a) U Tun Tun Hein, Union Ministers, Chariman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, Deputy Ministers, Deputy Mayor of Nay Pyi Taw Development Committee, Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General and officials and staff from respective ministries.
Teams representing from Ministry of Health and Sports, Ministry of Ethnic Affairs, Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Electricity and Energy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Home Affairs, Central Bank of Myanmar, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Nay Pyi Taw Development Committee, Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Border Affairs, Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry and Ministry of Education participated in the annual cultural festival.
First, the judges of the contest inspected preparations by the teams including their personnal hygiene, cleanliness of cooking utensils used in making the traditional delicacy.
The teams took part in the Htamane mixing process in which team member with giant wooden spatulas began to mix the glutinous concoction, accompanied by the folk music troupes and made the traditional food within an hour.
The competition was started with a whistle blew by Chairman of the Judge Committee of the Htamane making competition, Director-General U Ye Naing from the Information and Public Relations Department.
Next, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than, Pyithu Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Tun Aung (a) U Tun Tun Hein, Union Ministers, Chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, Deputy Ministers and officials supported the Htamane making contestants.
In the contest, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement won the first prize; Ministry of Transport and Communications the second and Ministry of Health and Sports the third respectively. Out of 22 teams, 19 teams achieved consolation prizes and Union Ministers Dr Myo Thein Gyi and Dr Win Myat Aye, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman Dr Myo Aung, Deputy Ministers U Aung Hla Tun, Dr Ye Myint Swe, Dr Mya Lay Sein, U Bharat Singh and U Soe Aung awarded each of the teams with K 300,000.
Next, Union Minister Dr Pe Myint and wife Daw Khaing Nwe Oo also presented K 500,000 to the modern music band of the MRTV and vocalists.
Afterwards, Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe awarded the third prize winner team with K 700,000 and a trophy.
Pyithu Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Tun Aung (a) U Tun Tun Hein awarded the second prize winner team with K 1,000,000 and a trophy.
Next, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than awarded the first prize winners with K 1,500,000 and a trophy.
After the awarding ceremony, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker, Deputy Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw, Union Ministers, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman and Deputy Ministers posed for a group photo with the first, second and third placed winners.
At the festival, the modern music band of the MRTV, vocalists and winners of the Peace Music Festival entertained the visitors with songs.
The festival of concocting Myanmar delicacy Htamane is also quite a festive activity of Myanmar people and it is held in Tabodwe, the last month of the winter.
Htamane concoction is a communal activity in which Myanmar people of all age groups participate.
Preparation of Htamane provides a social occasion for the community. If contest is held, the winner parties will make a jubilant round of rejoice of their victories with music dance and songs in the compounds of monasteries or precincts of Pagodas.—MNA (Translated by Kyaw Zin Lin)
