Festival Time at a Nat Shrine
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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Festival Time at a Nat Shrine


By Aung Lwin Oo AUG, 2004 - VOLUME 12 NO.8


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They enact scenes from the story of the two brothers—and, since one of the men reputedly liked to drink, quite a lot of alcohol is consumed!

 

A nat kadaw dances.

 

“I saw nat kadaws dancing at shrines and some onlookers joined in the dancing, claiming that they were possessed by nats,” recalled one pilgrim.

 

Wooden figures of the two brothers in warrior garb are paraded, and just touching the effigies is believed to ensure good luck.

 

The rituals and the offerings—made through the intervention of the nat kadaw—are also necessary to ward off bad luck. Taung Pyone is kept clean and tidy by devotees who believe they are descendants of king Anawrahta’s serving men—wary of sharing the fate of the two disobedient brothers.

 

One Rangoon businesswoman says she makes an annual pilgrimage to Taung Pyone to give thanks to the nats for the success of her enterprise and to ensure continued good fortune. “I’m afraid that I could suffer harm if I failed to visit and provide offerings to the nats.”

 

Nat images in Taung Pyone.

Blessed by the nats, in Taung Pyone’s main shrine.


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