What is "zayat"

Zayat \Za"yat\ (?; 277), n. A public shed, or portico, for travelers, worshipers, etc.

n. A building in Burma used for meetings and religious assembly and to give shelter to travellers.

A zayat (; ; from Mon ) is a Burmese building found in almost every village. It serves primarily as a shelter for travelers, at the same time, is also an assembly place for religious occasions as well as meeting for the villagers to discuss the needs and plans of the village. Theravada buddhist monks use zayats as their dwelling place while they are exercising precepts on sabath days. Buddhist monasteries may have one or more zayats nearby. Donors mostly build Zayats along main roads aiming to provide the exhausted travelers with water and shelter. Beginning with Adoniram Judson's construction of one in 1818 Christian missionaries have also adopted their use.

Contributions, in money or labor, towards the construction, running or elaboration of a zayat are seen as dāna (meritorious charity). Thus zayats are generally built in a more durable and costly manner than most private houses. The labor is normally provided by locals, while the financing may be local or remote.

Some zayats have evolved other functions over time. For example, the Jivitadana Sangha Hospital for Buddhist monks and nuns began as a clinic at a zayat.

Zayat or Zayats is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:

• Ahmed Zayat (born 1962), American racehorse owner
• Mikhail Zayats (born 1981), Russian mixed martial artist
• Vadym Zayats (born 1974), Ukrainian footballer