The Mt Popa Nat Festival will take place December 5-6 at Mt Popa, 50km from the city of Bagan. Mt Popa is the most important Nat pilgrimage site in Myanmar. It is a 1300m tall extinct volcano with numerous temples and relics located on its summit. During festival pilgrims from across Myanmar gather at the mountain to honor 37 revered Nats (guardian spirits). Nats are believed to be the spirits of humans who suffered untimely deaths. The Nat spirits have powers both good and evil and are generally worshipped out of fear but if appeased they can also grant health, fame and fortune, it is an animist tradition that predates Buddhism.
During the Mt Popa Nat Festival the revered Nats are honored to bring good merit and fortune for the coming year. At the festival the Nats are called upon through rituals of song and dance and offerings of liquor. The merrier and wilder the celebration, the more satisfied the Nats are believed to be. A spirit medium or shaman known as a Nat Kadaw will be tasked with maintaining the festive spirit and energy of the festival goers by embodying the spirit of a Nat and dancing and singing in a trance like state.
The Mt Popa Nat Festival offers a fascinating glimpse into the animist traditions of Myanmar and is lively experience that should not be missed on a visit to Bagan.
For excursions to Mt Popa, click here
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