Resistance Day (), formerly known as Resistance Day (), is the professional holiday of the Tatmadaw (), celebrated annually on 27 March. It commemorates the start of Burmese Army's resistance to Japanese occupation in 1945. The holiday has been referred to as Anti-Fascist-Resistance Day by participants in the 2021 Myanmar protests.
Holiday events
Military parade
The main event of the holiday is a military parade in central Naypyidaw, the capital, and formerly held in Yangon. The reviewing officer of the parade is the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, a billet of a general ranked officer usually holding Senior General (equivalent to Field Marshal) rank.
Parades in past years:
2013: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was notably among the attendees. 2019: Senior General Min Aung Hlaing was unable to attend the 74th Armed Forces Day event leaving his deputy, Vice Senior General Soe Win, to represent him instead. 2020: The parade of 2020 commemorating the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Japanese forces was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar. The Myanmar military declared it would plan the diamond jubilee celebrations after the World Health Organization declares that the disease is under control. Among the expected attendees included National League for Democracy leader Tin Oo and former Prime Minister of Myanmar Than Shwe. 2021: The 76th Armed Forces Day parade was scaled back to follow health guidelines. Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin was one of the dignitaries in attendance.
Expanded summary of the parade
After the national flag had been raised earlier in a prior ceremony, the formation of more than 18,000 personnel of the Tatmadaw all assembled in a nearby assembly ground, from not just units of the Naypidaw Region but also from the rest of Myanmar, begin their sunrise march to the main parade ground at Shanzu in Naypyidaw where the main parade will be held.
While on the way residents of the capital, as well as visitors enjoying the holiday, watch as the ground and mobile columns make their way to the parade ground, as many bring leis of local flowers as a garland to be worn by those in the former. After an hour or two, all are assembled on the venue to await the arrival of the guests of the ceremony, led by the Parade Commander and his Second in Command, a billet of a Brigadier General or Major General for the former and colonel for the latter. Each of the contingents of the parade, formed on echelons of regiments at this point, are led by colour guard companies, the first of which carry the national flag and the official colour of the Tatmadaw. During this time the military bands which have been playing marches as accompaniment to the marching troops all take their places in the parade square, where veterans of the Tatmadaw from all conflicts past and present, members of Parliament, employees and staff of the armed forces headquarters and the Naypidaw Region, foreign defense attaches and members of the public are assembled.
Joining the massed bands is a pipe band and buglers from the Pipes and Drums of Tatmadaw General Headquarters, which positions itself near the bands.
At around 9 am, preceded by the President, Vice President, State Counselor, and the Prime Minister, the Commander in Chief Defense Services takes his place in the dais escorted by a ceremonial mounted cavalry unit of the Tatmadaw General Headquarters, and with the parade at attention it presents arms. The massed bands, led by the conductor of the Central Military Band of the Myanmar Armed Forces, plays General Salute, and once the music ends the parade slopes arms and orders arms, and the PC informs the guest of honor:
"Sir, the parade in honor of the establishment of the Armed Forces of the Union of Myanmar and the anniversary of beginning of armed resistance against the Empire of Japan for the liberation of Myanmar during the Second World War has now been formed up and ready for your inspection, sir."
The PC and the parade guest of honor ride an inspection vehicle as the massed bands play a quick march as the ground and mobile columns are inspected. The formations all stand at attention at this point as a 21-gun salute is fired.