| PA O |
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Previously they were included in the Kayin group but were separated just before
independence was gained. They are the second largest population in the Shan
State. There are about 10 sub-groups. They are found in the Thaton, Taungoo,
Hpa An, Penwegon, Taunggyi, Hopon, Pinion, Pinlaung, Yauksauk regions. Pa 0 are
mainly concentrated around Mene Taung region in Southern Shan State. Both sexes
wrap their heads with towels. The men dress in black baggy trousers and black
jackets. The women dress in long, black skirts plus long sleeved jackets with
black leggings on their calves. These leggings are sometimes wound with silver
threads. The men have belts around their waists and carry betelnut containers
in the slingbags. The women wear hairpins and combs plus ear plugs and rings on
their fingers.
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Meat is prohibited when making offerings to the nats but preserved fish
is the main ingredient. Collective novitation or other religious ceremonies are
very grand and widespread. Another popular festival is to send up local made
rockets called Luphai festival. The Po 0 mainly engage in cultivating
tangerines, coffee and thanatphet (kind of a shrub used for manufacture of
local cheroots). Wheat, groundnuts, corn etc are also cultivated.
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There is a unique custom where a roving learned son will come to a village to
read the Buddhist stures. A battery of small brass gongs accompanies Pa 0
dance. The Pa 0 also have their own langiand literature. The Pa 0 are united
and very much developed inomically. They are also very religious. Many of their
customs and traditions are similar to the Bamar customs and traditions.
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| A beautiful Pa O girl (Kyauktan
village) |
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| A Pa O senior citizen(Yauksauk) |
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| A traditional religious procession at a Pa O
villagers are carrying offerings to the monks on the Full-moon day of November
Kahtein ceremony |
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| Two Pa O maidens on the way to the market |
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