BAGO NAT PWE

The tradition of worshiping spirits, known as nat, is still alive and well in today's Myanmar

SUPERSTITIONS BELIEF

Some Myanmar people, especially those from the rural areas, have many superstitions Astrology, palmistry and clairvoyance aresometimes relied upon to make important decisions. These may include marriage, going into a business partnership, naming a baby, and others. To offset bad luck, certain meritorious deeds or yadaya may be performed such as setting free some live birds or animals, building a footbridge, or mending a road.Superstition of different cultures are interesting in some ways. Here are some of the Myanmars:-

Don't go underneath a staircase. You will loose your will power

•    Don't go underneath a staircase. You will loose your will power.
•    Don't go under a pole or rope, where women used to hang-dry their longyis. You will loose your will power.
•    Don't leave a shoe or a slipper up-side-down. It'll cause bad luck.
•    Don't keep a broken glass or a mirror in homes. Replace the window panes asap if broken.
•    Don't wash your hair within a week after a funeral in the neighborhood.
•    Don't hit the pot with a ladle after you stir the curry. It's like hitting your parents' head.
•    Don't hit 2 lids of pots and pans against each other. A tiger may bite you.
•    Don't feed someone with the palm upward. The food might cause you disorder.
•    Don't clip your nails at night. Ghosts don't like that.
•    Don't take kids to dark places. Ghosts may posses them.

RELIGION BELIEFS

Most Myanmar are Buddhist of the Theravada stream. Central to their religious beliefs is karma, the concept that good begets good and evil begets evils. Another belief is tat all living things go through reincarnation. If a person has committed sins, (he or she) will be reincarnated into a lower level being such as an animal or suffer in Hell; on the other hand, if he has done good deeds, he will be elevated to a higher level of existence to the world of devas. The ultimate aim in life according to Buddhist belief is to escape the cycle of rebirth and reach Nirvana.

Meritorious deeds that will help a person to achieve Nirvana include giving donations ( especially to monks) and abiding by the Five Precepts and practicing Bavana (meditation).The Five Precepts are exhortation not to kill, steal, lie, drink alcohol, and commit adultery. The Five Precepts are codes of conduct for laypeople. There are also Eight, Nine and Ten precepts, meant to be practiced by more serious lay devotees. The Jemghas or monks have to abide by the 227 rules of conduct or vinayas.

A HAPPY MYANMAR FAMILY

Much has been said about the institution of family in Myanmar, that it is essentially a relationship based on specific duties and responsibilities on the part of husband, wife, parents and offspring. These rights and duties are taken seriously and adhered to closely (although being human there may be lapses). Love and respect, rights and responsibilities are the foundations of a Myanmar family irrespective of religious creed. This holds true today as it did in ancient times and is a tradition that we hold dear. But there is another basic element that knits a family together although it has not been given much prominence. And that is the love and humour that is very much a part of Myanmar family life. Not much has been said about the fun and laughter that a Myanmar family enjoys, but it is there. The ability of the Myanmar people to look on the lighter, if not funny side of life is carried over into family relationship.

As, I'm sure it has been mentioned often enough, the father of a family is the "Ein Oo Nat" (Lord of the forefront of the house). Which also implies that the mother rules the rest of the household. The term "Lord of the front of the house" will probably conjure up a stern and remote figure to be approached warily with humility and respect. Far be it. There is even a popular song "Hpay Hpay Gyi Ko Chit Tai" meaning "We love big Daddy". Generally, we think father melts quicker than mother when a child sheds a few crocodile tears. Mother sees through the children's foibles and fables and when she picks up a cane children are apt to run crying to father.

Myanmar people as parents are usually indulgent with children. No self-respecting mother will let her infant child cry but pick it up at the first whimper. But by school going age they have been taught the basics of discipline and morality. Mother sees to that. But, there is a lot of fun and laughter that help to strengthen the bonds of love. Father on return from work is greeted joyfully by the children. They run to him, clamber over him and ask for goodies. A small daughter is quite capable of running into the bedroom and come out trailing a "pasoe" (men's nether garment) for father to change into. Another older child might run to fetch a glass of cool drinking water or a fruit juice. All this goes on till mother shoos them away for father to have a bath and relax a bit.  

Then there is the evening meal with the family around the table. The first choice morsel goes to father, but it somehow gets back to the tiniest tot or others in turn. The parents eat sparingly if they are not affluent and see that the children get the lion's share. But you should listen to the chatter and banter at the dinner table. Father teases one or the other of the children. Myanmar children can be mischievous and deliberately let cats out of the bag. - about mother scrimping on meat and groceries to buy the latest 'batik'. Or someone or other of the children. Myanmar children can be mischievous and deliberately let cats out of the bag. - about mother scrimping on meat and groceries to buy the latest 'batik'. Or someone or other will say artlessly that father's breath smells tangy or sour- if he has had a secret nip or two on the way home much to mother's annoyance.

