Bamar comprises 9 ethnic groups.

The Bamar are frequently called simply Burmese, but this term is ambiguous as it can also refer to a citizen of Myanmar who belongs to a different ethnic group (Karen, Shan etc). The military junta uses the term "Myanmar" to describe persons of all ethnic backgrounds in Myanmar.

Language

The Burmese language, (the official language of Myanmar), is widely spoken by many of the ethnic minorities as well as the majority Bamar. Its core vocabulary consists of Sino-Tibetan words, but many terms associated with Buddhism, Arts, Sciences and Government have derived from Indo-European languages of Pali and English. The Rakhine, although culturally distinct from the Bamar, are ethnically related to the Bamar and speak a dialect of Burmese. Additional dialects come from coastal areas of Tanintharyi Division, and include Myeik (Beik) and Dawei (Tavoyan). English was introduced in the 1800's when the Bamar first came into contact with the British as a trading nation and continued to flourish under subsequent colonial rule.

Origins

The Bamar are of East Asian descent, having origins in present day Tibet, and are thought to have migrated from the steppes of present day Mongolia. They migrated 3,000 years ago to the lower valleys of the Ayeyarwaddy river, an area they ethnically dominate today. They are linguistically related to the Tibetans and to a lesser extent the Chinese. The Bamar largely replaced the Mon and the earlier Pyu, ethnic groups that originally dominated the region.

The Bamar wear sarongs, called longyi collectively. Women wear longyi known as htamain, while men wear longyi called paso. Formal attire often consists of jewellery, silk scarves and jackets. On formal occasions, men often wear cloth turbans called gaungbaung and mandarin collared jackets called taikpon, while women wear blouses. Both genders wear velvet sandals called Mandalay pa nak, although leather, rubber and plastic sandals are also worn.

In cities and urbanized areas, tattoos, earrings and long hair tied in a knot were once common among Bamar men, but have ceased to be fashionable since after World War II; men in shorts and sporting ponytails as well as both sexes with bleached hair have made their appearance in Yangon more recently.

Westernization appears to come via Japan and Singapore. The Bamar of both sexes and all ages also wear thanaka, especially on their faces, although the practice is largely confined to women and children, and western makeup and cosmetics have always enjoyed a captive market in urban areas. Thanaka is not exclusively worn by the Bamar as many other ethnic groups throughout Myanmar utilise this cosmetic.

Religion

The majority of Bamar are Buddhists of the Theravada tradition. People are expected to keep the basic five precepts and practise dana (charity), sila (morality) and bavana (meditation). Most villages have a monastery and often a pagoda maintained and supported by the locals. Annual pagoda festivals usually fall on a full moon day, and robe offering ceremonies for monks are held both at the beginning and after the Buddhist lent which coincides with the monsoons, and during which uposatha (Sabbath) is generally observed once a week. Children used to be educated by monks before secular state schools came into being. A Shinbyu ceremony by which young boys become novice monks for a short period is the most important duty of Buddhist parents. Christian missionaries had made little impact on the Bamar despite the popularity of missionary schools in cities.

The Bamar practise Buddhism along with Nat worship which predated Buddhism. It involves rituals relating to a pantheon of 37 Nats designated by King Anawratha, although many minor Nats are also worshipped. In villages, many houses have outdoor altars to honour Nats, called nat ein, in addition to one outside the village known as nat sin often under a bo tree. Indoor in many households, one may find a coconut called nat oun, up the main post for the Eindwin Min Mahagiri (Lord of the Great Monutain), one of the most important Nats.

Bamar traditional dress

Bamar girl with Thanaka