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78-750: The Irrawaddy Delta or Ayeyarwady Delta lies in the Irrawaddy Division , the lowest expanse of land in Myanmar that fans out from the limit of tidal influence at Myan Aung to the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea , 290 kilometres (180 mi) to the south at the mouth of the Ayeyarwady River . The delta region is densely populated, and plays a dominant role in rice cultivation in its rich alluvial soil as low as just 3 metres (9.8 ft) above sea level. It also includes fishing communities in

156-679: A Bamar identity and norms for sociopolitical purposes. Between the 1500s and 1800s, the notion of Bamar identity expanded significantly, driven by intermarriage with other communities and voluntary changes in self-identification, especially in Mon and Shan-speaking regions. Bamar identity was also more inclusive in the precolonial era, especially during 1700s when Konbaung kings embarked on major territorial expansion campaigns, to Manipur , Assam , Mrauk U , and Pegu . These campaigns paralleled those in other Southeast Asian kingdoms, such as Vietnam's southward expansion ( Nam tiến ), which wrested control of

234-494: A Bamar male will advance from the honorific of "Maung" to "Ko" as he approaches middle adulthood, and from "Ko" to "U' as he approaches old age . A common Bamar naming scheme uses a child's day of birth to assign the first letter of their name, reflecting the importance of one's day of birth in Burmese astrology . The traditional Burmese calendar includes Yahu , which is Wednesday afternoon. The Bamar predominantly embrace

312-404: A belief in guardian nats, particularly the veneration of Mahagiri , the household guardian nat. Bamar households traditionally maintain a shrine, which holds a long-stemmed coconut called on-daw (အုန်းတော်), symbolic of Mahagiri. The shrine is traditionally placed at the home's main southwest pillar (called yotaing or ရိုးတိုင်). The expression of Burmese folk religion is very localised;

390-483: A common ancestry, despite speaking languages that belong to different language families. Another 2022 study found that Central and Southern Thais had a large proportion of Bamar-related ancestry (at 24% and 11% respectively), while Bamar ancestry was also detected among the Palaung and Shan groups. Modern-day Bamar identity remains permeable and dynamic and is generally distinguished by language and religion, i.e.,

468-700: A curry paste of onions, garlic, ginger, paprika, and turmeric, alongside Burmese salads , soup, cooked vegetables, and ngapi (fermented shrimp or fish paste) traditionally accompany rice for meals. Noodles and Indian breads are also eaten. Bamar cuisine is regional due to differences in availability of local ingredients. Anya or Upper Burmese cuisine is typified by greater use of land meats (like pork and chicken), beans and pulses, while Lower Burmese cuisine generally incorporates more seafood and fish products like ngapi. The Bamar traditionally drink green tea , and also eat pickled tea leaves, called lahpet , which plays an important role in ritual culture. Burmese cuisine

546-503: A drum circle called pat waing , which is the ensemble's centrepiece. Classical music descends from Burmese royal court traditions. The Mahāgīta constitutes the entire corpus of Burmese classical music, which is often accompanied by a small chamber music ensemble that features a distinct set of instruments, such as a harp called saung gauk , bell and clapper, and a xylophone called pattala . The Bamar traditionally wear sarongs called longyi , an ankle-length cylindrical skirt that

624-415: A heavy silt load they carry and the sea is very shallow with depths less than 5.5 metres (18 ft) across the coastline and in the east for a distance of up to 28 kilometres (17 mi) offshore. As a result of constant accretion into the sea, the delta is advancing at a rate of 5–6 kilometres (3.1–3.7 mi) per 100 years, equivalent to about 1,000 hectares per year. Annual rainfall in the delta region

702-482: A longstanding history, spanning religious and secular genres. Burmese chronicles and historical memoirs called ayedawbon comprise the basis of the Bamar's pre-colonial historical writing traditions. Traditional Bamar music is subdivided into folk and classical traditions. Folk music is typically accompanied by the hsaing waing , a musical ensemble featuring a variety of gongs, drums and other instruments, including

