A village celebrates its invisible rulers.
Text By Aung Lwin Oo and photos by Olivier Pin-Fat
For five days each year Taung Pyone village becomes a fairground. |
They are said to have been executed by the 11th century Pagan ruler King Anawrahta for failing to help in the construction of a chedi to enshrine Buddha relics. The story is kept alive today by the symbolic absence from the ancient chedi of two bricks which the two brothers were instructed to contribute.
According to traditional lore, the spirits of the brothers appeared before King Anawrahta and begged for pardon. The king granted their wish and allowed them to rule over Taung Pyone, whose villagers still hold the two in awe.
But not only the villagers keep the memory of the brothers alive. Thousands of pilgrims from all over
The festivities are arranged and led mostly by the so-called nat kadaw, women “married” to nats.
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