Most of Myanmar people usually take joss or incense sticks when they go to pay obeisance at the pagodas and the monasteries. Myanmar people believed that by offering joss sticks they will have good health, good luck and do well in business.

The joss sticks which are used for offering at pagodas are being produced by using local raw materials: the main region where incense sticks are produced in our country, is in Yesagyok, Pakokku District. The joss sticks from Yesagyo are being used all over the country and it is the favourite of the consumers. The main materials used in incense sticks production are Thi wood, Ma kyee wood (Tamarind wood) and Thanakha. Ma Kyee wood or Tamarind wood is a sticky substance that is used for attaching the materials onto the joss sticks firmly by the workers. This wood and Thanakha are used for their sweet fragrance.

Most of the local people from Yesagyo generally make their living with producing incense. The incense sticks are being produced locally with the employees having a set standard for producing them. After rolling the combination of raw materials onto the joss sticks, the workers take-out the broken joss sticks. The layers of raw materials are thoroughly checked. Incense sticks which are shattered or broken during the production process are carefully put acid. After several checks are made, the final step is to onto the joss sticks with one stroke of the brush which covers about 50 joss sticks at one time. Two kinds of joss sticks are produced --- one is 10.5 inches long and the other is 11.5 inches long. The workers pack the joss-sticks in packets of designated number. The 10.5 inches long green packets have 9 joss sticks each and 11.5 inches long golden packet have 27 joss sticks. After preparing the packing of the joss sticks they are distributed to all parts of the country.

The joss sticks producing industry which can also be called Myanmar handicraft industry is being made by our own innovated methods, with the use of raw materials from within our country. The joy stick industry is a thriving business in Myanmar.