Burma (Myanmar)

A brief History
Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 Independence from the Commonwealth was attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988 Despite multiparty legislative elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the junta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to 1995 and 2000 to 2002 September 2007, the government brutally suppressed the protests, killing at least 13 people and arresting thousands for participating in the demonstrations Burma in early May 2008 was struck by Cyclone Nargis, which claimed over 138,000 dead and tens of thousands injured and homeless Parliamentary elections held in November 2010, considered flawed by many in the international community selected former Prime Minister THEIN SEIN as president. The vast majority of national-level appointees named by THEIN SEIN are former or current military officers.

Religions

Buddhism

Christianity

Hindus

Muslims

Animism

Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand Geographic coordinates: 22 00 N, 98 00 E Area: total: 676,578 sq km

Land boundaries: total: 5,876 km border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline: 1,930 km

Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower

About The People

Nationality: noun: Burmese (singular and plural) adjective: Burmese Ethnic groups: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5% Religions: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2% Languages: Burmese (official) note: minority ethnic groups have their own languages Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.9% male: 93.9% female: 86.4% (2006 est.) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 9 years male: 8 years female: 8 years (2007)

Architecture
Architecture reflects the country's Buddhist and colonial heritage
Buddhist temples are the most important architectural features throughout the country. The Buddhist temple serves as a religious school, a community center, a guest house, a place where the government and other agencies post information, a site for sports activities, a center for welfare services for those who are poor and ill, a morgue, and a center for music and dance The traditional house is made largely of bamboo The front of the house usually has a veranda that is raised a few feet off the ground. This is the public area where guests are entertained. The center of the house is the living area for the family. Behind it is a covered cooking area where rice is stored. Especially in urban areas, these houses are being replaced by more generic ones made from cement. Some ethnic minorities have distinctive styles of houses. Many Palaung traditionally lived in multiple-family houses. Today, these structures are very rare, and most Palaung live in single-family houses.

Temples

Burmese Houses

Colonial Buildings

Burmese Traditional Arts

Pan Pei

Pan Tein

Pan Yan

Pan Tin

Pan Tawt

Burmese Traditional Arts

Pan Pu

Pan Ta Mawt

Pan Chee

Pan Put

Pan Yun

Burmese Traditional Orchestra

Cymbals

Oboes

Series of gongs

Brass gongs circle

Timing bells

Short Drums

Fipple-flutes

Burmese Traditional Orchestra

Drum circle

Main Drum

Interesting Myanmar Culture Thanakha (Burmese Make-up)

Interesting Myanmar Culture Longyi (Burmese Sarong)

Myanmar Food

Spicy fried fish

Fried Dried Fish

Fried Crabs

Egg Curry

Chicken Curry

Beef Curry

Water Cress with Garlic

Tagu - Burmese New Year (Thingyn Festival) Kason - Pouring water at the bo (Bodhi Nyaung) tree Nayon - Examinations in religious scriptures Waso - Waso Festival Wagaung - Boat Races in Old ties Taw Tha Lin - Regatta Festival Thadingyut Light Festival Ta zaung mon Light Festival & offering of robe to monks Na Daw - Celebration in honour of the literati Pya Tho Equestrian Festival Ta Bo Dwe Festival of making Htamanei Ta Baung Festival of Sand pagodas

Festivals

FAMILY: The Myanmar family have lunch and dinner on a round table. The first choice morsel goes to father, but it somehow gets back to the tiniest tot or others in turn. Love and respect, rights and responsibilities are the foundations of a Myanmar family irrespective of religious creed. But there is another basic element that knits a family together although it has not been given much prominence. And that is the love and humour that is very much a part of Myanmar family life. There may be some form of corporeal punishment in poorer homes where the parents are ignorant and under some financial stress, but downright physical or mental abuse of children is rare. To Myanmar people, all children are "Yadana" that is treasure, but there is play on the syllables that admonishes them not to be "Ya - dar - nar" that means "unfortunate to have had you".

Media
The Press Kyehmon - state-run daily Myanmar Alin - organ of State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) New Light of Myanmar - English-language organ of SPDC Myanmar Times - state-run English-language weekly Television TV Myanmar - state-run, operated by Myanmar TV and Radio Department broadcasts in Bamar, Arakanese (Rakhine), Shan, Karen, Kachin, Kayah, Chin, Mon and English MRTV-3 - state-run international TV service Myawaddy TV - army-run network TV5 - state-private joint pay-TV venture Radio
Radio Myanmar - state-run, operated by Myanmar TV and Radio Department City FM - entertainment station operated by Rangoon City Development Committee Democratic Voice of Burma - opposition station based in Norway, broadcasts via shortwave; web pages in English and Burmese News agency/internet Myanmar News Agency (MNA) - state-run

Superstitions
Some Myanmar people, especially those from the rural areas, have many superstitions. Astrology, palmistry and clairvoyance are sometimes relied upon to make important decisions. These may include marriage, going into a business partnership, naming a baby, and others. To offset bad luck, certain meritorious deeds or Yadaya may be performed such as setting free some live birds or animals, building a footbridge, or mending a road. Superstition of different cultures are interesting in some ways. Here are some Don't go underneath a staircase. You will loose your will power. Don't go under a pole or rope, where women used to hang-dry their longyis. You will loose your will power. Don't leave a shoe or a slipper up-side-down. It'll cause bad luck. Don't keep a broken glass or a mirror in homes. Replace the window panes asap if broken. Don't wash your hair within a week after a funeral in the neighborhood. Don't hit the pot with a ladle after you stir the curry. It's like hitting your parents' head. Don't hit 2 lids of pots and pans against each other. A tiger may bite you. Don't feed someone with the palm upward. The food might cause you disorder. Don't clip your nails at night. Ghosts don't like that. Don't take kids to dark places. Ghosts may posses them. Carrying some hairs of an elephant tail will avoid evil.