Popa, Myanmar – Once a vibrant hub of pilgrims, the Taung Kalat shrine in Myanmar, perched on an extinct volcano, now stands in eerie silence. The flower-eating spirit Popa Maedaw, once worshipped fervently, is no longer surrounded by the prayers of the faithful. The civil war has severed access to the shrine, turning the surrounding plains into a battleground where conflicting forces clash. Checkpoints dot the area, preventing most worshippers from reaching the shrine and continuing their spiritual practices. Since the military takeover in 2021, following the ousting of Aung San Suu Kyi’s government, Myanmar has been gripped by turmoil.…