MYANMAR (Burma). Mandalay, Taungbyon. 1986. Taungbyon is a small village twenty kilometers north of Mandalay. Every year in August, for the eight days prior to the full moon, the Yaungbyon Spirit festival-called the Nats festival-is held. The festival honors the Taungbyon brothers, executed in the eleventh century. Today this is one of the best-known festival in Myanmar. Ardent followers assemble from all over the country. Some drink and dance all night; the spirit of the dead brothers is said to have entered them. Good fortune is said to fall on those who made monetary donations during the festival.