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THE Department of Rural Development (DRD) under the Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development, Taninthayi Region, conducted a ceremony for the disbursement of revolving funds under the Emerald Green Village Project
A ceremony to conduct an introductory briefing on the establishment of the Model Village Project and form a project committee for the 2026-2027 financial year took place in Natpay Village, Kanbalu Township, yesterday. Ka
POLICE officers, traffic police, and local administrators across Yangon Region recently conducted joint operations to reduce crime and improve public safety. Authorities engaged in community outreach by conducting crime-
IF you visit Myanmar, one of the first things that may catch your attention is the yellowish-white paste beautifully applied to the faces of women, children, and sometimes men. Many foreign visitors are curious about this unique facial decoration and often ask what it is and why people wear it. The answer is simple: it is Thanaka, one of Myanmar’s oldest and most cherished cultural traditions. More than just a cosmetic, Thanaka represents the history, identity, and lifestyle of the Myanmar people. For centuries, it has remained an inseparable part of daily life, connecting generations through a tradition that continues to flourish in the modern world. What Is Thanaka? Thanaka is a natural cosmetic paste made by grinding the bark, wood, or roots of certain varieties of Thanaka trees with water on a circular stone slab known as a Kyaukpyin. The botanical name of the Thanaka tree is Limonia Acidissima Linn., which belongs to the Rutaceae family. Thanaka trees are medium-sized and can grow between 20 and 30 feet in height. They are commonly found in the dry central regions of Myanmar, particularly in Magway, Mandalay, and Sagaing. The trees thrive in hot and dry climates but do not grow well in wetlands or salt-affected soils. Their trunks and branches are covered with sharp thorns, and the bark gradually becomes thicker as the tree matures. Many people believe that the roots produce a more refreshing and cooling paste than other parts of the tree. A Tradition Rooted in History Thanaka is unique to Myanmar and has been used for more than 2,000 years. Historical evidence, including ancient murals, wall paintings, and traditional records, suggests that Myanmar people were already using Thanaka as early as the fifth century AD. Throughout Myanmar’s long history, the custom was preserved and passed down from one generation to another. It remained popular during the Bagan, Pinya, Inwa, Toungoo, Nyaungyan, and Konbaung periods. Despite changing times and modern influences, Thanaka has never lost its place in Myanmar society. Today, people of all ages, genders, and social backgrounds continue to wear Thanaka with pride. It remains a familiar sight in homes, schools, markets, and workplaces across the country. The enduring popularity of Thanaka reflects the strong cultural bond that Myanmar people maintain with their heritage. Natural Beauty and Skincare Benefits One reason for Thanaka’s lasting popularity is its practical value. According to traditional Myanmar medicine, Thanaka possesses cooling and medicinal properties. For generations, it has been used to soothe the skin, reduce body heat, and protect against the strong tropical sun. Many Myanmar women apply Thanaka after their morning bath and again before bedtime. It is also commonly applied to the faces and arms of children, toddlers, and infants. During the hot summer months, both young and old wear Thanaka on their faces, arms, and legs to enjoy its cooling effects. In addition to its traditional uses, Thanaka is widely appreciated for its skincare benefits. It helps absorb excess oil, soothes irritated skin, and is commonly used to reduce acne and blemishes. Many users believe it provides natural protection from ultraviolet rays and helps maintain healthy skin. Its antioxidant properties are also thought to help slow the visible signs of ageing. Traditional medicine further mentions the use of Thanaka for minor wounds, measles, seasonal fevers, and other common ailments. Although modern scientific studies continue to explore its properties, Thanaka remains one of the most trusted natural skincare products in Myanmar. A Living Cultural Symbol Beyond its practical benefits, Thanaka is also a symbol of beauty and cultural identity. People apply it in different styles and patterns, ranging from simple circular patches on the cheeks to artistic leaf-shaped and floral designs. These creative applications add charm and individuality while preserving a tradition that is instantly recognizable throughout the country. For many visitors, the sight of smiling faces decorated with Thanaka becomes one of their most memorable impressions of Myanmar. It is a cultural symbol that reflects both elegance and simplicity while showcasing the nation’s unique character. Myanmar Thanaka Day and UNESCO Recognition Recognizing its cultural significance, the Myanmar Thanaka Planters, Producers and Exporters Association designated the Full Moon Day of Tabodwe, which usually falls in February, as Myanmar Thanaka Day. Tabodwe is traditionally a month of festivals and celebrations, and the demand for Thanaka is particularly high during this period. Various activities are organized throughout