Traditional Theme
Traditional Belief & Customs of Myanmar (Burma)

Noviciation Ceremony
In fact it is a tradition in Myanmar that one of the duties of a married couple is to perform this ceremony with the well-wishers and attendants. Part of the charming Myanmar tradition is that, the married couples of Myanmar use to celebrate noviciation ceremony for their sons to become a novice, start from the age of five to seventeen, and promote them to become a monk at the age of (18). The first part of the novice sons as a prince. After all, the Buddha was Prince Sidhartha Gautama before he became a seeker of the four noble truths and all Myanmar boys are following, symbolically, in his footsteps. After receiving the general blessings of the head monk, head shaving and donning the robes, to renounce the secular life and follow the monastic orders either temporary or ever. A samanera adheres to 10 precepts or vows, which include the usual prohibitions against stealing, lying, killing, intoxication and sexual involvement, along with ones forbidding: eating after noon; listening to music or dancing; wearing jewellery, garlands or perfume; sleeping on high beds; and accepting money for personal use. A novice usually lasts a week or two – nine days is an auspicious number.

Monks & Nuns

There are currently an estimated 250,000 monks in Myanmar. All things possessed a monk must be offered by the lay community. Upon ordination a new monk is typically offered a set of these robes (lower, inner and outer). A bit more for the thick acrylic robes worn during the cool season. Bright red robes are usually reserved for novices under 15, darker colors for older, fully ordained monks. Other possessions permitted include a razor, a cup, a filter (for keeping insects out of drinking water), an umbrella and an alms bowl. The latter are usually plain black lacquer bowls made in Inwa or Sagaing; monks carry them to gather their daily food from householders in their monastery precincts. At one time the Theravada Buddhist world had a separate Buddhist monastic lineage for females, who called themselves bhikkhuni and observed more vows than monks did – 311 precepts as opposed to the 227 followed by monks. Started in Sri Lanka around two centuries after the Buddha’s lifetime by the daughter of King Asoka, the bhikkhuni tradition in Sri Lanka eventually died out and was unfortunately never restored. In Myanmar, the modern equivalent are women who live the monastic life as dasasila (‘Ten-Precept’ nuns), often called thilashin (possessor of morality) in Burmese. Burmese nuns shave their heads, wear pink robes, and take vows in an ordination procedure similar to that undergone by monks. Burmese nuns don’t go out on daily alms-food rounds but they do collect dry food provisions every 15 days in most locales, or as often as once a week in some places.

Alms-offering Ceremony
In the daily life of Myanmar peoples, Buddhism is the most important and the monks are considered as the respectful persons. Donating the foods to the monks is the daily duty of Myanmar peoples and on the special occasions, they go to the monastery and offer the foods to the monks followed by the procession. The offertory usually contains three or five hands of bananas, one coconut and Eugenia sprigs. It is a symbol of love and respect. No family occasions such as noviciation, wedding ceremony, house warming, ear-boring ceremonies, giving and wakes are complete without the Gado-bwe( Alms-offering Ceremony).

NAT Worship
Faith in Nats (spiritual beings) still exists in Myanmar, although it was not Buddhist beliefs, and has been discouraged by Buddhism. King Anawrahtar (AD 1044-77), the first founder of the Myanmar Empire, converted himself to Buddhism, and abolished nearly all customary spiritual worships of Myanmar. The widespread adoption of Buddhism in Myanmar suppressed, but never replaced, the pre-Buddhist practice of nat (spirit) worship. Originally animistic - associated with hills, trees, lakes and other natural features - the Burmese "nat" has evolved into a spirit that may hold dominion over a place (natural or human-made), person, or field of experience. Orthographically, the written Burmese word "nat" is derived from the Pali-Sanskrit natha (lord or guardian). Despite the continued efforts of some Buddhist leaders to downgrade the nat cult, it remains an important dimension of everyday Burmese life. These superhuman nat, when correctly propitiated, could aid worshippers in accomplishing important tasks, vanquishing enemies and so on. Popa Mountain has many legendary stories about the spirits (Nats) of today. This annual festival is known as Taung Pyone festival, it is usually held during the month of August. The Nats are believed to be super natural powerful beings, stated between the gods and the spiritual beings. There are 37 Nats (spirit) in Myanmar cultural belief. The Nat Pwe is usually held for three days. The first day is for the Summoning the Nats. The second day is the Nat’s feast. The third is the day for the Nats’ departure. Devotees from all over Myanmar, comes to this special festival and offer their donations and enjoy themselves with the blessings of the spirits every year. They pray for prosperity, fame and luck for the next coming year.

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