Abstract

• Poe Kayin people who reside in Kamapar village celebrate the ceremonies of paying homage to the late ancestors. They hold it for the good of their business, health and education. Every member of the family has to take part in the ceremony. This study was viewed from religious anthropology perspectives and conducting qualitative ethnographic field approach. The aim of the search is to explain the essential theme of the ritual of Poe Kayin people’s ancestor worship. The objectives are to reveal the importance of paying homage to the ancestors in social affairs and well-being of the Kayin people, to learn the procedures of the ceremony of paying homage to the ancestors and to record the ritual of worshipping the ancestors for the next generations. The data was collected and performed by key informant interview, in-depth interview, participant observation and focus group interview. Young people come back home at the time of propitiation of the spirits of the ancestors. Therefore they are not used to the service of the spiritual medium and they should learn the rituals. Actually ancestor worship ceremony is a small family gathering of home coming children. In addition, all the family members can worship their late ancestor together. Besides they get together for breakfast, lunch and dinner and treat the villagers with rice and curry. Such rituals should be handed down from generation to generation to preserve family and ethnic unity.