The Wizards of Myanmar | 101 east

Al Jazeera English published this video item, entitled “The Wizards of Myanmar | 101 east” – below is their description.

In the light of a full moon on the outskirts of Yangon, a group of people gather around a glittering shrine, chanting incantations.

They believe this ceremony will bring magical protection.

Across Myanmar, hundreds of thousands of people follow the teachings and practices of wizards thought to have supernatural powers.

They believe in the magic of the Buddhist occult to cure illness, tell fortunes and protect people from harm.

Buddhism and magic are uniquely linked in Myanmar, and many influential people follow these practices.

But with Myanmar once again under brutal military rule, some of these customs have been forced underground.

From candlelit rituals to magical potions, 101 East goes inside the mystical world of the weizza, Myanmar’s wizards.

Al Jazeera English YouTube Channel

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About This Source - Al Jazeera English

The video item below is a piece of English language content from Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera is a Qatari state-funded broadcaster based in Doha, Qatar, owned by the Al Jazeera Media Network.

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In This Story: Myanmar

Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 ethnic groups, bordering India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. Yangon (formerly Rangoon), the country’s largest city, is home to bustling markets, numerous parks and lakes, and the towering, gilded Shwedagon Pagoda, which contains Buddhist relics and dates to the 6th century.

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