Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
manhood. One proud old Chin woman we met told us that she was just seven when
she started pestering her parents to have her own facial inking.
Efforts by Christian missionaries and a government ban on facial tattoos in the
1960s has resulted in the practice dying out. But in some Chin villages (particularly
in the more traditional southern areas) live a handful of tattooed grannies.
Naga
The Naga are mainly settled in a mountainous region of eastern India known as Naga-
land, but significant numbers live in the western Sagaing Region between the Indian bor-
der and the Chindwin River.
When the British arrived in the mid-19th century, the Naga were a fragmented but
fearsome collection of tribes. Headhunting was a tradition among them and for many
decades they resisted British rule, though a lack of cooperation between the tribes
hindered their efforts to remain independent. After nearly 17,000 Naga fought in WWI in
Europe, a feeling of unity grew, which led to an organised Naga independence move-
ment.
The Naga sport one of the world's most exotic traditional costumes. Naga men at fest-
ival time wear striking ceremonial headdresses made of feathers, tufts of hair and cowry
shells, and carry wickedly sharp spears. Several tour companies organise trips to the re-
gion during the Naga new year in January when such ceremonies are performed.
To find out more about the Shan and issues in Shan State read the Shan Herald Agency
for News ( http://panglong.org ).
Rakhine
The Rakhine (also spelled Rakhaing and formerly called Arakanese) are principally ad-
herents of Buddhism; in fact, they claim to be among the first followers of Buddha in
Southeast Asia. Their last ancient capital was centred at Mrauk U in Rakhine State,
which borders Bangladesh.
The Rakhine language is akin to Bamar but, due to their geographical location, they
have also absorbed a fair amount of culture from the Indian subcontinent. In the eyes of
most Bamar, the Rakhine are a Creole race - a mixture of Bamar and Indian - a percep-
tion that Rakhine strongly resent. It is true though that the local culture exhibits a
strongly Indian flavour, particularly when it comes to food and music. The Rakhine are
 
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