Myanmar-Thai donation for 20,000 monks

 January 21, 2018

Well-wishers of the Myanmar and Dhammakaya Foundation of Bangkok, Thailand, donated provisions to 20,000 members of the Sangha at an auspicious and grand ceremony sponsored by the Mandalay Region government at Chanmyathazi Airport in Mandalay yesterday morning.

Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Speaker of Amyotha Hluttaw U Aye Tha Aung, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko, Union Minister for Ethnic Affairs Nai Thet Lwin and Chief Minister of Mandalay Region Dr Zaw Myint Maung, as well as Speaker of Region Hluttaw U Aung Kyaw Oo and its members, members of the regional cabinet and their wives, Commander of Central Command Brig-Gen Kyaw Swa Win and senior officials, and heads of departments, in addition to departmental personnel, members of social organisations, the Indian consul general, distinguished guests and other well-wishers.

The union minister, the chief minister and their delegations offered the dawn meal to eminent Sayadaws, State Ovadacariya Sayadaws, members of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee (SSMNC), members of the State Central Committee of the Sangha and Sayadaws from abroad, led by Chairman of SSMNC and Head of Bhamo Monastery in Mandalay Sayadaw Dr Bhaddanta Kumarabhivamsa at the airport.

The deputy speaker, union ministers Thura U Aung Ko and Nai Thet Lwin, and the chief minister offered candle lights, while well-wishers in Myanmar and Thailand offered flowers during the opening ceremony. The congregation received the Five Precepts from Sayadaw Kumarabhivamsa and listened to the Ovada of the Sayadaw of Dhammakaya Monastery in Thailand through an audio file. The Sayadaws then recited the Parittas.

Six well-wishers from Thailand donated four kinds of offertories. Thura U Aung Ko then supplicated on religious matters, expressing his pleasure at the ceremony, in which provisions were presented to 20,000 monks.

He said as the monks are doing well in Pariyatti and Paripatti sectors, and the people are providing them with all the necessary assistance, there is harmony between the monks and lay persons that will help promote and propagate the Sasana not only in Myanmar and Thailand, but also in the world.

In his address, the chief minister said the Buddhists of Myanmar and Thailand and the Mandalay region government had set an example for the promotion and propagation of the Sasana on the auspicious occasion. Thai well-wishers also expressed happiness at the donations.

Chairman of Mandalay Region Sangha Nayaka Committee Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Vicittabhivamsa delivered a sermon, after which the congregation shared in the merits gained.

The Deputy Speaker, the union ministers, the chief minister and regional cabinet members, as well as the Central Command Commander, officials and well-wishers then presented Ks30,000 and offertories to each of the 20,000 members of the Sangha.Locals, social organisations, departments, schools of Mandalay and its surrounding areas rendered assistance during the ceremony. The congregation was also served food and soft drinks. —Tin Maung (Mandalay Sub-printing House, Aye Mya (Mandalay).

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar