Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar (pronounced /?mjɑn?mɑ?(?)/, /?mjɑ?n?mɑ(?)/, /?mjɑ?n?mɑ?(?)/, /?ma??n?mɑ?(?)/, /?mi??n?mɑ?(?)/, or /mi?ɑ?nmɑ?(?)/ in English),
Burma achieved independence from the United Kingdom on 4 January 1948, as the “Union of Burma.”

A diverse range of indigenous cultures exist in Burma, the majority culture is primarily Buddhist and Bamar. Bamar culture has been influenced by the cultures of neighbouring countries. This is manifested in its language, cuisine, music, dance and theatre. The arts, particularly literature, have historically been influenced by the Burmese form of Theravada Buddhism. Considered the national epic of Burma, the Yama Zatdaw, an adaptation of Ramayana, has been influenced greatly by Thai, Mon, and Indian versions of the play. Buddhism is practiced along with nat worship which involves elaborate rituals to propitiate one from a pantheon of 37 nats.