Myanmar celebrates Buddha Day

May 10, 2017

Bo Trees at pagodas across Myanmar watered on the Full Moon Day of Kason

Myanmar people celebrated Buddha Day on the Full Moon Day of Kason, pouring water on the Bo Trees across the nation.

Devout Buddhists observed the Eight Precepts, meditated and performed meritorious deeds on the day of great religious significance. The Full Moon of Kason is significant because it was on this day when Gotama Buddha received His prophecy from Lord Buddha Dipankara, when Gotama Buddha was born, when He attained Enlightenment and when he entered nirvana, so says Buddhist belief.

On this auspicious day, people pour water on the Bodhi tree, which is regarded as the paribogaceti, Boddhi or Bo Tree. It is a noble tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.

The Kason water pouring ceremony is the one among the 12 festivals held in their respective months.
The Kaso Festival was held at the Uppatasanti Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw, with sacred water poured on the Bodhi trees there by Chairman of  Nay Pyi Taw Council Dr Myo Aung, former Union Minister for Religious Affairs Thura Myint  Maung, Deputy Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command and officials. Famous pagodas in Yangon were thronging with Buddhist devotees yesterday, the Full Moon Day of Kason.

The 34rd anniversary Kason Festival was held at the Shwedagon Pagoda yesterday with pouring water on Bo Trees. Before the event, Ovadacariya Sayadawgyis and invited members of Sangha being offered meals, members of the pagoda board of trustees holding water pots accompanied with religious associations, circumambulating the pagoda clockwise and the Boddhi Tree being doused in water.

Similarly, the 31st anniversary Kason festival was held with the members of pagoda board of trustees pouring water onto the Maha Bodhi tree, reciting the religious verses starting with Uddisiyajinam Buddhain, jayohi Buddhassa gatha and the gatha commencing with the Jayato Bodhiya mule. Similar traditional ceremonies were held at Kyaikkasan pagoda, Kaba Aye Pagoda, Botahtaung Kyaik de-ut pagoda, Swedaw pagoda, Sule pagoda, Shwephonepwint pagoda, Moegaung pagoda, Ngahtatgyi, Chaukhtatgyi and Kohtatgyi pagodas, Melamu pagoda, Okkalapa pagoda, Kyakkalo and Kyaikalei pagodas, ThanhlyinKyaikkhauk pagoda and Kyauktan Kyaikhmawwun Yailai pagoda.

Similarly Kason Water Throwing ceremonies were held in Pagodas in Nay Pyi Taw Council areas with Buddhist devotees performing meritorious deeds.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar