As a devotee of Buddhism, and, in keeping with its traditional values, U Tin Maung suggested that a visit to the Shwe Dagon Pagoda would be appropriate in light of the auspicious love affair between his daughter and Maung Po.

      There was a full moon that night, and when they arrived at the famous pagoda on the hill, pilgrims from all parts of the country were present.  Generally, at the full moon of most months, people come from far and near to the pagoda. Their visit coincided with a festival and as usual, it was being celebrated with much fun and gaiety.

      They bowed low before the image of the Buddha, and, after their meditation, made their customary offerings for the pagoda’s maintenance, after which they walked piously around its base.  There were hundreds of bright lights adorning the pagoda, and coupled with the light of the moon, it was a beautiful sight to behold.

      They began to hear muffled sounds of orchestral music, after they finished paying their homage.  The pwe, or the traditional performance of music and drama, had already begun.  When they arrived at the scene of the pwe,  Ma Hla felt as if her prospective marriage to Maung Po was already being celebrated.

       The open air performance consisted of ritual melodies, consecrated to the thirty-seven nats,  (spirits believed to be supernatural), after which an anyein or vaudeville show was held, featuring a beautiful female dancer, dressed in regal attire.  A cylindrical coil of hair flowed down the side of her face from the top of her head.  She looked alluring as she continued to dance in her split skirt, while her body movements accentuated  the tell-tale expression on her face.  She kept turning and wheeling around in perfect rhythm with the orchestra, consisting of a circle of little gongs that differed in size and tone, struck by a man who sat in the middle of the circle.

        There were drums that sounded high-pitched and an oboe that played a piercing melody, in accompaniment with the gongs and drums. A bamboo clapper, performed by another member of the orchestra, sounded in flawless rhythm with the music and dance.