The Way of Buddhist Life2

Mostly, Myanmar people put the birthday alphabet on the first word of the name if it has two words, and put the middle if it has three words.

For example, "Htay Kywe" is the name which was chosen by his parents in accordance special calculation of the Astrologer.

You will see the first word which includes the alphabet "hta", so it is easy to know he was born on Saturday.

For the names having three words, the birth day alphabet is usually placed in the middle. For Example; Look at the following name "Khin Maung Win"

The middle word is "Maung" which is based on "ma" alphabet which represent Thursday category. Therefore he must be born on Thursday.

The child is sent to school at the age of five. However, despite a system of compulsory education and strenuous efforts by the government since independence to ensure education for all, there are still areas with no state schools. In these place the local kyaung (monastery) takes charge of the child's elementary education.

The Way of Buddhist Life1

Childhood Years, from Birth to Marriage: Seven days after birth, the baby's parents invite friends to a naming ceremony. The youngster is given a name based on astrological calculations, and it need bear no relation to that of the parents.

There are Thirty Three alphabets in Myanmar Literature.

These alphabets are divided into eight category belonging to eight birthday planets, and the alphabet of each category represents the day of the birth.

It is little strange, because there are eight days a week according to Myanmar Astrology.

The reason is that the mid week day, Wednesday is divided into two days; until 6 p.m. it is Wednesday, but after 6.pm. to the midnight it is Rahu's day.

The baby's is name is based on his/her birth days, and the astrologer will give the suitable names on the base of his Astrological Calculation of which is to be chosen by the patients.

A Brief Guide to Myanmar

Area : 676,577 sq km

Capital : Yangon

Situation : Border with China (2186 km), Laos (236 km), Thailand (1080 km), Bangladesh (193 km), and India (1463 km).

Cost line : 1,930 km surrounded by the Andaman Sea

Currency : Kyat i.e., 1 Lakh = 100,000 Kyats.

Climate : Three seasons; Summer, Rainy and Winter (Cold) climates. The Climate conditions varying to topographical situation; attitude influencing the weather.

People & Language

Population : Over 52 million (annual growth rate 1.61%)

Major Races : Bamar, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Rakhine and Shan.
A union of over 100 nationalities

Language : Myanmar is the official language. The major races have their own languages and dialects. English is widely spoken and understood.

Literacy : 83.1% (male 88.7% , female 77.7%)

Religions : 89 % Theravada Buddhist, 4% Christian, 4% Muslim, 1% Hindu, 1% Animist.