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The Celebration of Mon National Day Worldwide is Over: But our dreams are still strong and much work remains to be done(By Siri Mon Chan)The 61st celebration of Mon National day is over but the struggle for our rights continues. Celebrations occurred in February, 2008 around the world with thousands of people from all nationalities attending. Mon National Day commemorates the birth of the Mon Nation. According to our traditional history, the founding in 573 CE of the Hongsawatoi Kingdom in lower Burma by two brothers, Sammala and Vimala marks an important date in our heritage. The Mon National Day is celebrated back home in Burma in the areas where the Mon live, including in Mon State, Karen State, Rangoon and Pegu. In recent years, the celebration has substantially grown in Mon communities across Asia, Europe, Australia and North America where Mon have resettled and for the first time in many centuries are able to celebrate with dignity and freedom.Members of the Australia-Mon community celebrated Mon National Day with their hearts brimming with pride. We have not forgotten our Mon brothers and sisters inside Burma who live in fear and are denied the right to enjoy their traditional national holiday which they all cherish so much. Mon National Day is often banned by the Burmese military regime and in Thailand this year the Thai provincial authority caused problems that prevented Mon migrants from attending and enjoying their festival. On the other side of the world, the celebration gained recognition and support from western state governments, such as Australia, the United States, and Canada.It was great to see many Mon nationals gathered together on this auspicious day wearing their Mon National clothes. It is important that we celebrate and confirm our cultural heritage. It was also very encouraging to see representatives of different nationalities and the Australian mainstream community in attendance and enjoying Mon National Day.This year’s celebration included speeches, Mon cultural dances, music, traditional food, a photographic display and documentary show. Speeches were given in Mon and English by members of the Mon senior members of parliament, minister from ACT and academics form Australia’s leading university, ANU. Their speeches reminded the audience of the ancient history of the Mon people in Southeast Asia and the importance in preserving our language and culture in today’s ever changing world.After the speeches, food and drink were offered, popular Mon songs were featured, and the highlight of the evening, live dance performances on stage. Mon women, who had prepared months in advance, marveled the audience with their grace and brilliant costumes of gold and red. Mon authentic food made for the western palate was much appreciated by the participants. This was a very enjoyable social occasion - but one with a serious meaning. Like Mon communities around the globe, the Australia-Mon are rightly proud of their ancient heritage, and are keen to celebrate the continued relevance of Mon identity in the twenty-first century.Now the official cerebration of the 61st anniversary of Mon national day in Australia and worldwide is over, but much work remains to be done. Our dreams of achieving Mon national independence is still strong after over 250 years after the fall of Hongsavatoi in 1757. Preserving our language, culture, and most importantly building unity among all Mon to work together for our national independence will be a major challenge for all of us in the coming years.