The naming ceremony and the hall-accepting ceremony for Yadana white elephant born of female elephant Zar Nan Hla, 33, of Myanma Timber Enterprise in Taungup Township of Rakhine State at 6:30 am on 23 July 2022 took place at the Yadana white elephant hall in the precinct east of Uppatasanti Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
Also present at the ceremonies were Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Council members and their wives, the secretary and wife, the joint secretary and wife, Union ministers and their wives, Union level officials, the chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, senior military officers and their wives, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command and officials.
First, the white elephant went round the pagoda and the Senior General and the Vice-Senior General sprinkled scented water on the elephant. The alternate patron of the pagoda board of trustees scattered pop-corn on the white elephant.
Officials settled the white elephant into the building at the hall-accepting ceremony. The Senior General and wife and the Vice-Senior General and wife scented water on the white elephant and fed him.
Officials arranged the white elephant to pay homage to Uppatasanti Pagoda, and the master of ceremonies announced the title of the elephant.
Then, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Vice-Senior General Soe Win and General Mya Tun Oo called the title of the white elephant Rattha Nandaka three times. (Rattha in Pali is defined as Country and Nandaka, affectionation, prosperity and happiness). The title of the Yadana white elephant means the precious white elephant beloved by the country which will bring prosperity and happiness to the nation. Offcials decorated the title on the head of the white elephant.
At the ceremony to present gifts to the white elephant, the Senior General presented gifts for the elephant to the attendant.
The master of ceremonies prayed to the Rattha Nandaka white elephant for ensuring physical and mental well-being, for staying away from diseases and for having longevity and to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar for staying away from diseases and dangers and for enjoying prosperity, development and success.
After the ceremony, the Senior General and wife, the Vice-Senior General and wife and those present at the ceremony fed Rattha Nandaka Yadana white elephant, other Yadana white elephants and companian elephants in the white elephant shed.
The Rattha Nandaka white elephant was born of female elephant Zar Nan Hla at 6:30 am on 23 July 2022. In its birth, the white elephant was two feet and five inches in height, three feet and one inch in girth, with weight of about 180 pounds. The white elephants consist of seven out of eight unique features: pearl-coloured eyes, plantain branch-shaped back, white hair, a distinctive tail, auspicious plot signs on the skin, pinky skin, each limb having five claws and big ears.
The three month and seven day-old white elephant is two feet and 10 inches in height, four feet and two inches in girth and about 265 pounds. He arrived in Nay Pyi Taw together his mother elephant on 27 October. Now, the white elephant healthily and happily resides at Yadana white elephant hall in the precinct of Uppatasanti Pagoda. The Rattha Nandaka white elephant is the 10th white elephant of the country.—MNA
