Ayeyarwady Google Map, Myanmar

Ayeyarwady Ayeyarwady Region is a region in the southwestern part of Myanmar and this is one of the regions that are important, in terms of agriculture and population density in the country. In Myanmar, the Ayeyarwady River, known as the life-blood of Myanmar, defines this deltaic region where the core activity of the economy and culture revolve around the inland waterways transport (in particular, rice) and the river environment, respectively. The population is predominantly of Bamar nation, as well as Karen communities and other ethnicities who had been residing in the region over generations. With time, the Ayeyarwady Region has been acculturated with its own cultural and rhythms based on agriculture, Buddhist ethics, and ecological nature of the delta. It is today one of the most significant regions of Myanmar in terms of both its historical and economic significance.

History

History History of Ayeyarwady Region: Ayeyarwady Delta is among the most productive river deltas located in Southeast Asia, which is closely associated with the history of the Ayeyarwady Region. Even though the delta is a community which has been in existence centuries, the development into a great agricultural hub took a long time to be realized as societies adapted to the yearly floods and the seasons. An archaeological record indicates that the region was a part of the ancient cultural circles related to the Pyu City-States, and the subsequent Mon and Bamar kingdoms, and the area of the delta was inhabited scarcely during ancient times owing to its muddy character and to the changing waters. During the twelfth century and the end of the thirteenth century, the Ayeyarwady River was one of the great trade and communication routes as the Pagan Kingdom thrived. Despite the fact that rice farming which contributed to the wealth of the Kingdom was supported by the delta even though the heart of the Pagan Kingdom was located upriver.

In further centuries, the region was still relatively rural and an important, though, a part of the larger Burmese kingdoms. It became more important in the Konbaung Dynasty when rice exports started to dominate the economies in the region. The most radical in the history of the delta occurred during British colonialism. With the annexation of Lower Burma in the middle of the nineteenth century, immense planting and exporting of rice were promoted by the British. The Ayeyarwady Delta quickly joined the list of largest rice-growving areas of the world. The central Burma settlers moved to the delta in their thousands, expanded farmlands by clearing forests and building embankments. It was a time that transformed the demographic, economic and social landscape of the area which gave the base to the current agricultural landscape of today. The Ayeyarwady Delta was a key battlefield during the World War II with cavcades being undertaken by the Japanese forces and the Allied forces in the region. Since Myanmar gained independence in 1948, Ayeyarwady Region has continued to be the centre of food production in the country contributing a significant portion of rice in Myanmar. Natural hurdles have also adversely affected the region with the most notable being Cyclone Nargis in 2008 that ended with huge loss of lives and immense destruction. Nonetheless, Ayeyarwady Region still manages to reconstruct and change and maintain its significance as the agricultural heart of Myanmar.

Culture

Culture Its delta environment profoundly defines the culture of Ayeyarwady Region, and the surrounding aspect of waterways determines the lifestyles and social interactions, as well as economic activities of the region. Rural people are the foundation of culture behind the region since most people are engaged in rice farming as the main occupation. There are seasonal agrarian cycles that establish the pattern of labor, feasts and community days. The houses are usually stilted so that they can be raised up on seasonal floods and most of the villages can only be reached by boat.

The dominant spiritual school in the area is Theravada Buddhism, which is a monasterial learning establishment in a religious enterprise, cultural and community integration. It is found that monks are not only useful in religious issues but also as teachers and moral educators. The pagoda festivals are common all year round and they bring people of the village into unity through music, theatre and giving together donation to monasteries. Multi-tiered roof, gilded stupas, and colorful decorations are also common characteristics of temples in Ayeyarwady Region as representatives of local culture. The culture of the region also involves traditional performing arts. Festivals and special events are usually accompanied by dance, music, and theatrical performances, especially such popular art as comedic theatre, the so-called anyeint. Idols Folk songs expressing the life of farmers and fishermen are handed down by generations and it keeps local stories, humor and wisdom. There is also additional diversity due to the presence of the Karen ethnic group in some regions of the area, such that they bring with them specific techniques, clothing style as well as Christian religious customs to the dominant Buddhist society.

Food in Ayeyarwady Region is a representation of plenty of freshwater fish and vegetable products. Most of the food revolves around fish paste, fish curries, rice, and vegetables cultivated in the delta. Traditional cooking is more focused on the simplicity and freshness and it includes the products found on the nearby waters and fields. The farm fish, river markets and farm bazaars all contribute to the everyday life of the communities adding to a land-based and water-based culture.

Language

The Ayeyarwady Region has a language that is based on the ethnical composition of the region. It is mainly the Burmese-language Myanmar or it is known as lingua franca in the region and nationally. Majority of the residents of the area speak Burmese as their native language, specifically within the Bamar majority which is the largest ethnic group in the area.

Most of the townships where Karen communities have traditionally resided use Karen languages especially the Sgaw Karen and the Pwo Karen, which they have over centuries. These are languages of the Sino-Tibetan language family and the languages have a different phonetic structure and writing systems. They are applicable in the normal day life even in villages where majority communities are of Karen as well as in religious contexts where hymns and scriptures are normally read in Karen.

Geography

Geography Ayeyarwady Region is geographically segregated by the Ayeyarwady Delta which is one of the biggest river deltas in Asia. The area is west of Yangon and borders to the south on the Andaman Sea. The delta is made up of many distributaries and tributaries of the Ayeyarwady River flowing out of our river, and makes its way through thousands of square kilometers of fertile flood plains, and empties into the sea. This system of waterways determines the movement, habiting, and cultivation of the area.

The land is mainly flat with an alluvial soil that is rich in nutrients; hence it is suitable in cultivating rice. The soil is replenished by seasonal monsoon and occasional floods to allow several harvests in certain locations. Although such floods are known to be fertilizing, they can also be challenging particularly when they occur in a year of high unusual water or over the weather. Villages and farms are constructed based on these cycles and most buildings are constructed to allow them to be above the flood. The ecology of the region comprises of wetlands, mangrove forests, riverine system, and coastal regions. The wetlands are habitat of a variety of wildlife and are known to act as a breeding site among fish species which are also a source of livelihood in the local economy. Coastal mangrove forests are also relevant in ensuring that the shoreline is not eroded as well as habitat to several birds and other aquatic animals. Nonetheless, other ecosystems have been affected by environmental changes such as deforestation and intrusion of saltwater in some coastal areas. Historically, the transportation in Ayeyarwady Region was based on waterways. Even though roads have been increased over the years, rivers and canals could not be ignored because they help particularly in remote villages.

The waterways are traversed by boats of different sizes, which include small wooden canoes, large cargo boats, and also with people, goods, and agricultural products. It has a major urban center called Pathein; it is also an administrative and commercial center which links the rural regions to the rest of Myanmar. The coast of Ayeyarwady Region opens to the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, fishing being an important part of the local economy. Fishing is a supplement to agricultural income among many families, fish markets are the focus of many towns along the coastline and on the riversides. The geographical features of the delta such as fertility, rivers, and complex terrain have been a source of social and cultural existence of the people over generations. It is still a place characterized by strength, diversity, and a long-standing attachment to one of the mighty rivers of Asia.

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