“It saddens me that when kids grow older they sometimes feel embarrassed to perform the dance in public. Boys, especially, say they’re too old to be dressing up and performing. I tell them there’s nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to tradition and culture. We must be proud of what belongs to us. We are Shan, wherever we live in the world” (Dance teacher Mana).

Shan-Tai prayer month 2011, day 10

Ram nok king kala

The sleepy hamlet of Ban San Paa Kor in Chiang Rai province wakes as the rhythmic sound of traditional gongs, tom-toms and cymbals fills the air. The atmospheric sounds herald the start of the ram nok king kala (king kala dance) which is unique to the Shan people.Clad in eye-catching costumes that evoke the colours and patterns of peacocks, two performers enthral spectators with graceful and agile steps. The male peacock ostentatiously struts around, displaying his brilliant tail in order to attract the female peafowl who hops back and forth, to left to right. The merriment escalates as two lion dancers show up to do high jumps.(www.shanland.org)

Shan tradition has wonderful festivals: the lunar New Year, Boi Sang Long (when boys enter the monastery as novices), the Water Festival, Buddhist Lent and Ok Pansa to mark the end of Buddhist Lent. Traditionally the ram nok king kala (king kala dance) is performed on Ok Pansa to welcome Buddha back to Earth after his visit to heaven. It also used to be commonly performed in northern Thailand but in recent years has become rare, despite the many thousands of Shan crossing into Thailand to escape the Burma Army.

In Thailand they face a different sort of threat – losing their roots, language, traditions and culture.  As illegal ‘migrants’ they must try avoid attention and cannot freely express their identity.

Security issues make it impossible for many Shan to wear their traditional clothes and to celebrate their culture openly. They can be arrested by the police and send back to Burma if they are not careful enough. There is a discourse in the community about preserving culture and at the same time assimilate within Thai society. But how can one assimilate and keep their traditional identity at the same time. (In between Shan culture and Thai society)

The loss of cultural traditions can leave Shan people feeling disorientated, without roots and cast adrift in an unfriendly world. They need a firm foundation to build their live upon again.

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. (1 Corinthians 3:10-13 ESV)

Pray for

• The Shan to rejoice in the everlasting joy of the Lord (Nehemiah 12:43).
• God to redeem the festivals of the Shan for His glory as He did for Judah (Zechariah 8:18-23).
• That young Shan people in Thailand will find their identity in Christ, and then responding courageously to the Gospel that they will lead other Shan people to Him also.

Other posts related to this topic:

• Day 9: Shan follow their traditions
• Day 11: God’s field
• Let the festivities begin

External Resources:

• Shan Cultural Association - UK
• Kengtung Traditional Dancing

Download the Shan Prayer Guide:

30 Days of Prayer for the Shan