Myanmar’s Spirit Mediums

For generations, many of Myanmar’s Buddhists have also believed in 37 great spirits, or nats. The spirits are said to have all been real people who died horrible deaths, only to come back as vengeful spirits that must be appeased. Interaction with the spirit world takes place during elaborate ceremonies that can last for days, where dozens of spectators gather to watch shamans or “spirit mediums” dance frantically to live traditional music as they claim to be possessed by one spirit after another. Through the medium, worshippers ask the spirit for advice on matters of life, love, and business – usually offering money, alcohol, and food in exchange.

Many of the spirit mediums are transgender, making these events popular and safe gathering places for Myanmar’s LGBT community. While some of these ceremonies are public festivals with thousands of people, others are private events held in people’s homes. Once a prevalent aspect of Myanmar’s culture, spirit worship is slowly fading away as modernization diminishes belief in the supernatural and, simultaneously, Buddhist monks become increasingly vocal in their opposition to the practice.