• Burmese
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
28 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

H1N1 Halts Taung Pyone Nat Festival

Zarni Mann by Zarni Mann
July 31, 2017
in Burma
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
Thousands of worshippers gather at a shrine of two nats, Min Gyi and Min Lay at 2016’s Taung Pyone nat spirit festival. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Thousands of worshippers gather at a shrine of two nats, Min Gyi and Min Lay at 2016’s Taung Pyone nat spirit festival. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

7.1k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

MANDALAY — Myanmar’s largest annual nat festival scheduled to begin on Monday in Taung Pyone near Mandalay has been cancelled over fears of spreading the H1N1 influenza outbreak currently rattling the country.

“The festival ground is always crowded and germs would spread easily, so we have decided to postpone the festival until the influenza is under control,” Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Zaw Myint Maung told reporters on Sunday.

Hundreds of thousands of people from across Myanmar flock to the annual festival in Taung Pyone village, 15 miles north of Mandalay. It is held in honor of two brothers—Min Gyi and Min Lay—who were believed to have become nat spirits after they were executed by King Anawrahta.

RelatedPosts

Toxic Thailand Rivers Pinned on Myanmar Mines

Toxic Thailand Rivers Pinned on Myanmar Mines

June 11, 2025
707
Myanmar Junta Collects US$34m in Quake ‘Donations’

Myanmar Junta Collects US$34m in Quake ‘Donations’

May 30, 2025
1.9k
Myanmar Authorities Drag Their Feet Over Rebuilding of Mosques, Churches

Myanmar Authorities Drag Their Feet Over Rebuilding of Mosques, Churches

May 22, 2025
587

On Sunday, the health ministry announced 10 lives had now been claimed by the influenza from a total of 182 suspected cases since July 21. Parliament approved an urgent proposal to boost awareness of H1N1 influenza in an attempt to control the country’s outbreak last week.

U Zaw Myint Maung said government health officials will screen people who have already arrived in the area to attend the festival, which was scheduled to run until Aug. 8, and treat and quarantine infected persons.

Owners of local shops, food stalls, and restaurants have complained over losing business due to the late cancellation.

Restaurant owner Daw Swe Swe said she was one of many shop and restaurant owners who would lose out after already paying rental fees for a spot at the festival.

Trustees of the festival said they had already forked out wages for security personnel and other laborers and were worried that spiritual mediums, who channel nat spirits at the event, would not pay due rental fees.

“We will miss out as medium performers will not receive visitors and worshipers,” said a trustee of the festival. “But what can we do? This is a health issue.”

Mediums, however, told The Irrawaddy that performers would remain at festival grounds to perform the rituals regardless.

“We do this every year no matter what happens,” said senior spiritual medium Mommy Noe. “We will do the ritual without failure, even if there are no worshippers visiting Taung Pyone.”

“For health and safety, I will not leave the festival grounds until the festival has finished, and I will take care of my health. I believe Min Gyi and Min Lay will bless us with good health,” she added.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: H1N1HealthMandalayReligionTaung Pyone
Zarni Mann

Zarni Mann

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Myanmar Junta Braces for Mandalay Attacks
War Against the Junta

Myanmar Junta Braces for Mandalay Attacks

by The Irrawaddy
July 3, 2024
17.6k

City residents say patrols have increased as anti-regime advances threaten Mandalay and Pyin Oo Lwin.

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta Searching Phones for VPN Use
Burma

Myanmar Junta Searching Phones for VPN Use

by Hein Htoo Zan
June 14, 2024
16.7k

The regime’s security forces are checking smartphones for virtual private networks, which are used to bypass online restrictions.

Read moreDetails
Yangon, Mandalay Deserted After Dark as Myanmar Junta Hunts for Conscripts
Burma

Yangon, Mandalay Deserted After Dark as Myanmar Junta Hunts for Conscripts

by Hein Htoo Zan
December 16, 2024
12.4k

Desperate regime ramps up forcible conscription as military defeat looms in Rakhine and Kachin states.

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta Driven From The Birthplace of the Burmese Empire
War Against the Junta

Myanmar Junta Driven From The Birthplace of the Burmese Empire

by The Irrawaddy
August 14, 2024
11.2k

The National Unity Government announced that the People’s Defense Forces under its captured the town in northern Mandalay that is...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Garrison Town Sees Exodus as Junta Faces Humiliating Loss of Its ‘West Point’
Burma

Myanmar Garrison Town Sees Exodus as Junta Faces Humiliating Loss of Its ‘West Point’

by The Irrawaddy
August 9, 2024
10.4k

The garrison town of Pyin Oo Lwin in Mandalay Region is home to the military’s top schools, the Defense Service...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta Begins Conscription Early
Burma

Myanmar Junta Begins Conscription Early

by Hein Htoo Zan
March 30, 2024
10.2k

The regime announced that conscription would begin after Thingyan in mid-April but hundreds of men have been sent to army...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
The weight of Article 66(d).

The weight of Article 66(d).

Students at University of East Yangon (Tarwa) wear masks on Monday as awareness campaign / Thet Htun Naing / The Irrawaddy

H1N1 Outbreak Kills Three More in Yangon

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Is TNLA, Under Chinese Pressure, Conceding Northern Shan Gateway to the Regime?

Is TNLA, Under Chinese Pressure, Conceding Northern Shan Gateway to the Regime?

4 days ago
1.3k
How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

6 days ago
1.2k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Attacks to Reclaim KIA’s Jade and Rare Earth Strongholds

    Myanmar Junta Attacks to Reclaim KIA’s Jade and Rare Earth Strongholds

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • China’s Bet on Myanmar Junta Risks Backfiring

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • China is Systematically Dismantling Tibetan Monastic Traditions

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Defusing the Thai-Cambodian Border Row

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.