780-652: A member of the Sino-Tibetan language family , is the native language of the Bamar, and the national language of Myanmar. Burmese is the most widely spoken Tibeto-Burman language, and used as a lingua franca in Myanmar by 97% of the country's population. Burmese is a diglossic language with literary high and spoken low forms. The literary form of Burmese preserves many conservative classical forms and grammatical particles traced back to Old Burmese stone inscriptions, but are no longer used in spoken Burmese. Pali ,

858-421: A slightly greater population. [REDACTED] Media related to Ayeyarwady Region at Wikimedia Commons Bamar The Bamar people ( Burmese : ဗမာလူမျိုး, ba. ma lu myui: IPA: [bə.mà lù mjó] ) are a Sino-Tibetan -speaking ethnic group native to Myanmar . With an estimated population of around 35 million people, they are the largest ethnic group in Myanmar , accounting for 68.78% of

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936-414: A syncretic blend of Theravada Buddhism and indigenous Burmese folk religion , the latter of which involves the recognition and veneration of spirits called nat , and pre-dates the introduction of Theravada Buddhism. These two faiths play an important role in Bamar cultural life. Theravada Buddhism is closely intertwined with Bamar identity, having been the predominant faith among Burmese speakers since

1014-516: A toe-hold in Burma. The British seized Haingyi Kyun or Negrais Island in 1753, after the Mon resisted their request to establish a trading post. The Burmese king Alaungpaya ceded the island to the British in 1757, but retook the island in 1759 by force when the king felt he had been betrayed by the British in his war against the Mon. The battle of Danubyu in 1825 in the delta was the last major stand by

1092-509: A vast area full of rivers and streams. On 2 May 2008, the delta suffered a major disaster, devastated by Cyclone Nargis , which reportedly killed at least 77,000 people with over 55,900 missing, and left about 2.5 million homeless. The Irrawaddy Delta comprises the main arms of Pathein River , Pyapon River, Bogale River, and Toe River. Mawtin Point, formerly Cape Negrais , is a famous landmark in

1170-472: Is Myanmar's largest rice producer, so its infrastructure of road transportation has been greatly developed during the 1990s and 2000s. Two-thirds of the total arable land is under rice cultivation with a yield of about 2,000–2,500 kilograms (4,409–5,512 lb) per hectare. Fishing is carried out from fixed fishing frames as well as from small boats. Prawn fishery and harvesting sea turtle eggs are also major commercial activities both of which are now threatened by

1248-530: Is a diglossic language ; "Bamar" is the diglossic low form of "Myanmar," which is the diglossic high equivalent. The term "Myanmar" is extant to the early 1100s, first appearing on a stone inscription, where it was used as a cultural identifier, and has continued to be used in this manner. From the onset of British colonial rule to the Japanese occupation of Burma, "Bamar" was used in Burmese to refer to both

1326-500: Is a lunisolar calendar that was widely adopted throughout mainland Southeast Asia, including Siam and Lan Xang , until the late 19th century. Similar to neighbouring Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, Thingyan , which is held during the month of April, marks the beginning of the Burmese New Year. Several Buddhist full moon days, including the full moon days of Tabaung (for Magha Puja ), Kason (for Vesak ), Waso (start of

1404-469: Is also known for its variety of mont , a profuse variety of sweet desserts and savory snacks, including Burmese fritters . The best-known dish of Bamar origin is mohinga , rice noodles in a fish broth. It is available in most parts of the region, also considered as the national dish of Myanmar . Burmese cuisine has been significantly enriched by contact and trade with neighboring kingdoms and countries well into modern times. The Columbian exchange in

1482-543: Is approximately 2,500 mm (98.4 in), with a mean temperatures of 32 °C (90 °F). Most of the rain falls during the monsoons between mid-May and mid-November. It is cool and dry from mid-October to mid-February when temperatures begin to rise with premonsoon squalls in April and early May. Water purity lies within the pH range of alkaline condition due to early natural resources and weak environmental control. Mangroves or lamu and nipa palm or dani are

