Culture & Custom

Burmese proverb – Destroy the Rafts

The king ordered his general to take a part of the army and pursue the opposing forces. The king said, “When you find them, do not attack but wait until I arrived with the main army”.

After following for several days scouts reported that they had found their prey. The general and his troops make [...]

News: Start of Taung Pyone spirit festival

Taung Pyone natTens of thousands are gathering in Taung Pyone (Taung Byone) near Mandalay to celebrate the annual nat pwe (festival for spirits). The week-long festival starts this week with as many as 100,000 believers gathering to celebrate in the grand festival for the nats (spirits).

There are a number of nat pwes (spirit festivals) in Myanmar. Of these, Taung Pyone [...]

Mandalay entertainment – Mandalay Marionette (Puppet) Theatre

Mandalay Marionette (Puppet) Theatre

One of the best well known Myanmar traditional theatre performances in Myanmar is the Mandalay Marionette Theatre (also known as Mandalay Puppet Theatre). First founded by two ladies in 1986, the troupe started their performance by performing for the tourists coming to Myanmar. The two founders were Ma Ma Naing, daughter of U Thein Naing, the writer of [...]

Mandalay Entertainment – Moustache Brothers

If you want to have a glimpse of traditional Myanmar anyient (dance and comedy show), the best place to see is in Mandalay. The Moustache Brothers Troupe (Mustache Brothers) is a group of banned anyient comedians, once famous among the people of Myanmar but now banned from performing in front of general public for their political activities. They perform [...]

Myanmar Thingyan

Thingyan is probably the most celebrated, most joyous event in the culture and custom of Myanmar people. From the poorest to the richest in Myanmar, this is the greatest event for the year. Every body, poor, rich, uneducated, educated, young and old all participate and enjoy in this once a year event. For every Burmese, this is the event [...]

Karen Bamboo Dance

The above is the Karen (Kayin) bamboo dance. It is quite similar to Chin bamboo dance. Dancers dance quick steps among the striking bamboos. This need high level of practice, skills and timing. One wrong move and your foot will be struck by the bamboo poles.

In Karen state and among Karen people, Karen bamboo [...]

Another Chin traditional Bamboo dance

Here is another video of Chin traditional Bamboo dance. The dance style is a little bit different form another Chin bamboo dance. This one was also took in  Hakha in 2007. The dancers are the high school students from the Falam State High School.

Chin traditional Bamboo dance

This is Chin Bamboo dance.The dancers dance among the bamboo poles which are constantly hitting each other. This dance is very difficult, requiring a very coordinated timing between the dancers and the bamboo holders. One wrong move and your ankle will be hit hard with a bamboo pole.

Bamboo dance is not unique only to [...]

Chin traditional dance on Chin National Day

This is another video of Chin National Day 2007, Hakha, Chin State. This is the dance of Hakha High School Students. It is actually a modernized version of traditional Chin [...]

Ancient Chin Traditional Ceremony

The above is the video I took during my visit to Hakha in 2007 February. This is one of the ancient Chin traditional ceremony. The ceremonary is to honour the lady who was selected by the local prince as a wife. To honour the lady, the relatives and [...]

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