The Most Isolated Pray for Harvest Season in Myanmar

Published February 20th, 2020 - 01:42 GMT

A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead.

The group are part of the Naga, a blanket term for dozens of tribes each with their own distinct dialect living near the Indian border, only accessible by nerve-shredding motorcycle journeys and on foot.

Dressed in black and wearing orange bead necklaces and palm leaf headbands, they rotate around a fire in Satpalaw Shaung village, hands held tightly and braving the cold with bare arms, according to AFP.

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This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows a Naga tribeswoman biting a coconut leaf at the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP

This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows villagers watching the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest by Naga tribeswomen in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP

This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest by Naga tribeswomen in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP

This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows Naga tribeswomen holding rice at the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP

This photo taken on February 6, 2020 shows Naga tribeswomen taking part in an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP

This photo taken on February 5, 2020 shows a man babysitting as his wife carries wood for the upcoming overnight ceremony by Naga tribeswomen to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP

This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows men preparing a meal after an overnight ceremony by Naga tribeswomen to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP

This photo taken on February 6, 2020 shows a child standing with dogs by a fire as Naga tribeswomen take part in an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. YE AUNG THU / AFP

This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows a Naga tribeswoman biting a coconut leaf at the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows villagers watching the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest by Naga tribeswomen in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest by Naga tribeswomen in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows Naga tribeswomen holding rice at the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 6, 2020 shows Naga tribeswomen taking part in an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 5, 2020 shows a man babysitting as his wife carries wood for the upcoming overnight ceremony by Naga tribeswomen to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows men preparing a meal after an overnight ceremony by Naga tribeswomen to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 6, 2020 shows a child standing with dogs by a fire as Naga tribeswomen take part in an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. YE AUNG THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows a Naga tribeswoman biting a coconut leaf at the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows a Naga tribeswoman biting a coconut leaf at the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows villagers watching the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest by Naga tribeswomen in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows villagers watching the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest by Naga tribeswomen in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest by Naga tribeswomen in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest by Naga tribeswomen in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows Naga tribeswomen holding rice at the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows Naga tribeswomen holding rice at the end of an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 6, 2020 shows Naga tribeswomen taking part in an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 6, 2020 shows Naga tribeswomen taking part in an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 5, 2020 shows a man babysitting as his wife carries wood for the upcoming overnight ceremony by Naga tribeswomen to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 5, 2020 shows a man babysitting as his wife carries wood for the upcoming overnight ceremony by Naga tribeswomen to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows men preparing a meal after an overnight ceremony by Naga tribeswomen to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 7, 2020 shows men preparing a meal after an overnight ceremony by Naga tribeswomen to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. Ye Aung THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 6, 2020 shows a child standing with dogs by a fire as Naga tribeswomen take part in an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. YE AUNG THU / AFP
This photo taken on February 6, 2020 shows a child standing with dogs by a fire as Naga tribeswomen take part in an overnight ceremony to bless the harvest in Satpalaw Shaung village, Lahe township in Myanmar's Sagaing region. A haunting refrain pierces the night as the tribeswomen of the Gongwang Bonyo, among the most isolated people in Myanmar, dance around a campfire to bless the harvest ahead. YE AUNG THU / AFP

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