In preparation for the submission of Myanma Thanaka cultural tradition to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity before March 2025, educational programmes on Thanaka culture are being conducted throughout February at museums and libraries under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture.

Students from various schools in Nay Pyi Taw were invited to the National Museum (Nay Pyi Taw) for an educational session on Thanaka culture on 7 February. Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Daw Nu Mra Zan delivered a lecture on the history of Thanaka, its uses and its significance in Myanmar’s daily life, emphasizing its uniqueness as a cultural tradition. The students actively participated by applying Thanaka to each other in a joyful atmosphere.

At the National Museum (Nay Pyi Taw), various activities are being held as part of the educational programmes, including exhibitions of explanatory texts and documentary videos on Thanaka, students’ poetry recitations related to Thanaka and hands-on demonstrations where participants can grind and apply Thanaka themselves.