Dancer Twirling Around Nat Festival Hintha Gon Shrine Bago, Burma 25 December 2012

25 December 2012

Hintha Gon is a major location for worshipping nats (spirits). It is a hilltop shrine with the point rising from the sea where hintha (mythological bird) landed. Upon arrival, we encountered a nat pwe (nat festival) with loud music from drums, gongs, cymbal, and oboe to attract nats and transvestite dancers luring nats into possessing them. Nat offerings bring happiness in this life so food was everywhere around the shrines.