Thanaka to join UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Mass media is broadly used to raise awareness and appreciation of Myanmar’s Thanaka cultural practice and concerted efforts are being exerted to submit nomination proposal of Myanmar’s Thanaka cultural practice by March 2025 to be inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
I was so ecstatic when I heard about those cultural awareness campaigns of Myanmar’s Thanaka that is the legacy of intangible attributes of Myanmar people to safeguard it for future generations and to be submitted for UNESCO’s cultural heritage inscription. I have been a big fan of Thanka who traditionally applies Thanaka to the face since I was young. Therefore, I was overwhelmed by delight. I will be carried away with euphoria when UNESCO adds it to its Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Myanmar’s Thanaka culture has been passed down from past generations. It can be profoundly traced in the murals of temples in Gyubyaukgyi Temple founded in AD 1113 in Bagan ancient cultural heritage site and Sulamani Temple founded in AD 1183 and murals of other temples.
Additionally, Thanaka applying tradition passing down through generations can be remarkably found in earliest works of literature, stories, poems and folk songs, including mawgun, eigyin, pyo, kagyin, maunghtaung, Lamai peasant girls’ poem and songs, representing deeper symbolic meaning related to the cultural value and tradition rooted for thousand years.
Myanmar people annually celebrate the Thanaka Festival from the full moon of Thadingyut to the full moon of Tazaungdine (31 October to 29 November) beyond the 12-month festival traditions.
Village girls and ladies from Khetthin village in the north of Singu town, Mandalay Region apply Thanaka and Thanaka powder put in bronze cup to pilgrims who flock to Shwe Taung Oo mountain pagoda during the full moon of Thadingyut, signifying unique and beautiful Myanmar’s Thanaka culture.
The word Thanaka, previously called Thana-ka, is derived from Thana (dirt) and Ka (clearing or removing), meaning removing the dirt. Thanaka is a paste made from ground bark which commonly applies to Myanmar people for sun protection, perfume and beauty purposes. It is believed to show a distinct feature of Myanmar people. This natural cosmetic has cooling and soothing effects with good properties for skin. Thanaka is highly admired by Myanmar’s royal courts to peasant ladies nowadays. Other parts of Thanaka tree also have medicinal effects.
Thanaka is credited with medicinal benefits with a warm effect in winter and cooling sensation during hot winter to reduce body heat. This traditional product is highly appreciated and cherished by the whole nation regardless of ages and genders.
Myanmar elder people usually talks about the three basic values (Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha), paying respect to parents and teachers and fostering patriotism towards one’s nation and other inspirational and motivational messages while applying Thanaka to younger people, passing down traditions to younger generations and representing signs of the devotion, respect and love.
Moreover, Thanaka incense is offered to Buddha during ritual face washing ceremonies at Mandalay MahaMyatmuni Temple and Aungtawmu Pagoda in the early morning, unifying symbols of cultural pride and drawing a daily crowd of devotees.
Thanaka can be found in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Myanmar and Pakistan. Myanmar’s Thanaka is of premium quality with pleasant and unique fragrance. Shinmataung and Shwebo Thanaka varieties are the most popular among them. Applying Shwebo Thanaka gives one smooth skin and yellowish beauty unlike Shinmataung Thanaka having a sweet and pleasant smell.
Beyond beauty purposes, the whole Thanaka trees (fruits, root, stem, leaves) have good properties and medicinal benefits. Shwepyinan Company established Thanaka museum in NyaungU city in order to disseminate information of Thanaka culture among young communities and conserve cultural heritage. Myanmar Thanaka Planters and Producers Association was formed on 11 November 2017 in order to safeguard cultural heritage and penetrate Thanaka to international markets and raise public awareness in cooperation with non-governmental organization Helvetas Myanmar.
The association organizes Thanaka beauty pageants, Thanaka trade fair and Myanmar Thanaka Day events to pass Thanaka culture on to the next generation and increase admiration for Thanaka.
Thanaka Day was marked on the full moon day of Tabodwe, connecting Buddhist’s tradition of offering light and Thanaka incense to Buddha. Events related to Thanaka including talk shows, distributing pamphlets, donation and offering Thanaka paste to Buddha are held in the precinct of Pagoda on the Thanaka Day.
The association’s statistics indicated that there are 323,000 acres of Thanaka in Myanmar. The association comprises growers and traders from Ayartaw, Shwebo, Kantbalu, Monywa, Myinmu, Butalin, Kanni, Yinmabin, Pakokku, Myaing, Yesagyo, Pauk, Sittway and Langkho areas and companies from big cities like Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. Stakeholders involved in the Thanaka supply chain are exerting continuous efforts to produce value-added Thanaka products that were commercially valued in international markets and preserving this heritage and passing it on to future generations through documentation, education, community engagement and revitalization maintaining core values and cultural identity.
Myanmar Thanaka culture has existed for thousands of years. The earliest discovery of applying the Thanaka tradition is back in the Bagan Dynasty. The poems written by King Yazadariz’s sprouse (poet) in 14th century and Shin Ratthasara, monk and prominent poet in 15th century invoked Thanaka culture in literary work.
Furthermore, some communities have traditions of holding the Thanaka Grinding Festival on the first day of the Thingyan Festival and Buddha statues are washed by Thanaka paste, preserving universal value.
Literary works in Bagan, Pyu dynasties captured the essence of Myanmar Thanaka culture, providing a rich source of Thanaka value and traditions of Myanmar people wearing it throughout history.
Inscriptions on Kyaukpyin stone slab note the name of King Bayintnaung’s daughter Princess Dartukalaya, placed at Shwemadaw Pagoda, revealing the solid culture of Thanaka in Taungoo dynasty.
Thanaka supplied to court in King Alaungpaya Dynasty were sourced from Kaput village two miles away from the south of Thihataw Pagoda in KhinU Township, Shwebo District, indicating a notable history of Thanaka again.
Consequently, Myanmar Thanaka that people of all ages and gender cherish and apply to face and body portrayed the significance of the heritage throughout history. Myanmar people are committed to preserving and promoting its culture by holding festivals stimulating community engagement and keeping inventory of Thanaka heritage passing through generations. Literary works and social events describing Myanmar Thanaka tradition act as a window to Myanmar’s intangible cultural heritage. I would like to express my deep respect to those endeavouring to submit nomination of Thanaka as a cultural element by March 2025 to be inscribed on the UNESCO’s list.
If Myanmar’s Thanaka culture and tradition that has dominated for thousand years is recognized and listed by UNESCO, it will be national pride and identity. I hereby would like to appreciate their genuine and continuous efforts with Myanmar Thanaka promotion and cultural awareness campaigns. I am praying from my heart for Myanmar Thanaka to move forward to achieve UNESCO’s inscription.
Translated by KK

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