From grumbling neighbours to witty memes of the Buddha imploring a man with speakers to "stop your noise", the cacophony around Myanmar's annual Tazaungdaing festival is revving up debate over the modern racket accompanying religious customs.

Myanmar is 90 per cent Buddhist, and October and November are packed with donation drives in the aftermath of Buddhist lent.

The religious season culminates in the Tazaundaing festival, which ends late Thursday with amusement park rides and block parties.

But some residents in the commercial capital Yangon want the volume turned down as religious chants, sermons and entreaties for donations blared over speakers compete with electronic dance music, Burmese rap and rowdy evenings.

"I don't believe Buddha would like this... Buddha likes peace and silence," Nyein Myat, a 28-year-old bank employee told AFP, adding that her sisters struggle to study because of the noise.

But in Myanmar, where authorities have struggled with hardline Buddhist nationalists and the faith is deeply ingrained in society, few make an effort to plead for quiet.

In 2016, a Dutch tourist was arrested in Mandalay and spent three months in jail after unplugging a speaker relaying a late-night sermon.

"Many people complain but it is the religious season so it is difficult to complain or report to police," said Min Saw, a 22-year-old who works the night shift at a shop.

"This season is full of good deeds for Buddhists... but we mostly get annoyed."

Frustration is playing out online too.&nbsp;

One drawing shows Buddha in the forest holding up his hand and saying "dear son, please stop your noise" as a man races towards him with numerous loudspeakers.&nbsp;

A local artist tweaked Edvard Munch's celebrated "Scream", placing Buddha in the foreground holding hands over his ears in horror at the sound.

Images of the meme rocketed around Myanmar social media, drawing mostly praise but some anger over the portrayal.

"We have faced so many noise problems every day but these days it is worse," said Myo Kyaw, a 35-year-old audio engineer who was eating lunch.

"This is our tradition and I love it but noise is not really good for the people."

Than Win, a community leader in Yangon's Lanmadaw township, conceded decibel levels were high but said it is one of the holiest festivals of the year and that all religious customs deserved respect.

"We can hear the sound from the mosque loudly in the evening and if you live near the church, you can hear their sound loudly," he said.

From grumbling neighbours to witty memes of the Buddha imploring a man with speakers to "stop your noise", the cacophony around Myanmar's annual Tazaungdaing festival is revving up debate over the modern racket accompanying religious customs.

From grumbling neighbours to witty memes of the Buddha imploring a man with speakers to "stop your noise", the cacophony around Myanmar's annual Tazaungdaing festival is revving up debate over the modern racket accompanying religious customs. Myanmar is 90 per cent Buddhist, and October and November are packed with donation drives in the aftermath of Buddhist lent. The religious season culminates in the Tazaundaing festival, which ends late Thursday with amusement park rides and block parties. But some residents in the commercial capital Yangon want the volume turned down as religious chants, sermons and entreaties for donations blared over speakers compete with electronic dance music, Burmese rap and rowdy evenings. "I don't believe Buddha would like this... Buddha likes peace and silence," Nyein Myat, a 28-year-old bank employee told AFP, adding that her sisters struggle to study because of the noise. But in Myanmar, where authorities have struggled with hardline Buddhist nationalists and the faith is deeply ingrained in society, few make an effort to plead for quiet. In 2016, a Dutch tourist was arrested in Mandalay and spent three months in jail after unplugging a speaker relaying a late-night sermon. "Many people complain but it is the religious season so it is difficult to complain or report to police," said Min Saw, a 22-year-old who works the night shift at a shop. "This season is full of good deeds for Buddhists... but we mostly get annoyed." Frustration is playing out online too. One drawing shows Buddha in the forest holding up his hand and saying "dear son, please stop your noise" as a man races towards him with numerous loudspeakers. A local artist tweaked Edvard Munch's celebrated "Scream", placing Buddha in the foreground holding hands over his ears in horror at the sound. Images of the meme rocketed around Myanmar social media, drawing mostly praise but some anger over the portrayal. "We have faced so many noise problems every day but these days it is worse," said Myo Kyaw, a 35-year-old audio engineer who was eating lunch. "This is our tradition and I love it but noise is not really good for the people." Than Win, a community leader in Yangon's Lanmadaw township, conceded decibel levels were high but said it is one of the holiest festivals of the year and that all religious customs deserved respect. "We can hear the sound from the mosque loudly in the evening and if you live near the church, you can hear their sound loudly," he said.

