Rites

The Candle Worship ritual protects, removes misfortune, and guards against danger according to the Shan. Lighting the candle, very familiar for Buddhists, brings luck and long life. For Buddhists, the candle symbolizes Buddha’s teaching; therefore, candles have been employed for many, many years in ceremonies. The villagers make the candles by using real wax from […]

Buddhism is the primary religion of the Shan; only a few practices other religions. Their lifestyle still supports the belief in some ghosts:  ruler spirits, earth ghosts, forest demons, water ghosts, farm ghosts, household spirits, and others, whom they are very careful not to insult.   Each community has a similar belief about worship and