Yangon: Tamil-Hindu: Panguni Uthiram

Yangon: Panguni Uthiram

                                                     

While in Yangon walking around the lake we heard loud drumming coming from the other side. We saw a crowd but could not figure out what was going on. We persuaded our guide to go check it out. What we saw was spectacular.
After doing some research I figured out the celebration/festival is Panguni Uthiram. It is recognized by the Tamil. It falls in the month of Panguni (March/April) and celebrates the significance of the marriage of Pavarati and Parameshwara, Muruga and Devansena and Andal and Rangamanna.  Ramayana also says it is on this day and star that Sita's marriage to Rama was celebrated.
The ancients chose Uthiram to convey to humans the glory of Grahasta Dharma or Married Life, despite his changelessness, childhood, youth or old age.
In the places where Lord Subramanya has a temple, his devotees carry a Kavadi in fulfillment of vows.
There were three boys preparing to carry a Kavadi.

Above one of the men was doing a Snake Dance, where he took the rope and would dance with it as if it were a snake, while violently lashing his ankles and legs with it. People were in trances and passing out, the trance like state was due to the drums and is common for these festivals.

Yangon: Punguni Uthriam: Kavadi

:

The Kavadi is a vow to offer the Lord which ultimately leads to a supreme state of devotion. The Kavadi itself, ranges in shapes, sizes and decoration. The spears actually pierce the skin and it is seen as a form of torture, for spiritual awakening. The bearers observe in silence and are required to folow strict rules leading up to the day of the offering. There are two festivals that Kavadi are used. The one I saw, Punguni Uthriam and the more known Kavadi Festival which celebrate Lord Muruga. Both involve dancing in a hypnotic state to drums. 

Seeing these boys doing this was incredible. They all exuded anguish and calm at the same time. There were three of them and all around them were others watching and helping them. We were told they would walk miles in a parade to the temple and then later that night there would be fire walking! 

to read more about Tamil Culture and the Kavadi Festival go HERE. 

Yangon:Chinatown:Street 19

Yangon: Myanmar

From Myanmar

Snack time: Mango & Spice

They still send telegrams! 

Book Shopping

Talking on the Corner

Street Scene

Father & Son

Duck Eggs

Waiting for the Ferry

The Strand Hotel

Fresh Flowers

Street Fashion

Sister & Brother

Sisters

Lakes in the City

Sweets

Overseas Phone Booths

What an amazing place with such a rich history and overwhelming national pride. The architecture is reason enough to go. Those colonial buildings will all be redone in the future, hopefully to their original state. The people, the food, the smells and sounds, it is a city that has stayed the same and yet is changing by the minute. I hope I get to go back and see it again..