Quiet, please: Myanmar festival stirs debate over religious noise

A Spanish tourist faces deportation from Myanmar over a Buddha tattoo on his leg that offended monks, police said on Monday, in a country where the influence of religious hardliners is growing. 
 
The man was initially detained in Bagan, an ancient town in central Myanmar where tourists flock to visit thousands of picturesque temples and pagodas. 
 
&quot;Monks in Bagan saw a Buddha tattoo on his right leg because he was wearing shorts. They informed us as it&#39;s not appropriate,&quot; a police officer in Bagan said, requesting anonymity, adding that the Spaniard was promptly sent back to Yangon. 
 
A police official at Yangon airport, who also asked not to be named, confirmed the detention and said the man would be deported to Bangkok on Monday evening. 
 
&quot;We will send him back because he violated the rules as a tourist here,&quot; he said. 
 
Buddhist-majority Myanmar has seen a dramatic political transformation over recent years, with decades of junta rule giving way to a civilian-led government and a once isolated country opening up to lucrative foreign investment and tourists. 
 
The changes have coincided with the rise of a small but influential Buddhist nationalist movement that rails against the five per cent of the population that are Muslim and what are perceived to be corrupting Western influences. 
 
Portrayals of Buddha can land foreigners in hot water. 
 
Last year a New Zealand bar manager spent 10 months in jail for &quot;insulting religion&quot; by using a Buddha image to promote a cheap drinks night. 
 
A Canadian tourist and practising Buddhist was detained in 2014 for sporting a leg tattoo of Buddha. 
 
Although many Buddhists, particularly Western adherents, boast tattoos of the religion&#39;s founder, it can cause offence in some nations where the faith is practiced. 
 
A British nurse was thrown out of Sri Lanka in 2014 for a Buddha tattoo on her arm despite her insistence she was a devotee who got inked as a mark of respect. 
 
In Thailand, airports put up posters warning visitors not to get Buddha tattoos or buy statues. 
 
Countries like Myanmar and Thailand believe the body becomes less sacred from the head down, making Buddha leg tattoos particularly problematic. 
 
(AFP)

A small but influential Buddhist nationalist movement which is anti-Western practices and perceives it to be corrupt is gaining momentum

A Spanish tourist faces deportation from Myanmar over a Buddha tattoo on his leg that offended monks, police said on Monday, in a country where the influence of religious hardliners is growing. The man was initially detained in Bagan, an ancient town in central Myanmar where tourists flock to visit thousands of picturesque temples and pagodas. "Monks in Bagan saw a Buddha tattoo on his right leg because he was wearing shorts. They informed us as it's not appropriate," a police officer in Bagan said, requesting anonymity, adding that the Spaniard was promptly sent back to Yangon. A police official at Yangon airport, who also asked not to be named, confirmed the detention and said the man would be deported to Bangkok on Monday evening. "We will send him back because he violated the rules as a tourist here," he said. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has seen a dramatic political transformation over recent years, with decades of junta rule giving way to a civilian-led government and a once isolated country opening up to lucrative foreign investment and tourists. The changes have coincided with the rise of a small but influential Buddhist nationalist movement that rails against the five per cent of the population that are Muslim and what are perceived to be corrupting Western influences. Portrayals of Buddha can land foreigners in hot water. Last year a New Zealand bar manager spent 10 months in jail for "insulting religion" by using a Buddha image to promote a cheap drinks night. A Canadian tourist and practising Buddhist was detained in 2014 for sporting a leg tattoo of Buddha. Although many Buddhists, particularly Western adherents, boast tattoos of the religion's founder, it can cause offence in some nations where the faith is practiced. A British nurse was thrown out of Sri Lanka in 2014 for a Buddha tattoo on her arm despite her insistence she was a devotee who got inked as a mark of respect. In Thailand, airports put up posters warning visitors not to get Buddha tattoos or buy statues. Countries like Myanmar and Thailand believe the body becomes less sacred from the head down, making Buddha leg tattoos particularly problematic. (AFP)

Spanish tourist faces deportation from Myanmar over Buddha tattooed on his leg

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Quiet, please: Myanmar festival stirs debate over religious noise

Spanish tourist faces deportation from Myanmar over Buddha tattooed on his leg