The Myitkyina Manau is a Manaw which takes place semi-annually in Myitkyina, Kachin State, Myanmar, and is one of the largest Manau in the world. It is an event of importance for the Kachin community of Myitkyina and is currently held at the Kachin National Manau park, Shatapru, which has permanent shadung pillars installed in the centre.
History 20th century In 1927, British Empire colonials held a manau in Myitkyina to announce slave release in the Triangle region.Sadan, M. (2013) Being and Becoming Kachin. Oxford University Press A manau was held in 1947 by Kachins to celebrate the end of Japanese occupation. Following independence, the Burmese government helped provide finances for the Myitkyina Manau annually on Kachin State Day up until 1958. During the years of war between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army the manau was held erratically, often in government headquarters on Union Day rather than on Kachin State Day.
21st century From 26 December 2001 to 2 January 2002, there was the inauguration of Manau Ground in Shatapru, in which 300,000 people participated, including representatives from State Peace and Development Council, Tatmadaw, Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), Kachin Culture and Literary committees and the Manau organizing committee. This manau festival was a Hkumran Manau which was started and funded locally. In 2010, ahead of the 2011 festival, the Burmese military government took control of the Manau organising committeehttp://www.kachinnews.com/news/1819-junta-takes-control-of-kachin-manau-festival.html|http://www.kachinnews.com/news/1819-junta-takes-control-of-kachin-manau-festival.html and under their management, KIO representatives were banned from attending. As the KIO had been a major sponsor of the event, their non attendance was a contributing factor in the decision to reduce the number of days from 8 to 5. The government barred Main Kachin Bloc from Manau Festival. Mizzima, December 8th 2010. http://archive-1.mizzima.com/news/myanmar/4648-junta-bars-main-kachin-bloc-from-manau-ethnic-festival The move caused anger among local people, who felt it was an inappropriate for the Burmese military to lead the manau. Ko Htwe, Military Take Over Traditional Kachin Festival. Irrawaddy. December 13th 2010. http://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=20304
2012-2014 After the ceasefire between the Tatmadaw and Kachin Independence Army broke down, the Myitkyina Manau was not held.
2015 In August 2014, the Kachin State Government announced plans to bring back the Manau festival to Myitkyina.Nyein Nyein. Facing Opposition, Kachin Govt Maintains Manau Dance Plans. The Irrawaddy. December 23rd 2014. https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/facing-opposition-kachin-govt-maintains-manau-dance-plans.html Following the announcement, many Kachins, including the previous organisers, The Kachin Culture and Literature Committee, boycotted the festival feeling it was inappropriate to celebrate, as there were still many Kachin refugees displaced by fighting.Pangmu Shayi. DVB. January 16th 2015. Questioning This Year's Manau FestivalKachin culture group boycotts Manau festival in Myitkyina. Kachinland News. January 11th 2015. http://www.kachinnews.com/news/2719-kachin-culture-group-boycotts-manau-festival-in-myitkyina.html The Maina IDPs camp committee in Waimaw township also did not attend and a member of the camp committee was quoted as saying, “Without specific meaning the Manau dance festival should not be held. It only means oppressing us as we (IDPS) are suffering now".Kachin culture group boycotts Manau festival in Myitkyina. Kachinland News. January 11th 2015. http://www.kachinnews.com/news/2719-kachin-culture-group-boycotts-manau-festival-in-myitkyina.html A petition against the Manau was signed by 10,000 and delivered to the Kachin State minister,Kachins Forced to Celebrate Manau in Myitkyina. Kachinland News. January 11 2015. https://www.kachinlandnews.com/?p=25286 and local civil society groups delivered leaflets to tourists which described how they felt the festival was exploiting Kachin culture for political gain. Carlson, K. Kachin divided over Manaw return. The Myanmar Times. January 26 2015 https://www.mmtimes.com/in-depth/12903-kachin-divided-over-manaw-return.html The Manau was visited by Thein Sein on 10 January 2015, who wore Kachin dress.
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