Metta Day ceremony with 84,000 flowers at Shwedagon Pagoda

According to U Bo Thin, a member of the Pagoda Board of Trustees, the Metta Day and 84,000 pieces of miscellaneous flowers offering ceremonies will be held at the Shwedagon Pagoda.
As the Shwedagon Pagoda conducts day festivities throughout the year, the Metta Day ceremony will also be held at the ancient Buddha image prayer hall in the southern corner of the pagoda on 19 August (Wagoung full moon day).
“Shwedagon Pagoda will be offered with 84,000 pieces of miscellaneous flowers on Wagaung full moon day (19 August). At 5:30 in the morning, members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees, religious associations and staff will offer the morning alms with fruit, flowers, water, lights and incense sticks to Shwedagon Pagoda. At 6 am, the Metta Day ceremony will be held at the ancient Buddha image prayer hall. At 7 am, the small pagodas built with miscellaneous flowers are brought from the ancient Buddha image prayer hall to the pagoda’s square by walking clockwise. Afterwards, the Padamya Myetshin Buddha Image will be offered with flower pagodas. It is also scheduled for the pilgrims to observe the Sabbath, the merit-sharing ceremony and offering day alms to Ovadacariya Sayadaws and invited Sayadaws,” said U Bo Thin.
Over 500,000 pilgrims from local and abroad visited the Shwedagon Pagoda in January, over 500,000 in February, over 800,000 in March, over 600,000 in April, 570,000 in May, over 540,000 in June and over 440,000 in July. — ASH/MKKS