On 7 February 2026, the Myanmar Students' Association at Mae Fah Luang University, in collaboration with the Global Relations Division, organised the Htamanae Festival, a traditional celebration of the new rice harvest in Myanmar culture, at the Museum of Mekong Civilization.
The Htamanae Festival is a significant cultural tradition observed during Tabodwe, the eleventh month of the Myanmar calendar, following the full moon. Communities come together to prepare a savory dish made from newly harvested glutinous rice mixed with beans, ginger, sesame, salt, and roasted coconut–a process requiring collective effort and several hours of preparation. Beyond preserving cultural heritage, this event reflects shared values of cooperation, patience, generosity and merit-making through community sharing and offerings.
The festival created a space for intercultural learning and active student engagement by fostering inclusive participation and cross-cultural understanding. Activities included cultural introductions, collaborative games, and performances. Exchange students from the Philippines, France, Ethiopia, and TICA scholarship recipients, attended in their national costumes, enriching the celebration’s cultural diversity.
Students organised the event with a strong emphasis on environmental awareness, encouraging participants to bring reusable containers and water bottles to minimise waste. For those without containers, the MFU Botanical Garden provided banana leaves for serving food, while students collected firewood from naturally fallen branches, demonstrating mindful and responsible use of local resources.
For Myanmar students, the Htamanae Festival held deep personal significance, providing a sense of cultural connection and emotional support while studying abroad. At the same time, the event fostered awareness and empathy toward peers in Myanmar who continue to face challenges in accessing education.
Through initiatives such as this, Mae Fah Luang University continues to provide inclusive learning spaces that value cultural expression, mutual understanding, and social responsibility, positioning the University as an international academic community grounded in compassion, sustainability, and respect for diversity.
