Culture of Myanmar (Burma)
The culture of Myanmar (Burma) has been influenced by Buddhism, Mon people and neighbours countries like India and China but there are also own style of cultures be seen in Myanmar. In old days, make offering to Nat(Spirits) that is believe in worship Nat, before Buddhism come. In more recent times, British colonial rule and westernisation have influenced aspects of Burmese culture, including language and education. Besides, there Christian, Islam, Hindu etc in Myanmar.
The most famous Burmese traditional food is Mohinga, rice noodles in a rich fish soup. There are different varieties of mohinga in various regions of Burma such as Rakhine mohinga with more fish paste and less soup. Its ingredients depend on their availability. Another popular food is Htamane, which is served during the rice harvest festival February, is made of glutinous rice mixed with sesame seeds, peanuts, shredded ginger, and coconut.
White rice is regarded as the main staple and is usually served with curry. Burmese curries are called "Hin" in Myanmar, thoese are not spicy food like India Foods but Myanmese (Burmese) people used to put fewer spices, peas, potatoes and a lot of oil. Myanmese (Burmese) people are normally have the main courses with a variety of salads centered on one major ingredient, ranging from rice, noodles, and glass vermicelli, to potato, ginger, tomato, kaffir lime, lahpet and ngapi.
Basically, there is a big festival in each month of the traditional Burmese calendar so there are twelve Traditional Festivals in the calendar year. Some are religions festivals but the rest of them are seasonal festivals. The most famous festival is Thingyan, Water Festival, a four-day celebration of the coming lunar new year. The new year sometimes falls in the Myanmar monthe of Tagu and sometimes in Kasone. During the time of the festival, the Myanmar people used to perform religious deeds and the children and the middle-aged people play spleshing water in one anothers. Another famous festival is Thadinkyut, lighting festival, marks the end of the Buddhist lent. According to the autor Hla Tha Mein, that is the light Festival which originated in the a try of Sinkassanagar in India during the life time of the lord Buddha. On the late evering of that full moon day. The lord Buddha returned from the celestial alode of Devar, Taratimasa where he stayed three months treahing the Dhama. The citizens it many lantens to welcome the great teacher. The festival was as old as 2570 old years.
Almost 90 percent of the people are Theravada Buddhists, and the proportion is higher among the Burmese majority. Burma has nominal guarantees of freedom of religious expression, although religious minorities (Christians and Muslims), particularly those in the countryside are subject to discrimination. Sporadic riots between Burmese Buddhists and Burmese Muslims are not uncommon, and tensions between the two religious groups are high, particularly in major cities. Among the Burmese, this includes the worship of nats, which maybe associated with houses, in individuals, and natural features.
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