Similarity and Differences between Mon in Mon state and Sankhaburi

Among the present various people of Burma, the Mon is the oldest. They arrived into Burma probably between 2500 and 1500 BC.  The Mon is an ethnic group from Myanmar. Most people think that Mon people are mostly living in Mon state, Bago Region, the Irrawaddy Delta and along the southern border of Thailand and Myanmar. However, some groups of people settled in Thailand such as Sankhlaburi (Thai) is a district (Amphoe) in the southern part of Chainat Province, central Thailand.  Therefore, I would like to advocate many differences and similarities between Mon in Mon state and Mon Sankhlaburi.

The previous time, The Mon was one of the earliest group to settle in Thailand. They were originally from Southwest China. Then Mon people migrated south, and to Upper Burma. Finally, they established in Pegu and Thaton.  After that, the Mon’s Kingdom and royal palace were toppled by Burmese Kings. Therefore, they have been under pressure Burmese Monarchy rules for many years.   In Colonial period, The British assisted the Mon to free themselves from the rule of the Burma monarchy. Under Burma rule, the Mon people were killed by Burmese kings after they lost their kingdom and many required asylum in the Thai Kingdom Thailand.

There are 2,050,282 population in Mon state. Mon people Mon State has a cultivated area of nearly 4.5 million acres (18,000 km²), mostly people from Mon state are growing rice. The major secondary crop is rubber and orchards. Also, they are fishing and those fish related industries such as production of dried fish, fish sauce and agar-agar.  Furthermore. Production of betel nut is a main business in Mon state. It is also a sustaining business of Mon state. Moreover, current business development include growing of cashew trees from which they collect the cashew nut for market elsewhere. All goods are sent with another cities for earn money.

There are 67,333 population in Sankghaburi. Also, Mon people from Sankhaburi are mostly growing rice, rubber plantation and flowers and they are also fishing too. Furthermore, they have water village that are built under a lake and the longest wooden bridge in Sankhaburi.  Most people make their livelihood by showing wooden bridge and water village. Some people from Sankhaburi, they carry visitors by board to visit around water village in Sankhaburi for earn money. Also, some people sell handicraft and traditional snacks beside the lake with tourists for their career. All goods imported to Bangkok and another cities.

Mon people in Mon state and in Sankhaburi have same culture and traditional heritages. They include spiritual dances, musical instruments such as "crocodile xylophone.” Mon dances are usually played very soft and in a formal theater .The dances are followed by background music using a circular set of tuned drums and claps, crocodile xylophone, gongs, flute, flat guitar, harp, etc.  The majority of them are believe Buddhism. Some of them believe in other religions such as Animist and Christian. Therefore, there are many similarities culture and traditional even live far away from each other.

Mon in Sankhaburi and Mon in Mon state have differences celebration festival. Every years, Mon in Mon state celebrate big festival such as water festival, Ta Son Die festival and fire festival. Traditions, culture and festivals: Mon State Day falls on 19 March. Kyaikhtiyoe Pagoda Buddha. Other significant festivals are guest festival in Chaungzon, Kyaikkami The-bonzedi Pagoda Buddha Pujaniya and edible oil offering ceremony in Hpa-auk, Mawlamyine. Mon people in Sankhaburi just celebrate Water festival and Fire fFeastival. The rest of festival are nothing celebrate. They are just covering of Thai festival such as Lawkatone, king day, King mother day mother day, King father day. Therefore, there are very different.

Summary, even the Mon people in Mon state and Sankhaburi they are the same roof of nationality in reality, they are too many dissimilar and similar thing. Therefore I would to like to advocate the resources of Mon people such as history, traditional, culture and places how do they are differences and similarities.