Pagoda trustees to build more guest houses for pilgrimage season

February 28, 2017

The Alaungdaw Kathapa Pagoda’s board of trustees want to increase the number of guest houses for pilgrims from across the country.

The pagoda hosts two festivals each year that draw thousands of people who make the pilgrimage from across Myanmar. Currently, Alaungdaw Kathapa pagoda has 45 guest houses with a capacity of about 3,265. At the height of the pilgrimage season, the current housing situation is insufficient, trustees said.

“Some people are sleeping on the road during the pagoda festival season. Some of the pilgrims are over 70 years old. So, it is not good for them to sleep on the road,” said U Maung Maung Cho, the vice chairman of the pagoda trustees.

The Pagoda Board of Trustees plan to submit a proposal to the State government and Union ministers to get the land for this religious purpose.

“Then, the trustee will build the building on the land. We also have planned to supply the water and electricity to the building,” U Maung Maung Cho said.

“Even though we have donors to construct the building, construction permit is difficult. Currently, we are building the health center for the pilgrims,” he added.

The festival of the Alaungdaw Kathapa Pagoda is held every year from 25 December to 25 April.

The Alaungdaw Kathapa Pagoda is most crowded with pilgrims on the full moon of the lunar month of Tabodwe and in the following month on the full moon of Tabaung.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar