Waso-robe offering ceremony convening committee of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar holds meeting

 June 20, 2017

Vice President U Myint Swe, patron of the convening committee for Waso-robe offering ceremony, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar addressed a work coordination meeting held at the meeting hall of the Ministry of Religious Affairs  and Culture yesterday afternoon.

Present at the meeting were Thura U Aung Ko, Union Minister for Religion Affairs and Culture, the chairman of the Waso-robe Offering Ceremony Convening Committee, committee members — Dr Myo Aung, Chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, Deputy Ministers Maj-Gen Aung Soe and U Maung Maung Win, working committee members, and committee members from 10 sub-committees and responsible officials.

“At the very advent of the Buddha Sasana, the Gautama Buddha allowed Sanghas to use only three robes during the rainy season, Visakha, the lady who donated the Pubbaryon monastery in “Savatthi” asked the Buddha for permission to donate extra robes to monks. At the request of Visakha, the Gautama Buddha allowed monks to accept robes in accord with religious ethics. The Waso robe was named after the event of offering in the month of Waso. Being a robe offered in accord with strict ethics, the Waso robe offering is to be called a noble donation. According to Buddhist scriptures, donors may get benefits — possession of fair complexion, being free from dirt and wearing fine clothes. As for the Union Government, it is a sacred offering to Sayardaws and Sanghas in accord with the “viniya rules” laid down by the Lord Buddha”, the Vice President said,

The Vice President added, “Under notification 48/2017 issued on 12th June 2017 by the President’s Office, the Steering committee and working committee for Waso robe offering ceremony were formed with a view to convening the robe offering ceremony successfully. And, the Steering committee has formed 10 sub-committees to systematically allocate duties. Security duties are emphatically to be performed to the end of the ceremony. Healthy cuisines are to be prepared under systematic supervision. For convening the ceremony systematically, the working committee and sub-committees are required to cooperate. Simultaneously, management and cooperation are to be rehearsed so that it can be done successfully.”

Afterwards, Thura U Aung Ko, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture and chairman of Waso-Robe Offering Ceremony Convening Committee, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar clarified the performances of the leading committee, followed by explanations from responsible persons from respective sectors of sub-committees. Vice President gave advices concerning the submissions from sub-committees after which the meeting came to a close.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar