“When the morning light comes……… in front of the mirror….. beauty is made
Shinmataung….. Thanakha…… is being applied….. on the cheek
entering the workplace…… tradition is not broken…
We Myanmar…. young women are graceful,” as the Manaw’s song goes.
Applying the Myanmar traditional Thanaka is a lovely tradition that is part of the dress code and beauty routine for girls. Every woman and child are often seen with Thanaka being applied on their face when the morning comes.
When we were young, our grandmother used to make us apply Thanaka every morning. It was a fascinating tradition that we took Thanaka seriously and made us apply Thanaka to our faces, even to the point that we were told that if we didn’t apply Thanaka every time after we have washed our faces, our homes would be unlucky and that we wouldn’t have any luck. This tradition has been passed down until the present time from generation to generation in almost every village and township, regardless of age or gender, since ancient years.
In addition, after bathing their children, mothers would scoop up the thick Thanaka juice from the stone slab with their hands and apply it to the forehead and cheeks of the children, focusing on The Buddha. After applying it, they would take the Thanaka remaining on the stone slab and put it in their mouths. It is believed that doing so improves the health of the children.
Thanakha comes from the word “Thana Kha”, where “Thana” means dirt. “Kha” means expulsion. So, Thanakha is known to expel bad dirt. Thanakha is well-suited to the hot Myanmar climate. Experts say that applying Thanakha can not only calm the mind but also protect the skin from damage.
It is also believed that Myanmar’s tradition of applying Thanaka has been since the Pyu era.
As evidence of the Myanmar traditional culture of applying Thanaka, mural paintings at the 11th Century Nagayon Pagoda and Apeyadana Pagoda in Bagan show young women adorned with stone plaques, which are used in conjunction with Thanaka. Therefore, this evidence suggests that Myanmar women used Thanaka to be adorned in the Bagan era.
In the upcountry of Myanmar where Thanakha trees grow the most, there is a tradition of burning incense woods mixed with fragrant spices such as bastard sandalwood, sandalwood and red sandalwood during the Bonfire Festival in the month of Tabodwe of Myanmar calender. The Myanmar Thanakha Association has designated the fullmoon day of the Tabodwe as “Myanmar Thanakha Day” to commemorate the tradition of making a devotional offering by burning the incense wood of Thanakha in the successive eras.
Damsels paddy transplanters in Myanmar rural areas and young female workers in construction sites wear Thanakha from head to toe to protect themselves from the scorching sun experiencing in their work environment. In addition, even elderly women also apply Thanakha from head to toe.
The faint, refreshing smell of Thanaka has the wonderful quality of sensation and invigorates the mind. Therefore, it is commonly used by Myanmar women.
In applying Thanaka, some people wear Thanaka after grinding its blocks while others grind its cakes that have been prepared in advance.
Now, the Myanmar tradition of applying Thanaka is about to be submitted as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. While officials are striving to have it included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, it is also necessary to strictly inspect and regulate the ready-made Thanaka cakes and creams in the market.
Thanakha can be used by all skin types, and today, cream, powder, face wash, makeup, etc. based on Thanakha are being created and produced for both genders. It is necessary to produce Thanakha related cosmetic products from genuine Thanakha blocks.
If the Myanmar traditional Thanakha is included in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, it will become famous all over the world.
In addition, not only Myanmars but also tourists from other countries will be interested in using the Thanakha. It is important to examine potential side effects of the ingredients used in ready-made products when ready-made Thanakha is applied. If users experience any other harmful consequences, it could damage the country’s image.
Relevant officials should also verify and declare that the ingredients in ready-made Thanakha are genuine. To obtain genuine Thanakha, awareness should be disseminated about the conservation and expansion of growing Thanakha plants.
Businessmen should also be careful not to spoil the image of Myanmar due to their products during the process of submitting Myanmar’s traditional Thanaka to UNESCO.
In the future, ready-to-use Thanakha made from pure Thanakha may become widely consumed around the world. Ready-to-use Thanakha made from pure Thanakha will be able to provide the traditional culture and health benefits.
If Myanmar’s cultural heritage can be systematically preserved and supervised by using authentic Thanaka in ready-made Thanaka with modern techniques, in the long run, we will be able to proudly boast of being a Myanmar product that is ready to enter the world market.
Translated by U Zaw Myint and Nyan Tin
