An Akha Funeral


An Akha Funeral Main Page

It is still pretty early in the evening, and many have gathered for the vigil and to hear the phi ma chant. The phi ma will split the duties, as the chanting is mostly constant and appears to be very tiring. You can see that one phi ma is wielding the instrument from the previous photos, and he occasionally strikes it against a rock on the floor. This instrument makes a thumping sound which is said to be audible to the dead, and is meant to draw the ancestors to the vigil.

 

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