Mandalay enjoys festivities in Tazaungdine Festival

PAGODAS in the Mandalay region follow different traditions when celebrating the Tazaungdine Festival. At the Shwe Saw Lu Pagoda, devotees offer only cakes to Buddha, while at the Shin Mar Le Pagoda, devotees offer lotus flowers on the Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone.

The Shwe Saw Lu Pagoda existed since 364 AD at the Mi Chaung Tat Village in Amarapura Township. The Buddha Pujaniya Festival is held annually at the pagoda from the 14th waxing day of the Tazaungmone. “Traditionally, only cakes are offered to Buddha during the festival,” said Ko Htoo Chun, a member of the Festival Organizing Committee at the pagoda. The Buddha Pujaniya Festival began at the pagoda 20 years ago with two kinds of events Land Festival and Water Festival. The signature of the festival is the offering of cakes and with donors’ names written on them. Devotees offer cakes during the Land Festival.During the Water Festival, 1,500 lamps are floated in the Dottawadi River, barges are paraded around the river, and boat races are held.

The Shin Mar Le Pagoda, which is located at the north entrance of the Mahamuni Pagoda, was built during the reign of Min Shin Saw. Here, devotees offer only lotus flowers during the festival.

The pagoda festival starts from the evening of the 14th waxing day of the Tazaungmone. During the festival, several kinds of lotus such as white lotus, red lotus, and brown lotus are offered.

Milk and food are offered to Buddha at the dawn of the Full Moon Day. “The festival is held with the belief that the pagoda festival will thrive as long as the Buddhist Era exists,” said a member of the Festival’s Supervisory Team.

The Shin Mar Le Pagoda Festival coincides with donations of Mathoe robes at the Mahamuni Pagoda and the pagoda is especially crowded with devotees during this time.

— MNA
(Translated by Myat Thandar Aung)
PHOTO: MNA
Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar