Just after Chinese New Year, according to their lunar calendar, the same as the ancient Tibetan one, the Musur celebrate their annual end and beginning. Many came from far away this year, to a gathering in the great Mae Fah Luang tribal reservation. A wide variety of costumes were to be admired. Dancing tended to be in lines making circles or spirals, the men together followed by the women. Men played wind instruments, women the percussion. Many of the men wore Burmese army-issue green canvas shoes with their traditional costumes. Some of the women had clothing adorned by pieces of cloth with beautiful old Chinese designs. A few of the faces made one think of people who never, ever were anywhere near a modern city. The clothing design specifics indicate who a person is: what clan, what village, what status.

The Lahu may have had something akin to a country long ago, but that seems unlikely, as living in proximity to and interacting with others of different culture and sense of obligation has never seemed a problem to them... though when they were more strictly hunters, they may not have held farmers in high regard!

Lahu New Year celebration		Lahu women line dancers
Lahu women percussionists		Wind instrument playing
Tatmadaw foot gear		Another costume variety