February to promote awareness of Myanmar’s Thanaka culture and its importance to national heritage. These efforts also support the nomination of Myanmar Thanaka Culture for inclusion on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Such recognition would help preserve this treasured tradition and introduce it to a wider international audience. Bringing Thanaka to the World Today, Myanmar’s Thanaka industry is evolving to meet modern consumer needs. Growers, producers, and exporters are developing value-added products such as Thanaka creams, lotions, powders, and other ready-to-use skincare items. These innovations are helping Thanaka reach international markets, including ASEAN countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. More than thirty varieties of Thanaka and Thanaka-based products have also been exhibited at national MSME exhibitions, demonstrating the growing potential of this traditional industry. The development of modern Thanaka products not only creates economic opportunities but also helps ensure that this cultural heritage remains relevant in a rapidly changing world. Preserving a Precious Heritage Thanaka is far more than a cosmetic product. It is a living cultural treasure that reflects the history, wisdom, and identity of the Myanmar people. For centuries, it has provided beauty, comfort, and protection while serving as a visible symbol of national pride. As custodians of this precious heritage, we share a responsibility to preserve and promote the tradition of Thanaka. By valuing it, protecting it, and passing it on to future generations, we can ensure that Myanmar’s golden heritage continues to thrive and remains a source of pride for centuries to come. By Hu Wo (Cuckoo’s Song)
DURING this year’s monsoon season, heavy rainfall in Laymyethna Township, Ayeyawady Region, caused sand boils to emerge from the underlying sand layer at the river breach area beneath the Ngawun River embankment, allowin
THE Thanlyin Glass Factory, operated by Marlarmyaing Public Company Limited, has invited bids for the sale of scrap materials from the glass factory in Thanlyin Township, Yangon Region, Interested individuals are invited
THE Myanmar Gold Entrepreneurs Association (MGEA) will hold an awareness training course on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) from 8 am to 5 pm on 18 October at the UMFCCI Mingala
THE Buildings Department of the Ministry of Construction has invited open tenders for the procurement of construction materials to build a toll plaza on the new Gyaing (Kawkareik) Bridge under the 2026-2027 Financial Yea
THE MSME Development Fund Management Committee announced that micro, small, and medium enterprises that can’t provide solid collateral can now receive funding up to K50 million under the new Credit Guarantee Insurance (C
MOTOR vehicles in Magway Region whose registrations have expired for more than five years will be re-examined in accordance with the prescribed regulations, and their registrations will be renewed upon payment of the rel
THE disbursement of funds under the Eighth Village Revolving Fund Project (VRFP) was held yesterday in Zeedaw Village, Kanma Township, Magway Region, by the Department of Rural Development of Kanma Township under the Min
RESPONSIBLE officials conducted a field inspection on the morning of 11 August of the ongoing concrete paving work on the village road in Thayethamein Village, Pobbathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, being impl
FRONTLINE Tatmadaw members returning from security and regional stability operations were warmly welcomed at local military units in Yangon Region’s Hmawby, Shwepyitha and Hlegu townships, and Bago Region’s Phayagyi, on
DURING the Taungpyone Festival, trains on the Thayezay-Madaya route will resume operations from 19 August to 1 September to provide convenient transport for festival-goers, according to Mandalay Region Minister for Elect
DEPUTY Minister for Border Affairs Maj-Gen Kyaw Swa Oo, together with the State Minister for Security and Border Affairs and members of the Chin State Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Committee, inspected the renovation
THE Department of Rural Development, under the Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development, inspected the progress of an elevated water tank and water treatment plant construction project in Bawathit Village, Bogale T
FOR passports that have expired for more than five years, Myanmar nationals in Japan are reminded to apply for renewal in Myanmar, said the Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in Tokyo. The embassy has accept
Myanmar New Power Investment Group Company Limited donated K20 million yesterday to support relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts for flood victims affected by the breach of the Ngawun embankment in Laymyethna Townsh
UNION Minister for National Planning, Investment and Foreign Economic Relations U Aung Kyaw Hoe received Mr Nguyen Anh Duc, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republi
UNION Minister for Immigration and Population U Myint Kyaing received Vietnamese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Nguyen Anh Duc and his delegation at the Union Minister’s reception room in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon. They
