KaYan Padaung Store, Inle Lake

The Kayan are a sub-group of Red Karen (Karenni people), Tibeto-Burman ethnic minority of Myanmar (Burma).

The Kayan consists of the following groups: Kayan Lahwi (also called Padaung), Kayan Ka Khaung (Gekho), Kayan Lahta, Kayan Ka Ngan. Kayan Gebar, Kayan Kakhi and, sometimes, Bwe people (Kayaw).

Padaung (Yan Pa Doung) is a Shan term for the Kayan Lahwi (the group in which women wear the brass neck coils).

Entering KaYan Padaung Store.

Four women of various ages show bronze coils around their necks.
The Kayan people of Myanmar are known for their unique tradition of wearing brass coils around their necks, which appear to lengthen it.

The women of the Kayan Lahwi tribe start wearing these neck rings when they are around 5 years old.
The number of coils increases as they grow older, and some women can wear up to 25 rings.

Young woman and elderly woman wearing bronze Kayan coils around their necks.
The Kayan people have been living in prosperity and lust since ancient times, and the neck rings are believed to be a symbol of beauty and wealth.

In modern times, many Kayan women still keep the tradition and wear the neck coils constantly.
They say that it’s their way to identify themselves as the Kayan.
Some females do it to attract tourist money to their communities, which helps them to earn a living.