1560-516: Is bounded to the west by the Rakhine Yoma and to the east by the Bago Yoma . It is dissected into peninsulas and islands by the large southward flowing rivers which are subject to tidal intrusion. The lower seaward third of the delta is completely flat with no local relief and stretches for 130 kilometres (81 mi) from east to west. The waters of these rivers are very turbid due to

1638-413: Is dominant during the monsoon but irrigation is limited, especially in smaller farms, during the dry season. Seeds are sourced from own reserves rather than from specialized traders. Yields from farms average 3.3 tons per hectare, lower than other Asian countries. Ayeyarwady Region also has considerable tourist potential. The city of Pathein has numerous historic sights and temples. Outside Pathein are

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1716-549: Is more than 6.5 million. According to the 2014 Burmese National Census the population of the Ayeyarwady Region was 6,184,829, making it the second most populous of Burma's states and regions after Yangon Region. Ayeyarwady Region is flanked by the Rakhine Yoma (Arakan Mountains) range in the west. Large areas have been cleared for paddy cultivation, leading to its preeminent position as the main rice producer in

1794-606: Is no extensive system of irrigation or water transport canals except Twante Canal, constructed during the colonial period. It is much beneficial to the delta region for communication and commerce through water transportation with Yangon. Delta culture hence shifted to Yangon, its influence evident in places and products such as Bogale Market, Mortin Quarter, Yay Kyaw Quarter, Danubyu Restaurants, Pathein Halawa ( halva dessert), Tinphyu mats from Pantanaw , and Pathein umbrella. The delta

1872-470: Is not a true river dolphin native to the Delta region, but it was named after the river, and these sea dolphins are known to enter the rivers of South East Asia . Irrawaddy Division The region lies between approximately latitude 15° 40' and 18° 30' north and between longitude 94° 15' and 96° 15' east. It has an area of 35,140 square kilometres (13,566 sq mi). The estimated 2022 population

1950-583: Is served by Pathein Airport . Educational opportunities in Myanmar are extremely limited outside the main cities of Yangon and Mandalay . According to official statistics, less than 10% of primary school students in the division reach high school. Pathein University is the main university in the state, and until recently the only four-year university in the state. In recent years, the military government , which closed down universities and colleges in

2028-417: Is the concept of anade , which is manifested by very strong inhibitions (e.g., hesitation, reluctance, restraint, or avoidance) against asserting oneself in human relations based on the fear that it will offend someone or cause someone to lose face , or become embarrassed, or be of inconvenience. Charity and almsgiving are also central to Bamar society, best exemplified by Myanmar's consistent presence among

2106-463: Is the fifth Sino-Tibetan language to develop a writing system, after Chinese , Tibetan , Pyu , and Tangut . The oldest surviving written Burmese document is the Myazedi inscription , which is dated to 1113. The Burmese script is an Indic writing system , and modern Burmese orthography retains features of Old Burmese spellings. The Shan, Ahom, Khamti, Karen, and Palaung scripts are descendants of

2184-451: Is wrapped at the waist. The modern form of the longyi (လုံချည်) was popularised during the British colonial period, and replaced the much lengthier paso (ပုဆိုး) and htamein ( ထဘီ ) of the pre-colonial era. The indigenous acheik silk textile, known for its colorful wave-like patterns, is closely associated with the Bamar. Formal attire for men includes a longyi accompanied by a jacket called taikpon ( တိုက်ပုံ ), which similar to

2262-933: The /ɹ/ sound, which had merged into the /j/ sound in standard Burmese between the 1700s and 1800s (although the former sound is still represented in modern Burmese orthography), while the Dawei and Intha dialects retain a medial /l/ that had disappeared in standard Burmese orthography by the 1100s. The pronunciation distinction is reflected in the word for 'ground,' which is pronounced /mjè/ in standard Burmese, /mɹì/ in Arakanese (both spelt မြေ ), and /mlè/ in Dawei (spelt မ္လေ ). Bamar culture, including traditions, literature, cuisine, music, dance, and theatre, has been significantly influenced by Theravada Buddhism and by historical contact and exchange with neighbouring societies, and more recently shaped by Myanmar's colonial and post-colonial history. A pivotal Bamar societal value

