د "ميانمار" د بڼو تر مېنځ توپير

[[Buddhism in Myanmar]] is predominantly of the [[Theravada]] sect intermingled with local beliefs. It is practised by 89% of the population, especially among the Bamar, Rakhine, Shan, Mon, and Chinese. [[Christianity]] is practised by 4% of the population, primarily among the hill-dwelling Kachin, Chin and Kayin, and [[Eurasians]] because of missionary work in their respective areas. Most Christians are [[Protestant]]s, in particular [[Baptist]]s of the [[Myanmar Baptist Convention]]. [[Catholicism]] is practised by the remaining 1%. 4% of the population practises [[Islam]], mainly of the [[Sunni]] sect.<ref name=priestly>{{cite news | first =Harry | last =Priestly| url =http://www.irrawaddy.org/aviewer.asp?a=5380&z=102 | title =The Outsiders| publisher =[[The Irrawaddy]] | date =2006-01 | accessdate =2006-07-07}}</ref> Muslims are divided amongst [[Indian]]s, Indo-Burmese, [[Persian people|Persians]], [[Arab people|Arabs]], [[Panthay]]s, and [[Rohingya]]s. The Muslim and Christian populations are socially marginalised and are widely segregated.<ref name=priestly /> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://isrc.payap.ac.th/document/papers/paper23.pdf |title=The Encounter of Missionary Christianity and Resurgent Buddhism in Post-colonial Myanmar |accessdate=2006-07-14 |author=Samuel Ngun Ling |year=2003 |format=PDF |publisher=Payap University }}</ref> Small segments of the population practise [[Hinduism]] or [[animism]].

 

{{main|Culture of Myanmar}}

[[دوتنه:Earpiercingceremony.jpg|thumb|220px|An ear-piercing ceremony at the Mahamuni Pagoda in [[Mandalay]] is one of the many coming-of-age ceremonies in Burmese culture.]]

 

 

In a traditional Burmese village, the monastery is the centre of cultural life. Monks are venerated and supported by the lay people. A novitiation ceremony called [[shinbyu]] is the most important [[coming of age]] events for a boy when he enters the monastery for a short period of time.<ref name="kmc">{{cite book | author=Khin Myo Chit | authorlink=Khin Myo Chit | year=1980 | title=Flowers and Festivals Round the Burmese Year }}</ref> Girls have ear-piercing ceremonies ([[دوتنه:Nathwin.gif]]) at the same time.<ref name="kmc" /> Burmese culture is most evident in villages where local festivals are held throughout the year, the most important being the pagoda festival.<ref name="Myam-ma">{{cite book | author=Tsaya | year=1886 | title=Myam-ma, the home of the Burman | publisher =Thacker, Spink and Co. | location =Calcutta | pages = 36-37 }}</ref> <ref name="sy">{{cite book|author=Shway Yoe|year=1882|title=The Burman - His Life and Notions|publisher=Norton Library 1963|location=New York|pages=211-216,317-319}}</ref>Many villages have a guardian nat, and superstition and taboos are commonplace in Burmese life.