People throng pagodas, Paritta recited over in Nay Pyi Taw

People thronged pagodas, monasteries, and homes for the aged, and took the Precepts, bathed and paid their respects to elders, released animals, and made donations in Nay Pyi Taw on the Myanmar New Year, yesterday.

Yesterday was the first day of the year 1381ME. It was also an auspicious day for Myanmar citizens, who performed good deeds to cleanse the impurities in the mind, and took part in the water festival to cleanse their bodies, symbolically.

On the morning of the New Year, famous pagodas and monasteries were crowded with people taking the Precepts, listening to chants recited by monks, releasing animals, and making donations.

In the morning, the 11th New Year Paritta Recitation Ceremony was held in the Cave of the Uppatasanti Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw. The ceremony was attended by Members of the Sangha, led by Ovada Cariya Sayadaw of the Board of Trustees of the Uppatasanti Pagoda, Maha Visudarama Zay Gone Monastery, and Bhadanta Visara, as well as the Minister of Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko, Deputy Minister U Kyi Min, members of the Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, members of the Nay Pyi Taw City Development Committee, members of the board of trustees, religious groups, officials, and pilgrims.

During the ceremony, the congregation received the Nine Precepts from Sayadaw Bhaddanta Visara of Maha Visudarama Zay Gone Monastery, Pyinmana, and listened to a recitation of the Parittas by the Members of the Sangha.

Then, the Union Minister, the Deputy Minister, and officials presented offertories to the Members of the Sangha.

Afterwards, the Members of the Sangha, led by Ovada Cariya Sayadaw of the Board of Trustees of the Uppatasanti Pagoda, Maha Visudarama Zay Gone Monastery, and Bhadanta Visara flew over the Nay Pyi Taw Council Area in a helicopter, and recited the Parittas, sprayed Paritta water, and spread loving-kindness, praying for the wellbeing of Myanmar citizens and people around the world.

The famous pagodas in the Nay Pyi Taw Council Area — the Satta Saddha Pagoda, the Maha Thetkya Yanthi Buddha Image, the Datusaya Dat Paungsu Pagoda, the Lokkha Marazein Pagoda, the Yan Aung Myin Pagoda, among others — were also crowded with Buddhist devotees taking precepts, donating food, and releasing animals.

Additionally, the Members of the Sangha were invited to the ministries, wards, residences of civil servants, and prayer buildings (Dhammayone) in the Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, and Buddhist devotees listened to the Sangha Members reciting the Parittas and shared merits for their good deeds.

MNA

Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun

PHOTO: MNA

Ref: The Global New Light of Myanmar