TAUNGPYONE NAT “SPIRIT” FESTIVAL
The Taungpyone “Spirit” Festival is a celebration dedicated to the worship of Nat spirits from Myanmar’s folk tradition. It is held grandly every year during the week of the full moon in August, with the peak of the festivities occurring on the two days leading up to the full moon.
To summon the Nats (spirits), about 1,500 mediums called Nat Kadaws gather from all over Myanmar. Interestingly, most of these Nat Kadaws belong to the LGBT community. Most people in Myanmar are Buddhists. However, among them, there are also some who practice Nat spirit worship. Furthermore, most people generally do not consider this spirit worship to be unique or exclusive to their faith .
The Taungpyone Festival attracts a great deal of attention. According to tradition, Nats (spirits) are believed to need to be appeased; if they are not, they are thought to cause misfortune or destruction for the people.
The background story of the Taungpyone brother Nats dates back to the Pagan period during the reign of King Anawrahta. His army advanced to attack the Mongols located near the Myanmar-China border. On their way back, King Anawrahta camped in the village of Taungpyone.Among his army, two young generals, the king’s stepsons with mystical powers, were particularly famous.These two brothers were known for their indulgence in drinking and gambling even in their youth.During the time they camped there, the King planned to construct a pagoda in that village.While it was mandatory for all the king’s subjects to contribute at least one brick or a handful of sand for the pagoda’s construction, but the two brothers neglected to make their contributions.
A minister who envied the two warriors deliberately plotted so that the two generals would fail to place their assigned two bricks. As a result, after the pagoda was completed, two bricks were missing (which can still be observed today). When the King became aware of the situation, he ordered a minor punishment. However, due to an unfortunate mistake, the two brothers were executed.The king was overwhelmed with deep regret and built a Nat spirit shrine dedicated to the two brothers beside the pagoda. He also designated them as the guardian spirits of the area and worshipped them.They are among the most popular of the 37 Nats (spirits) worshipped by the people.
The two Nat brothers are believed to grant people’s wishes, protect them from misfortune and danger, and bring luck and success. Because of this, the festival to appease and honor these spirits is held every year. It is a unique and famous Nat festival that attracts visitors from all over the country.
Recently, the Taungpyone Nat Festival has been gaining significant public attention and becoming increasingly famous. People who believe in and worship the Nats, including mediums, gather in the village for the event. Hundreds of large Nat pavilions (tents) are set up, where visitors consult the mediums about their future plans, success, and other matters.Offerings such as food, flowers, money, and alcohol are presented to the 37 Nat statues arranged on stands. The mediums also entertain the Nats with dance and traditional Nat music. The songs and music are highly imaginative, and anyone who hears them is naturally drawn to join in the dances.Every day, many people enter and leave the festival, and it remains very lively until the final day .
The Taungpyone Nat Festival is one of the most famous festivals in Myanmar where you can observe spirit worship, and it is sure to become an unforgettable travel experience!
