Ancestral Ritual, Lumpang Province

14-16 March 1987 - Votive ritual to ancestral spirits (Phee Meng) Worship of the white cloth spirit. The supreme spirit medium sits under the wa tree, where the descendants bathe her, after which she is clothed in white cloth and distributes holy threads to the descendants to show that they respect the same ancestral spirit.

Ancestral Ritual, Lumpang Province

14-16 March 1987 - Votive ritual to ancestral spirits (Phee Meng) Worship of the white cloth spirit. The supreme spirit medium sits under the wa tree, where the descendants bathe her, after which she is clothed in white cloth and distributes holy threads to the descendants to show that they respect the same ancestral spirit.

Ancestral Ritual, Lumpang Province

14-16 March 1987 - Votive ritual to ancestral spirits (Phee Meng) Worship of the white cloth spirit. The supreme spirit medium sits under the wa tree, where the descendants bathe her, after which she is clothed in white cloth and distributes holy threads to the descendants to show that they respect the same ancestral spirit. After entering the pavilion, the ancestral spirit medium lights jong laeng sticks (made using bamboo and cloth, which is dipped into oil and lit in place of candles and incense) to worship the pile of rice that symbolizes the Shwedagon Pagoda, the central religious monument of the Mon people.

Ancestral Ritual, Lumpang Province

14-16 March 1987 - Votive ritual to ancestral spirits (Phee Meng) Worship of the white cloth spirit. The supreme spirit medium sits under the wa tree, where the descendants bathe her, after which she is clothed in white cloth and distributes holy threads to the descendants to show that they respect the same ancestral spirit. After entering the pavilion, the ancestral spirit medium lights jong laeng sticks (made using bamboo and cloth, which is dipped into oil and lit in place of candles and incense) to worship the pile of rice that symbolizes the Shwedagon Pagoda, the central religious monument of the Mon people.

Ancestral Ritual, Lumpang Province

14-16 March 1987 - Votive ritual to ancestral spirits (Phee Meng) Worship of the white cloth spirit. The supreme spirit medium sits under the wa tree, where the descendants bathe her, after which she is clothed in white cloth and distributes holy threads to the descendants to show that they respect the same ancestral spirit. After entering the pavilion, the ancestral spirit medium lights jong laeng sticks (made using bamboo and cloth, which is dipped into oil and lit in place of candles and incense) to worship the pile of rice that symbolizes the Shwedagon Pagoda, the central religious monument of the Mon people.

Ancestral Ritual, Lumpang Province

14-16 March 1987 - Votive ritual to ancestral spirits (Phee Meng) Worship of the white cloth spirit. The supreme spirit medium sits under the wa tree, where the descendants bathe her, after which she is clothed in white cloth and distributes holy threads to the descendants to show that they respect the same ancestral spirit. After entering the pavilion, the ancestral spirit medium lights jong laeng sticks (made using bamboo and cloth, which is dipped into oil and lit in place of candles and incense) to worship the pile of rice that symbolizes the Shwedagon Pagoda, the central religious monument of the Mon people.

Ancestral Ritual, Lumpang Province

14-16 March 1987 - Votive ritual to ancestral spirits (Phee Meng) Ancestral spirit mediums dance after the worship of the white cloth ritual.

Ancestral Ritual, Lumpang Province

14-16 March 1987 - Votive ritual to ancestral spirits (Phee Meng) Ritual cutting of banana shoots. The ritual begins with the banana shoots being paraded into the pavilion, after which they are cleaned with holy water and liqueur. The fact that banana shoots can sprout means they are used to represent abundance and ancestors who make sacrifices for their descendants. To repay these sacrifices, the descendants have to pour holy water and make merit to remove bad luck. The ritual is performed under the cloth known as pha jong , which is believed to be a medium through which the spirits can be communicated with. The banana shoots are cut into seven parts for cooking, and the head of the banana shoot will be used in the ritual performed in the afternoon.

Ancestral Ritual, Lumpang Province

14-16 March 1987 - Votive ritual to ancestral spirits (Phee Meng) Ritual cutting of banana shoots. The ritual begins with the banana shoots being paraded into the pavilion, after which they are cleaned with holy water and liqueur. The fact that banana shoots can sprout means they are used to represent abundance and ancestors who make sacrifices for their descendants. To repay these sacrifices, the descendants have to pour holy water and make merit to remove bad luck. The ritual is performed under the cloth known as pha jong , which is believed to be a medium through which the spirits can be communicated with. The banana shoots are cut into seven parts for cooking, and the head of the banana shoot will be used in the ritual performed in the afternoon.