People commemorate New Year at pagodas in Yangon

Yangon’s pagodas were filled with devout merit makers yesterday as they welcomed in the first day of ME 1381.

▲ Shwedagon Pagoda ▲

The Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees organised Paritta recital with 108 monks at 5 am. At 5:30 am, State Sangha Maha Nayaka Sayadaws, Ovadacariya Sayadaws and invited sanghas were provided with breakfast “soon” at the old Buddha images prayer hall. At 6 am, the audience listened to the recitation of Paritta by Ovadacariya Sayadaws.

At 8 am in the old Buddha images prayer hall, the 35th group blood donation was held with the Board of Trustees’ member U Aung Myat, who is also chairman of the donation holding subcommittee, delivering the opening speech.

Prof. Dr. Daw Thida Aung, Head of the Pathology Department of Yangon General Hospital, then shared knowledge on blood donations. The board of trustees handed over honorary certificates to the doctors in attendance and to the donors of nutrition for the blood donors.

▲ Thiri Mingalar Kaba-Aye Pagoda ▲

At the Thiri Mingalar Kaba- Aye Pagoda, the board of trustees organized a ceremony for sila sermon by Sayadaw Bhaddanta Agga Wanta of Abhidhamma Pitakat Maha Department, Kayah Hostel Adminstrator, State Pariyatti Sasana University, Yangon. The new year ceremony was held at 1 pm, with board of trustees chairman U Win Thein speaking of the auspiciousness of the new year, after which they began the reciting.

▲ Sule Pagoda ▲

The Sule Pagoda board of trustees organized a sila sermon by Sayadaws at 7 am and donors provided food charity.

▲ Swe Taw Myat Pagoda ▲

At 7 am in the cave of the Waradar Thadardu Saytiya Swe Taw Myat Pagoda (Yangon) the audience took the eight precepts of the board of trustee’s Ovadacariya Sayadaw KanU Zaytawan monastery’s Padana Patron Sayadaw Agga Maha Gandawa Saka Pandita Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Nanda Sarmi Biganta, after which the Sayadaws recited the Paritta and the audience poured libations. The 21st Ziwita Dana fish release ceremony then commenced.

▲ Kyaik Wine Pagoda ▲

From the eve of Thingyan to the first day of the New Year, the board of trustees of the historic Aparazita Santawshin Kyike Wine Pagoda invited Sayadaws for sila ceremonies. Yesterday, the audience offered new year breakfast ‘soon’ meals in the morning and took eight precepts from Phyu monastery Sayadaw at 10 am. Donors provided charity meals as well.

In this new year’s, monks recited Parittas from motor vehicles along the main roads of Yangon Region’s townships while sprinkling holy water. Ward communities also invited monks to recite Parittas in their streets.

Some public and private vehicles offered free transportation to monks, nuns, and pilgrims.

Other merit making such as caring for the personal hygiene of the elderly, paying respects to the elders and the Jivitadana donation of releasing animals from harm or captivity was also observed at various locations.

Yi Yi Myint

Translated by Zaw Htet Oo

PHOTO: HLA MOE

Ref: The Global New Light of Myanmar