2340-600: The Buddhist lent ), Thadingyut (end of the Buddhist lent), and Tazaungmon (start of Kathina ), are national holidays . Full moon days also tend to coincide with numerous pagoda festivals , which typically commemorate events in a pagoda's history. White rice is the staple of the Bamar diet, reflecting a millennium of continuous rice cultivation in Burmese-speaking areas. Burmese curries , which are made with

2418-583: The Mekong delta from the Champa during the same period. During the early 1900s, a narrower strain of Bamar nationalism developed in response to British colonial rule, which failed to address Bamar grievances and actively marginalised the Bamar from entering public occupations such as educational and military ones. One of the primary Bamar grievances with British colonial rule was the widespread immigration of non-Bamar people from other parts of British India, which

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2496-596: The Thudhamma Nikaya (80.1%), followed by Shwegyin Nikaya (8.3%), with the remainder of monks belonging to other small monastic orders . 5,520 thilashin were registered in Ayeyawady Region, comprising 9.1% of Myanmar's total thilashin community. Ayeyarwady Region is heavily forested and wood products are an important component of the economy. The principal crop of Ayeyarwady Region is rice , and

2574-485: The 1100s, the Burmese language and culture had become dominant in the upper Irrawaddy valley, eclipsing Pyu (formerly called Tircul) and Pali norms. Conventional Burmese chronicles state that the Pyu were assimilated into the Bamar population. By the 1200s, Bamar settlements were found as far south as Mergui (Myeik) and Tenasserim (Taninthayi), whose inhabitants continue to speak archaic Burmese dialects. Beginning in

2652-476: The 11th century, during the Pagan dynasty . Modern-day Bamar Buddhism is typified by the observance of basic five precepts and the practice of dāna (charity), sīla ( Buddhist ethics ) and bhavana ( meditation ). Village life is centred at Buddhist monasteries called kyaung , which serve as community centres and address the community's spiritual needs. Buddhist Sabbath days called Uposatha , which follow

2730-434: The 15th and 16th centuries introduced key ingredients into the Burmese culinary repertoire, including tomatoes , chili peppers , peanuts , and potatoes . While record-keeping of pre-colonial culinary traditions is scant, food was and remains deeply intertwined with Bamar religious life, exemplified in the giving of food alms ( dāna ), and communal feasts called satuditha and ahlu pwe (အလှူပွဲ). Burmese literature has

2808-408: The 1990s to quell student unrest, has "upgraded" former colleges and two-year institutes. The government now requires that students attend their local universities and colleges, such as Hinthada University and Maubin University . The general state of health care in Myanmar is poor. The military government spends anywhere from 0.5% to 3% of the country's GDP on health care, consistently ranking among

2886-666: The 900s, Burmese speakers began migrating westward, crossing the Arakan Mountains and settling in what is now Rakhine State . By the 1100s, they had consolidated control of the region, becoming a tributary state of the Pagan Empire until the 13th century. Over time, these Bamar migrants formed a distinct cultural identity, becoming the Rakhine people (also known as the Arakanese). A 2014 DNA analysis found that

2964-659: The Bamar and Yi were much more widespread across Yunnan, Guizhou, southern Sichuan, and northern Burma. During the Han dynasty in China, Yunnan was ruled primarily by the Burmese-Yi speaking Dian and Yelang kingdoms. During the Tang dynasty in China, Yunnan and northern Burma were ruled by the Burmese-Yi speaking Nanzhao kingdom. Between the 600s and 800s, the Bamar migrated into present-day Myanmar, establishing settlements along

3042-466: The Bamar exhibited 'extraordinary' genetic diversity, with 80 different mitochondrial lineages and indications of recent demographic expansion. As the Bamar expanded their presence in the region following their arrival by the 800s, they likely incorporated older haplogroups including those of the Pyu and Mon. Another genetic study of G6PD mutations in Mon and Bamar men found that the two groups likely share