UNION Minister for Foreign Affairs U Tin Maung Swe received Mr Nguyen Anh Duc, Ambassador of Vietnam to Myanmar, yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw. They cordially exchanged views on accelerating
FUTURE cooperation and the advancement of women’s affairs between Belarus and Myanmar were discussed at a meeting between Union Minister for Women’s Affairs Dr Thet Thet Zin and a delegation led by Ms Olga Chemodanova, C
COLONEL Kyaw Thura, Minister for Security and Border Affairs of the Kachin State Government, has been permitted to resume his original military duties. In his place, Colonel Soe Yan Naung of the Office of the Commander-i
A Traditional Myanmar Food Competition and Exhibition will be held at the Mandalay Convention Centre in Mandalay on 22 and 23 August, according to a press conference held at Hotel Hazel on 12 August. The event is to be o
BETWEEN 9 and 12 August, a total of 182 patients were admitted to Yangon General Hospital for diarrhoea; 54 among them tested positive for severe diarrhoeal pathogens, and one fatality (a 92-year-old elderly patient), ac
RESCUE and relief operations are continuing in Laymyethna Township, Ayeyawady Region, after heavy rainfall and river erosion caused a section of the Ngawun River embankment to collapse on the night of 30 July. As of toda
FIVE Myanmar companies showcased and sold jade, gemstones, jewellery, lacquerware and garments at the Guangdong and Macao Branded Products Fair 2026 (GMBPF), held in Macao Special Administrative Region, China, from 6 to
Vice-President Nan Ni Ni Aye called for concerted efforts to successfully stage the 27th Traditional Myanmar Cultural Performing Arts Competition, stressing the importance of preserving Myanmar’s traditional cultural her
August 14 Mizzima. . Civil society organizations trying to help the people who are suffering from the flood disaster in addition to the war in Sagaing Region are facing obstruction and threats from the military junta. Ab
August 14 Mizzima. The European Union (EU) will provide an additional €10.5 million in humanitarian assistance for those affected by conflicts in Myanmar. Through this assistance, life-saving aid will be provided to thos
Myanmar embassy in Japan tightens passport renewals Burma nationals in Japan whose passports have expired over the last five years, or more, must return home to renew them, according to a notice issued by the Burma embas
Guest contributor Htuu Lou Rae The titular campaign calling for proof of life for Aung San Suu Kyi received a response on Monday: the junta issued photographs of her recent meeting with a team of representatives from the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) led by Arnaud de Baecque, the ICRC’s head of delegation in Myanmar. Even for the most vocal critics of Aung San Suu Kyi as myself, this is welcome news. Nevertheless, one cannot ignore the disproportionate attention and concern from the local and international media—and Myanmar public at large—on the well-being of Aung San Suu Kyi. Just a minute fraction of this public obsession and media frenzy is extended to tens of thousands of other dissidents detained by the junta that do not enjoy the same privilege. Many of these individuals— unlike Aung San Suu Kyi—were vocal against the human rights abuses the military committed under the NLD administration. They were key players in organising the February 6 mass protest that sparked the Burmese Spring in 2021, and have stood at the frontline of the anti-coup movement ever since. For their courage and determination, they have been subjected to systematic torture and life-threatening human rights abuses on a regular basis in detention. Horrors that Aung San Suu Kyi is spared from. The tens of thousands who have lost their lives, families, and livelihoods since the coup also received only a sliver of this collective headspace. This imbalance is even more perplexing to anyone with an insightful understanding of Myanmar politics. During her political tenure, Aung San Suu Kyi achieved precious little in terms of meaningful and tangible social or political progress for the people of Myanmar. Her involvement and compromises have been a burden, if anything, to the collective struggle for human rights, democracy and autonomy in the Myanmar region. This inequality in attention is preposterous and does not bode well for the struggle for democracy in Myanmar, at present and in the long run. What role did Aung San Suu Kyi play in the Spring Revolution, after all? What positive impact did she have on advancing the socio-political rights of the Myanmar peoples?
It is learned that the water level of Dut Hwadi River is still about 3 feet above the critical water level in Myit Khuna City and may drop by half a foot within 24 hours, according to the Meteorology and Hydrology Depart
The killing of more than 1,500 Bengalis (originally described as Rohingya) by the AA group in northern Rakhine State; ARSA's Department of Public Relations and Information (DPRI) issued a statement saying that they had b
Members of the regime’s Sagaing Region administration returned to Khampat Township on August 5, 2026, to resume operations following the military’s recapture of the town from the People’s Defence Force (PDF) on June 20.
It is known that the Myanmar military is preparing to resume landing operations in Thandwe and Gwa townships in southern Rakhine State, which are under the control of the Arakan Army (AA). However, due to the difficulty