Photos: Myanmar’s Karen community celebrates New Year’s

The holiday is based on the lunar calendar and marks the end of the rice harvest.

By Paul Nelson

Myanmar’s ethnic Karen held their traditional New Year’s celebration in Yangon on Monday.

The holiday, which is based on the lunar calendar and the end of the rice harvest, is a national holiday in the country.

Ethnic Karen people gather at the National Races Village in Yangon for their traditional New Year’s celebration, Dec. 30, 2024.
Myanmar-karen-new-year-celebration Ethnic Karen people gather at the National Races Village in Yangon for their traditional New Year’s celebration, Dec. 30, 2024. (RFA)
People watch a performance for the Karen New Year’s celebration at the National Races Village in Yangon, Dec. 30, 2024.
Myanmar-karen-new-year-celebration People watch a performance for the Karen New Year’s celebration at the National Races Village in Yangon, Dec. 30, 2024. (RFA)
Ethnic Karen people gather at the National Races Village in Yangon for their traditional New Year’s celebration, Dec. 30, 2024.
Myanmar-karen-new-year-celebration Ethnic Karen people gather at the National Races Village in Yangon for their traditional New Year’s celebration, Dec. 30, 2024. (RFA)
Ethnic Karen people gather at the National Races Village in Yangon for their traditional New Year’s celebration, Dec. 30, 2024.
Myanmar-karen-new-year-celebration Ethnic Karen people gather at the National Races Village in Yangon for their traditional New Year’s celebration, Dec. 30, 2024. (RFA)
Ethnic Karen people gather at the National Races Village in Yangon for their traditional New Year’s celebration, Dec. 30, 2024.
Myanmar-karen-new-year-celebration Ethnic Karen people gather at the National Races Village in Yangon for their traditional New Year’s celebration, Dec. 30, 2024. (RFA)