Come Tabodwe (February), the eleventh month of the Myanmar Calender, we have the harvest festival and the making of "htamane", a concoction of glutinous rice, coconut slices, sesame seeds, peanut and a generous amount of cooking oil.

Among the Myanmars, there is a tradition to observe a custom which is called "top priority for those to whom respect is due".

In small towns and villages rice is still cooked in an earthen pot with a humped lid, so the cooked rice has a peaked shape at the top. This crown of rice is reserved for the shrine and monks. If a Myanmar comes by a rare delicacy, he would set aside a portion for "top priorities". The rarer the thing the more care he would take to do so.

Among the agrarian people in the country, it is the custom to set aside the first and choicest products of the farms for alms-givings. Hence the tradition of making "htamane", which include most of the fruits of farms and orchards.

"Htamane" feast is either celebrated communally or done just in the private circle of family and friends. The nature of the feast is such that, in whatever way the feast is celebrated, it means a big gathering because many hands are needed. In a communal feast people come around with contributions of glutinous rice and other ingredients. It is an option though; one can just give his service if not anything else.

Today, during this season, it is heart-warming to see this social event that we carry from our great-great- grandparents to us. Kyay zu tin bar deh to our parents who teach us to respect our custom and traditions.