3120-794: The Bamar in Upper Myanmar and urban areas tend to propitiate the Thirty-Seven Min, a pantheon of nats who are intimately linked to the pre-colonial royal court. Meanwhile, the Bamar in Lower Myanmar tend to propitiate other local or guardian nats like Bago Medaw and U Shin Gyi . Spirit houses called nat ein ( နတ်အိမ် ‌) or nat sin ( နတ်စင် ‌) are commonly found in Bamar areas. A minority of Bamar practice other religions, including Islam and Christianity. Among them, Bamar Muslims (previously known as Zerbadees or Pati), are

3198-558: The Bamar is called Anya ( အညာ , lit.   ' upstream ' , also spelt Anyar), which is the area adjoining the upper reaches of the Irrawaddy River, and centred around Sagaing, Magwe, and Mandalay. The Anya region ( အညာဒေသ ) is often called the 'central dry zone' in English due to its paucity of rainfall and reliance on water irrigation. For 1,100 years, this region was home to a series of Burmese royal capitals , until

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3276-621: The British annexed Upper Burma (the last remaining part of the Konbaung Kingdom ) in 1885. Bamar from this region are called anyar thar (အညာသား) in Burmese. In the 1500s, with the expansion of the Toungoo Empire , the Bamar began populating the lower stretches of the Irrawaddy River valley, including Taungoo and Prome (now Pyay), helping to disseminate the Burmese language and Bamar social customs. This influx of migration to historically Mon-speaking regions coincided with

3354-483: The British colonial authorities, who were eager to scale rice cultivation in the colony, and attract skilled Bamar farmers. By the 1890s, the British had established another centre of power and political economy in the Irrawaddy delta. The Bamar have emigrated to neighbouring Asian countries as well as Western countries, mirroring the migration patterns of the broader Burmese diaspora . Significant migration began at

3432-726: The Burmese against the advancing British forces in the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826). The delta was seized by the British in the Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1852 and became part of British Burma. The British colonial administration drained the marshes and swamps that dominated the area, and built dykes and embankments starting from 1861 for rice cultivation as the Burmans began to migrate south into British Burma in search of greener pastures. Now, 1,300 kilometres (808 mi) of major embankments in

3510-551: The Burmese language and Theravada Buddhism. There is considerable variation among individuals who identify as Bamar, and members of other ethnic groups, particularly the Mon , Shan , Karen , and Sino-Burmese , self-identify as Bamar to various degrees, some to the extent of complete assimilation. To this day, the Burmese language does not have precise terminology that distinguishes the European concepts of race, ethnicity and religion;

3588-665: The Burmese language. One group, the Hpon , speak a Burmish language closely related to Burmese. Two groups, the Kadu and Ganan , speak more distantly related Sino-Tibetan languages. The last group, the Moken ('Salon' in Burmese), speak an unrelated Austronesian language . The Burmese-speaking Danu and Intha are classified under the Shan 'national race.' The Bamar predominantly live at

3666-450: The Burmese script. Standard Burmese is based on the language spoken in the urban centres of Yangon and Mandalay, although more distinct Burmese dialects, including Yaw , Dawei (Tavoyan), Myeik , Palaw , Intha-Danu , Arakanese (Rakhine), and Taungyo , emerge in more peripheral and remote areas of the country. These dialects differ from Standard Burmese in pronunciation and lexical choice, not grammar. For instance, Arakanese retains

3744-545: The Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) and Salween (Thanlwin) Rivers and founding the outpost of Pagan (Bagan). The Bamar gradually settled in the fertile Irrawaddy and Salween river valleys that were home to Pyu city-states , where they established the Pagan Kingdom . Between the 1050s to 1060s, King Anawrahta founded the Pagan Empire , for the first time unifying the Irrawaddy valley and its periphery under one polity. By

3822-522: The Irrawaddy Delta region May 2, unleashing torrential rains, 120 mph sustained winds and a 12-foot (3.7 m) storm surge . Foreign relief officials and diplomats said the death toll could exceed 100,000, making it the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Myanmar. The final death toll was at least 146,000 with 90,000 confirmed dead and 56,000 or more missing. Ayeyarwady Region consists of eight districts: Labutta District

