Thai Traditional Dress and Muay Thai Aim for UNESCO Heritage Status

via Pattaya Mail, 28 March 2024: Thailand is seeking UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognition for its traditional dress and the martial art of Muay Thai, emblematic of Thai culture. The Culture Ministry, with the Department of Cultural Promotion, is preparing submissions by March 31, 2024, following the successful inclusion of other cultural elements like “Tom Yum Kung.” Thai traditional dress, reflecting over 1400 years of history and Queen Sirikit’s efforts in the 1960s, alongside Muay Thai, with its 300-year legacy and ritualistic Wai Kru Ram Muay dance, embody Thailand’s rich cultural identity and heritage.

The Cabinet has approved the nomination of Thai traditional dress and Muay Thai for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, seeking to globally recognize these fundamental aspects of Thai culture.

According to Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanich, related units, including the Department of Cultural Promotion (DCP), have been tasked with preparing and forwarding the necessary documents to the Thai National Commission for UNESCO, which falls under the Ministry of Education, to be submitted to the international body by March 31, 2024. The initiative follows the successful inclusion of “Tom Yum Kung” and “Kebaya” in UNESCO’s list and the earlier submission for the “loincloth” in March 2023.

Source: Centuries-long Thai traditional dress and Muay Thai heritages seek UNESCO’s recognition – Pattaya Mail