TAF PUBLISHING

This study focuses on migrants and non-migrants regarding their ideas/suggestions and contributions to the changes in the practices of two traditional festivals, the Water Festival and the Light Festival in Za Yet Pyin village Ramree Island the Rakhine State of Myanmar. The study aims to provide answers by investigating the relationship between actors' roles (migrants/villagers) and the networks founded by migrants. The unit of analysis was distinguished into non-migrants (current residents) and migrants (temporary returnees for Water Festival). The data collection processes such as key informant interviews and participant observation were applied in the research. When recruiting participants, a total of 22 people (10 Females and 12 Males) were accessed. By comparing the pre-migration past and the current migration era, any significant changes in traditional festivals' practices are presented and analyzed, which will bring new findings and insight into the area of migration study in relation to the practice of traditional festivals.