Burmese monks take their yearly exam December 13, 2011 in Bago, Myanmar. Around 1,400 monks from Bago province took part . Approximately 90 percent of the Burmese population practices Buddhism and the monks number well over 500,000. They are seen as the nation's most important religious and civil institution and every Burmese male is expected to take up temporary monastic residence twice in his life. In March the army handed power to a civilian government after almost five decades of the military regime's strong arm rule. The handover took place after a controlled election under a new constitution that preserved much of the military clout. Restrictions on communication such as the internet have been loosened as previously inaccessible foreign news and opposition websites have been unblocked. (Photo by Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)