There may be some form of corporeal punishment in poorer homes where the parents are ignorant and under some financial stress, but downright physical or mental abuse of children is rare. And if there is, the neighbors will see to it that it doesn't happen too often. There may be tears but there is also humour and affection.

A pre-teen son will try to support a staggering drunken father and put him to bed and an elder daughter baby sits younger brothers and sister for mother who is out trying to supplement the family's income. When such a family comes into a windfall, they will all get dressed in their best and get on a crowded bus or mini-bus to go the pagoda or, to the zoo if they should happen to live in Yangon. In smaller towns and villages they will go to a video hall (for want of a better word) or go see an all-night drama (zat pwe) at some pagoda festival. The children will gorge themselves on ice-lollipops and all kinds of roasted things - corn, peanuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds or a wide variety of Myanmar snacks. Each of them, if lucky, may have a helium balloon or at the very least a Myanmar papiere mache doll to play with.

If a foreign visitor is observant enough, he will probably see on weekends or on holidays, a family dressed in their best, the youngest child in the mother's arms, the second youngest astride the father's shoulders and the rest tugging at mother's skirt or father's pasoe straggling along the sidewalk on their way to catch a bus home. The parents look hot and exhausted and the children are tired too. But for them all, it has been a day of fun and excitement, a day they will talk about for a long time afterwards, till the next holiday comes around. 

Myanmar children are taught to love and respect their parents. But they may like all children, sometimes "talk back" to parents and be cheeky. When the parents are in a good mood they get away with a mild rebuke, if not they're in for a spanking. But the children do not fear their parents. They are wily enough to know how far they can go.

The close bonds of Myanmar family life become clear when a daughter or son enters the teens and start to show an interest in the opposite sex. A growing daughter makes the father fidgety and he looks on all boys as: "swine among the pearls, they marry little girls". But when the son shows an interest in girls, the Myanmar father, like all fathers, preens himself and thinks "Oh! chip off the old block." On the whole, especially in middle class educated families, an offspring is free to choose his or her mate, within reason.

Sometimes, of course, there is a runaway marriage. If it is a daughter, a mother will beat her breast and shed oceans of tears. But then the boy's parents come along with downcast eyes and apologies and assurances that they will put things right, that is, hold a wedding feast to declare to all and sundry that their son has chosen his bride. If however the son of the house has brought home a wife, then the boot is on the other foot. The boy's parents have to take the girl back to her parents and give assurances of their good will. Sometimes of course things go sour, but it's rare. And when a grandchild comes along all is forgiven. All focus is now on the newcomer who will be showered with love from grandparents, parents and uncles and aunts plus a horde of relatives.

To Myanmar people, all children are "Yadana" that is treasure, but there is play on the syllables that admonishes them not to be "Ya - dar - nar" that means "unfortunate to have had you

COURT MARRIAGE CEREMONY

There are court marriages usually performed by judges ranging from township to Supreme Court Justices, depending on the wish and accessibility the partners. Wherever the wedding is performed, the couple wants to show and receive acceptance from society that they are eligible and duly married before respectable personages. Here we are presenting the court marriage of a youthful, vibrant and beauteous couple. Not so large a number of guests have already gathered, as the ceremony is to commence soon.

Court marriage requires judge as well as witnesses. The wedding ceremony we are presenting now has the good fortune of having the presiding judge and the witnessing law officer, both of whom are accompanied by their wives. Firstly the bride signed her signature to two copies of the marriage documents and the groom-followed suit. After the witnesses signed, the judge gave his blessing and best wishes and signed in the document and the court register. Thus, the couple became husband and wife legally. With the successful conclusion of the ceremony, the invited guests are having refreshments offered by the newly wed couple. Henceforth, the new couple is going to raise a happy family.

WEDDING CEREMONY BY OFFERING FOOD AND ALMS TO THE SANGHA

On auspicious occasions, offertory is dedicated to Lord Buddha and the assemblage of celestials. The offertory usually contains three or five hands of bananas, one coconut and Eugenia sprigs. The auspicious wedding ceremony by offering food and alms to the Sanghas is also no exemption. In fact, bride and groom work hand in hand untiringly to prepare food and other alms for the Sanghas, setting adorable tradition in itself. Elders from both sides offer sumptuous food and snacks to the Sanghas.The bride and groom offer food, robe and other alms with the firm belief that it is the harbinger of auspicious and happy life for the future.

It is also unforgettable for the couple to prepare and stuff a silver bowl with cash and confetti for the ceremony.The Sanghas grace the new home by reciting Parittas to ensure good luck and happiness.The Sanghas deliver sermons to the gathering, blessing the newly-weds and sharing their meritorious deeds.To commemorate the successful wedding ceremony, cash and confetti are strewed among the attendees.The guests happily pick up the cash to keep as amulet, which will ward-off the bad and bring in good fortune.

It is a joyous and auspicious occasion for the newly-weds to begin their family life eternally in accord with Myanmar tradition. And it has become the solemn duty of the newly-weds to enrich human society as a wedded couple. They surely will enrich Myanmar way of life and we do hope so.