(By Ashley South)

On Monday 9th February the Mon community in London met to celebrate the 57th anniversary of Mon National Day. This was the third time Mon National Day had been formally observed in the UK, and the first time I had attended this event in my own country (last year I was in Rangoon on MND; the year before I celebrated with the Mon community at Mahachai, in Thailand).

When I arrived at Ealing Town Hall at 6 PM, it was obvious that a great deal of hard work had already gone into the preparations. As well as a photo display of the previous two years' events, there was an impressive stage and sound system, featuring a portrait of the great Mon king Rajadhirat, and a flying hongsa (Golden Sheldrake) emblem (in fact, the NMSP flag). I was a bit worried though, that there wouldn't be enough people to fill the large hall.

However, it soon became clear that this was definitely not a problem. By the time we all stood up to pay respect to the flag, the hall was almost full; by the time the speeches ended - about forty-five minutes later - there were many more people than seats.

In total, over 250 people attended the celebrations; of whom I think about 50 were Mon. When I was living in the UK between 1997-2001, writing my book on Mon nationalism, there were almost no Mon people here. However, the past two or three years has seen the arrival of scores of young men and women from Monland, most of whom are studying in the UK. It was great to see so many Mon nationals gathered together so far from their homeland, many wearing Mon costume, and all here to celebrate and confirm their pride in being Mon. As well as a few westerners, there were also a great many other people from Burma, including Karen, Kachin, Rakhine and Burmans. It was very encouraging to see representatives of different nationalities celebrating Mon National Day together.

Speeches were given in Mon and Burmese by members of the organising committee, who reminded the audience of the history of the Mon people, and of Mon National Day, and the importance of preserving and celebrating Mon national identity. I'm afraid that I don't speak Mon, so my short talk - on Mon identity and the current political situation in Burma - had to be given in English.

After the speeches, it was time to eat and drink, sing and dance. The noodles and spring rolls were delicious ('dangoon' to the cooks). The songs and dance numbers which made up the rest of the evening were a real pleasure too. Many of those present proved to be excellent singers. The most popular performances were probably the traditional Mon songs, many of which were sung by individuals and groups who had clearly been rehearsing for some time. These were greatly enjoyed by all in the audience - especially when accompanied by dance routines. For me, the highlights of the evening were the traditional dances performed in colourful Mon costumes and head-pieces. I was particularly impressed by the beautiful Mi Sorn from Moulmein, who sang and danced with great skill.

In conclusion, this was a very enjoyable social occasion - but one with a serious meaning. Like Mon communities the world over, the UK Mon are rightly proud of their ancient heritage, and keen to celebrate the continued relevance of Mon identity in the twenty-first century. Congratulations to all involved in organising this impressive event - and please invite me again next year.

Ashley South