3900-517: The Irrawaddy Division, and it also marks the south west end of Myanmar. The delta begins around 93km above Hinthada . The highest point of the delta, Waphu Mount (404 m (1,325 ft)) lies between Pathein and Mawtin Zun (point), on the western strip of the delta. A major portion of the area is covered with low-lying lands just 3 metres (9.8 ft) above sea level. This alluvial plain

3978-465: The Manchu magua , and a cloth turban called gaung baung ( ခေါင်းပေါင်း ). Velvet sandals called gadiba phanat ( ကတ္တီပါဖိနပ် ‌, also called Mandalay phanat ), are worn as formal footwear by both men and women. Bamar people of both sexes and all ages also apply thanakha , a paste ground from the fragrant wood of select tree species, on their skin, especially on their faces. In modern times,

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4056-510: The beach resorts of Chaungtha Beach and the lake resort of Inye Lake. Inye lake is located in Kyonpyaw township, 59 miles (95 km) north east of Pathein. Inye lake is also well known for fishery, as the major supplier of fresh water fish. Chaungtha is located in Pathein township. However, hotel and transportation infrastructure is still very poorly developed. The Ayeyarwady delta region

4134-637: The confluence of the Irrawaddy , Salween, and Sittaung River valleys in the centre of the country, which roughly encompass the country's seven administrative regions , namely Sagaing , Magwe , Mandalay in Upper Myanmar , as well as Bago , Yangon , Ayeyarwady and Taninthayi Regions in Lower Myanmar . However, the Bamar, particularly labour migrants, are found throughout all 14 of Myanmar's regions and states. The cultural heartland of

4212-403: The country and its majority ethnic group. Since the country achieved independence in 1948 , "Myanmar" has been officially used to designate both the nation-state, its official language and majority ethnic group, but the ethnic group was renamed to "Bamar" in 1980 by the order of General Ne Win . In spoken usage, "Bamar" and "Myanmar" remain interchangeable, especially with respect to referencing

4290-406: The country's majority ethnic group (from Burmans to Bamar). The Bamar's northern origins are evidenced by the extant distribution of Burmish languages to the north of the country, and the fact that taung ( တောင် ), the Burmese word for 'south' also means 'mountain,' which suggests that at one point ancestors of the Bamar lived north of the maintains. Until a thousand years ago, ancestors of

4368-489: The country's total population. The geographic homeland of the Bamar is the Irrawaddy River basin . The Bamar speak the Burmese language which serves as the national language and lingua franca of Myanmar. In the Burmese language , Bamar ( ဗမာ , also transcribed Bama ) and Myanmar ( မြန်မာ , also transliterated Mranma and transcribed Myanma ) have historically been interchangeable endonyms . Burmese

4446-533: The country, a position it has retained into the 21st century. It has also a number of lakes. Of the rivers branching out from the mighty Ayeyarwady , Ngawun , Pathein and Toe are famous. The capital city of Ayeyarwady division is Pathein . Chaungtha Beach and Ngwesaung Beach are popular resorts for both foreigners and the Burmese. They are in the west of the Ayeyarwady Region, an hour from Pathein city and four hours from Yangon city by road. Bamar 4,873,027 (76.98%) and Karen 1,426,973 (22.5%) form

4524-413: The delta protect 600,000 hectares of paddyland. It is mainly populated by farming and fishing communities in several villages besides market towns, mostly located along the main rivers. At 100 per km, it is one of the most densely populated regions in the country with a total population of 3.5 million. Current inhabitants include, apart from the Mon and Bamar , a majority Pwo Kayin . The region

4602-455: The division is called the “granary of Burma.” In addition to rice, other crops include maize , sesame , groundnut , sunflower , beans , pulses , and jute . Fishery is also important; Ayeyarwady Region produces fish, prawn , fish-paste, dry fish, dry prawn, and fish sauce. Despite the importance of agriculture to the region, landlessness is high in rural households. Most farms are small; nearly half are under 5 acres. Rice paddy agriculture

