The king's role is to propitiate these gods and maintain harmony among them.

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The writer-director Nancy Meyers appears eager to propitiate what she takes to be the national habit of youth worship.

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Every year on the Feast of St Michael, the townspeople propitiate the sea spirits by solemnly burning a boat and scattering its ashes on the water.

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For a week before the final Nongkrem dance, Sing and his sister, who took over as priestess after their mother's death two years ago, go through ritual prayers, dances and sacrifices to propitiate the gods and seek blessings for the people.

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