Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Islam
Although official statistics say that 4% of Myanmar's population follow Islam, according
to a 2006 US government report on religious freedom in Myanmar, local Muslim leaders
believe the more accurate figure is approximately 20%. Either way, Muslims have been
part of Myanmar's religious fabric from at least the 9th century, and possibly as far back
as the 6th century in Rakhine State.
Waves of Indian immigration under British colonial rule boosted the local Muslim
population. This was slashed during WWII when many Indians fled the country, and
again from the start of military rule in 1962 when ethnic Indians were expelled from the
army and marginalised in society.
In subsequent years Muslims - in particular the Rohingya - have been targeted as il-
legal immigrants, stirring up ethnic and religious intolerence that continues to linger dan-
gerously in Myanmar society.
THE WATER FESTIVAL
Occurring at the height of the dry and hot season, around the middle of April, the
three-day Thingyan (Water Festival) starts the Myanmar New Year. As in Thailand's
Songkran, the event is celebrated in a most raucous manner - by throwing buckets
of cold water at anyone who dares to venture into the streets. Foreigners are not
exempt!
On a spiritual level, Myanmar people believe that during this three-day period the
king of the nat(spirit beings), Thagyamin, visits the human world to tally his annual
record of the good deeds and misdeeds humans have performed. Villagers place
flowers and sacred leaves in front of their homes to welcome the nat.Thagyamin's
departure on the morning of the third day marks the beginning of the new year,
when properly brought-up young people wash the hair of their elder kin, buddha
images are ceremonially washed, and hpongyi(monks) are offered particularly ap-
petising alms food.
Although the true meaning of the festival is still kept alive by ceremonies such as
these, nowadays it's mainly a festival of fun. In cities, temporary stages called pan-
dal(from the Tamil pendel) are erected along main thoroughfares, with water bar-
rels ready to douse all passersby.
Christianity
The CIA World Fact Book says 4% of Myanmar's population are Christians. Anglican,
Baptist and Catholic missionaries have been active in Myanmar for over 150 years. Go-
ing even further back there were communities of Christians among the Japanese who fled
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