4680-478: The language and country. In the English language , the Bamar are known by a number of exonyms, including Burmans and Burmese , both of which were interchangeably used by the British. In June 1989, in an attempt to indigenise both the country's place names and ethnonyms, the military government changed the official English names of the country (from Burma to Myanmar), the language (from Burmese to Myanmar), and

4758-686: The largest religious community there. Minority religious communities include Christians (6.3%), Muslims (1.4%), and Hindus (0.1%) who collectively comprise the remainder of Ayeyawady Region's population. 0.1% of the population listed no religion, other religions, or were otherwise not enumerated. According to the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee 's 2016 statistics, 42,494 Buddhist monks were registered in Ayeyawady Region, comprising 7.9% of Myanmar's total Sangha membership, which includes both novice samanera and fully-ordained bhikkhu. The majority of monks belong to

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4836-466: The liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism, is the primary source of Burmese loanwords. British colonisation also introduced numerous English loanwords to the Burmese lexicon. As a lingua franca, Burmese has been the source and intermediary of loanwords to other Lolo-Burmese languages and major regional languages, including Shan, Kachin, and Mon. The Burmese language has a longstanding literary tradition and tradition of widespread literacy. Burmese

4914-451: The loss of mangrove forests as clearing of land proceeds for agriculture. Since communication throughout the delta is easiest by water, almost every household possesses a boat and major towns such as Bogale , Mawlamyinegyun and Myaungmya are served by steamer . Meinmahla Kyun Reservation is a national heritage site as well as a natural habitat to many mangrove forests and diverse sea life. The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris)

4992-453: The lowest in the world. Although health care is nominally free, in reality, patients have to pay for medicine and treatment, even in public clinics and hospitals. Public hospitals lack many of the basic facilities and equipment. Moreover, the health care infrastructure outside of Yangon and Mandalay is extremely poor. For example, in 2003, Ayeyarwady Region had less than a quarter of hospital beds than Yangon Region although Ayeyarwady Region had

5070-672: The major vegetation of the delta. Moreover, control of weeds is less active as local farmers make mats during the summer. Destruction of mangroves and deforestation in the coastal region due to the Cyclone Nargis put it more at risk in future. The principal islands include Haingyi Kyun , Leit Kyun (Turtle Island), Pyin Salu Kyun, and Meinmahla Kyun (Pretty Women Island). Major cities include Bogale , Maubin , Myaungmya , Moulmeingyun , Pantanaw , Pathein , Pyapon , Dedaye up to Twante , Kyauktan ,and Hinthada Township There

5148-404: The majority of the population, with a small minority of Rakhine (0.47%) in western coastal regions. Burmese is the lingua franca . The majority of the people are Buddhist , with small minorities of Christians , Muslims , Hindus and Baháʼís . Religion in Ayeyarwady Region (2014) According to the 2014 Myanmar Census , Buddhists make up 92.2% of Ayeyawady Region's population, forming

5226-669: The moon's phases (i.e., new, waxing, full, waning), are observed by more devout Buddhists. Vestiges of Mahayana Buddhism remain popular among the Bamar, including the veneration of Shin Upagutta , Shin Thiwali , and Lawkanat (the Burmese name for Avalokiteśvara ), while the influence of Hinduism can be in the widespread veneration of Hindu deities like Thuyathadi (the Burmese name for Saraswati ) and practice of yadaya rituals. Smaller communities practice more esoteric forms of Buddhism, including weizza practices. The Bamar also profess

5304-704: The practice is now largely confined to women, children, and young, unmarried men. The use of thanakha is not unique to by the Bamar; many other Burmese ethnic groups also utilize this cosmetic. Western makeup and cosmetics have long enjoyed a popularity in urban areas. The Bamar possess a single personal name, and do not have family names or surnames. Burmese names typically incorporate a mix of native and Pali words that symbolise positive virtues, with female names tending to signify beauty, flora, and family values, and male names connoting strength, bravery, and success. Personal names are prefixed with honorifics based on one's relative gender, age, and social status. For instance,

