Draft:Pathein hti

• Comment: This an interesting item, and an article on it would be useful, but usefulness is not an acceptance criteria.
  You need to demonstrate that is notable in a Wikipedia sense
  Blogs may not be used as references.
  There is work to do here. Please enjoy doing it 🇺🇦 Fiddle^Timtrent Faddle^Talk to me 🇺🇦 16:08, 12 November 2024 (UTC)

• Comment: Blogs sometimes may be used as references. It all depends. A travel blog in a major newspaper is probably reliable for information on passport requirements. A random self-published blog is probably reliable for facts about the blogger, such as the blogger's birthplace, but not for general information. It all depends. —Anomalocaris (talk) 20:20, 12 November 2024 (UTC)

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Pathein hti

Pathein hti, (Burmese: ပုသိမ်ထီး pronounced [Pa-thaein-hti]), is a Myanmar traditional umbrella from Pathein, the capital city of Ayeyarwady Region of Myanmar crafted from paper, cotton and bamboo. Over 130 years ago, they were mainly used for sun and rain protection. Nowadays, these umbrellas become essential decorating tools in traditional festivals and ceremonies and they are also one of the famous souvenir items to be picked up by foreign visitors.

Origin and history

People started using these umbrellas over 130 years ago, and the umbrella was invented by a royal handicraft maker called U Shwe Sar ( ဦးရွှေစာ) during the era of Thibaw in the late 19th century. From the Bagan era (ပုဂံခေတ်) to Konbaung period throughout the feudal era, there was a tradition that only Royal families and monks had the rights to use these since an umbrella was seen as a symbol of reverence and signifies power and authority, embodying a sense of nobility.The ancient tradition of Myanmar umbrellas concluded with the fall of the Myanmar monarchy, when King ThiBaw was exiled in 1885. Since then, the royal craftsmen had to leave the palace and in 1914, U Shwe Sar and his companions moved to the Pathein city and started the business of inventing the Pathein Umbrella. This is how the Pathein umbrella originated. Thought it was created by U Shwe Sar, it was called as Pathein umbrella, named after the region where it was produced.

Material selection

The main raw materials used in making Pathein umbrellas are wood and bamboo. The supporting and branch arms are made from locally grown,at least nine years old, Taragu bamboo (သရကူဝါး) as younger bamboo has a tendency for insect infestation. For main shaft and handle selection, Ma U Shwe War wood(မအူရွှေဝါ) is used. In terms of Canopy, oil paper was first used and nowadays oil-soaked clothes, silk, and cotton are replaced for long-lasting use.

Manufacturing process

The Pathein umbrella is a true Myanmar handicraft, crafted entirely by hand from beginning to end without any machinery. Creating a Pathein umbrella involves numerous stages, starting from frame assembly, binding process, dyeing process, decoration, and polishing, to final quality check. Every step is precisely completed by hand, following the traditional palace umbrella-making techniques from around a century ago.

Firstly, after selecting the exact raw materials for each part of the umbrella, the selected bamboo has to be carefully split and crafted to produce strong and flexible ribs. Subsequently, the wooden central shaft and bamboo ribs are assembled accurately by skillful craftsmen in order to form the sturdy umbrella's framework.In the stage of binding, the cotton canopy fabric is binded to the bamboo ribs, and the fabric is adjusted to make sure it is evenly spread and securely fixed to the frame. A small bamboo ring wrapped with colored wool is also attached near the grip in account to keep the umbrella tightly closed.

The particular natural dying process where Tayae (တစေး ), a natural dye extracted from fruits, is used to color cotton canopy. For the purpose of rich and long-lasting color, repeated applications have to be made. Once the canopy is dyed and dried, the fabric has to be coated with oil to enhance durability and waterproof finish. The most artistic part of the production process is detailed hand-paintings and decorations, including intricate floral designs and patterns, reflecting the royal artistic tradition of Pathein. Eventually, the final quality check such as inspecting each part of the umbrella to ensure quality and making any final adjustments are needed for durability and appearance. This process balances traditional handcrafting techniques with steps that ensure high-quality and visually appealing umbrellas, capturing the essence of Pathein's umbrella-making heritage.

Applications

Mostly, it is used for Myanmar festivals such as Ka-htain festival(ကထိန်)and Thin-gyan (water festival:သင်္ကြန်) and the ceremonies related to religion, especially in novitiation ceremony( ShinByu Pwe: ရှင်ပြုပွဲ) where U Shwe Yoe and Daw Moe dance is performed to celebrate the ceremonies. These festivals and events showcase the Pathein umbrella as more than a practical item—it's a symbol of Myanmar's cultural pride, artistry, and tradition. It is also a well-known souvenir of Myanmar for foreign visitors.