• Burmese
Sunday, September 24, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
27 °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
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • 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
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home Photo

Ethnic Kayaw Traditions On the Wane as Youth Shun Traditional Dress

by Sai Zaw
July 8, 2014
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 1 min read
A A
Ethnic Kayaw Traditions On the Wane as Youth Shun Traditional Dress

carries a basket at the mountain village of Ra E Pra in Karenni State. (Photo: Sai Zaw / The Irrawaddy)|Se Bi and his wife at their home. (Photo: Sai Zaw / The Irrawaddy)|Se Bi and his wife. (Photo: Sai Zaw / The Irrawaddy)|Children in Ra E Pra village. (Photo: Sai Zaw / The Irrawaddy)|Inside the primary school in Ra E Pra village. (Photo: Sai Zaw / The Irrawaddy)|The road to Ra E Pra village. (Photo: Sai Zaw / The Irrawaddy)

5.1k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

PHARUSOE, Karenni State — After a bumpy eight-hour ride on a dirt road that snakes around a mountainside, a village shrouded by evening mist came into view.

Nestled in a valley about 20 miles south of Loikaw—the capital of Karenni State—Ra E Pra is a village of about 300 residents belonging to the Kayaw ethnic group, a sub-group of the Karen residing in Karenni state.

RelatedPosts

Migrants’ Hopes and Fears in Little Burma

Migrants’ Hopes and Fears in Little Burma

July 16, 2016
10.1k
YCDC Takes to the Streets to Sterilize Stray Dogs

YCDC Takes to the Streets to Sterilize Stray Dogs

July 15, 2016
7.4k
Sunye Lake

Sunye Lake, Haven for Migratory Birds, Blossoming Lotuses

July 6, 2016
10k

While the Padaung or Kayan women of Karenni State are famous for the metal rings they wear around their necks, Kayaw women elongate their earlobes with metal cylinders. Both men and women wear long necklaces adorned with colorful beads and silver coins and pendants.

Another main feature of the Kayaw women’s dress is wearing brass rings around their knees

and ankles. When someone dies, their rings and necklaces are buried along with them as “they are their belongings,” villagers explained to me.

A tour around the village reveals the way of life of the Kayaw, who are mostly Christian. They live in houses on stilts. They grow rice, millet and mustard and raise cattle. A primary school in the village has nearly 40 students. Poverty among the villagers is evident.

Although the tribe is known for its necklaces and the metal cylinders worn in the earlobes, most of the younger people no longer wear traditional jewelry. Older people explained that the younger generation sees the fashion as something embarrassing, especially when they go to cities in search of work.

“With those things, they said, they are afraid to be the center of attention, and they feel annoyed at being stared at in amazement. Only some older people wear them here today,” said Kyi Zar, 65, a village dignitary.

“But once a year, they all wear them on Karenni National Day because it’s customary,” he added.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Multimedia
Previous Post

As Life Normalizes, Mandalay Residents Try to Make Sense of the Riots

Next Post

In Mandalay, Violent Threats Against Those Trying to Report on Riots

Sai Zaw

Sai Zaw

Similar Picks:

No Content Available
Load More
Next Post
In Mandalay

In Mandalay, Violent Threats Against Those Trying to Report on Riots

Thai Junta Says Peace in Restive South a National Priority

Thai Junta Says Peace in Restive South a National Priority

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Former Refugee Puts Plight of Myanmar Children Center Stage at Miss Universe Pageant

Former Refugee Puts Plight of Myanmar Children Center Stage at Miss Universe Pageant

5 days ago
1.9k
Myanmar Junta Boss Unlikely to Get BRI Forum Invite He Craves From China

Myanmar Junta Boss Unlikely to Get BRI Forum Invite He Craves From China

4 days ago
1.4k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Massacres Sagaing Resistance Fighters

    Myanmar Junta Massacres Sagaing Resistance Fighters

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar’s Civilian Government Calls on International Community to Help Unseat Junta

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Troops Loot Abandoned Magwe Town

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Junta Watch: Belarus Seals Bloody Alliance With Regime; Resistance-Hit Naypyitaw Touted as Top Tourism Destination; and More

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Fighting Set to Intensify on Myanmar’s Border with China: Analysts

    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

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
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • 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.