5382-558: The rise of King Tabinshwehti . This pattern of migration intensified during the Konbaung dynasty, particularly among men specialised in wet rice cultivation, as women and children were generally prohibited from emigrating. Following the British annexation of Lower Burma in 1852, millions of Bamar from the Anya region resettled in the sparsely populated Irrawaddy delta between 1858 and 1941. The Bamar were drawn to this 'rice frontier' by

5460-651: The start of World War II, and has continued through decades of military rule, economic decline and political instability. Many have settled in Europe, particularly in Great Britain. Following Myanmar's Independence (1948–1962) , many Bamar have emigrated to Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan as well as to English-speaking countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Burmese ,

5538-454: The term lu-myo ( လူမျိုး , lit.   ' type of person ' ) can reference all three. For instance, many Bamar self-identify as members of the 'Buddhist lu-myo' or the ' Myanmar lu-myo ,' which has posed a significant challenge for census-takers. In the pre-colonial era, ethnic identity was fluid and dynamic, marked by patron-client relationships, religion, and regional origins. Consequently, many non-Bamar assimilated and adopted

5616-585: The town of Wagon near Haigyi Island. Labutta Township was most heavily struck with around 80,000 deaths. The cyclone's path devastated the low-lying delta regions going through south-central Ayeyarwady Region and Bogale before entering neighbouring Yangon Region. Nargis was the most expensive tropical cyclone on record in the North Indian Ocean at the time, costing $ 12 billion in aid. Burma's state-controlled news media reported that Nargis left more than 66,000 people dead or missing after it struck

5694-512: The world's most generous countries according to the World Giving Index , since rankings were first introduced in 2013. The Bamar customarily recognise Twelve Auspicious Rites , which are a series of rites of passage . Among these rites, the naming of the child, first feeding, ear-boring for girls, Buddhist ordination ( shinbyu ) for boys, and wedding rites are the most widely practiced today. The traditional Burmese calendar

5772-523: Was Historically part of the Arakan kingdom. This area fell under Burmese (and occasional Mon Kingdom) rule from the 11th century AD. Its subsequent history mirrors that of the rest of lower Burma. An ancient overland pre- Tang trade route from Sichuan (modern Yunnan Province ) to Bengal passed through Ayeyarwady. Ayeyarwady Region was the site of heavy devastation when Cyclone Nargis made landfall in early May 2008 . The cyclone made landfall on

5850-501: Was administered as a province of British India . It was not until 1937 that Burma was formally separated and became directly administered by the British Crown , after a long struggle for direct colonial representation. The Burmese government officially classifies nine 'ethnic groups' under the Bamar 'national race.' Of these nine groups, the Bamar, Dawei (Tavoyan), Myeik or Beik (Merguese), Yaw, and Yabein, all speak dialects of

5928-513: Was formed in August 2008, three months after Cyclone Nargis hit the region. Kyonpyaw District and Myanaung District are the newest districts, formed in 2019 in the lead up to the 2020 Elections Pathein is the capital city and capital. The region consists of 26 townships and 29 cities. In the townships there are 219 wards, 1912 village groups and 11651 villages. Ayeyarwady Region Government Ayeyarwady Region High Court Ayeyarwady Region

6006-511: Was historically populated by the Mon . Politically, the Burman kingdoms in farther north of the Irrawaddy River had controlled the delta area since the mid-11th century with few exceptions. The control of the fertile area reverted to Bago -based Mon kingdoms in the 13th to 15th centuries (1287–1539) and briefly in the 18th century (1747–1757). The delta was also where the British first got

6084-749: Was perceived as transforming the Bamar people into a minority on their own homeland. In 1925, all Bamar military personnel serving in the British Indian Army were discharged, and the colonial authorities adopted an exclusionary policy which stipulated that only the Chin, Kachin and Karen minorities would be targeted for military recruitment. By 1930, leading Burmese nationalist group the Dobama Asiayone had emerged, from which independence leaders like U Nu and Aung San would launch their political careers. For most of its colonial history, Burma

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