Taungpyone Festival to be celebrated in Myanmar

Taungpyone Festival

This festival commemorates two brothers that are venerated as Nat spirits.

Held at Taung Pyone village north of Mandalay, the festival sees the whole village transformed into bazaars hawking food, flowers, toys, clothing, and trinkets; food stalls selling traditional Burmese fare; and theaters for Burmese traditional drama.

This festival also celebrates the worshipping of two spirit brothers. Spirits possess spirit mediums and would collect donations and offerings from locals.

It is said that the village is the execution site of two brothers who once served a Bagan King in the 11th century. The brothers then became powerful Nat spirits that are worshipped by the locals until this day. People offer food like grilled rabbit and fried chicken as well as alcohol to the spirit brothers in order to make them happy. In this festival, tens and thousands of mediums and worshippers come together to worship Nats (spirits). Spirit medium allow themselves to be possessed by the spirits by dancing and singing ritualistic songs. The medium also accept donations made by locals.

(Myanmar Ministry of Hotels & Tourism)