Of 12 months in Myanmar, Tazaungmone is the eighth month and a significant month as the Buddha delivered Samañaphala Sutta to the audience led by King Ajatasattu on the full moon day. Buddhists keep the sabbath, recite Pathan and Paritta, donate Kathina robes, celebrate Kathina donation ceremonies and make good deeds on that day.
Moreover, the pagodas in Nay Pyi Taw Council area are also packed with pilgrims. In the morning, the 14th Tazaungdaing golden lotus robe donation ceremony was held at Uppatasanti Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw.
It was attended by Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman U Tin Oo Lwin, Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Aye Tun, council members and the deputy commander and other relevant officials.
During the 141st completion ceremony of the 141st Maha Patthana recitation ceremony, the audience took Nine Precepts from Ovada Cariya of Pagoda Presiding Sayadaw of Inntha East Monastery Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Bhaddanta Pandita.
Then, officials donated the offertories to the monks and shared merits.
The white-elephant camp, religious item stalls and souvenir shops were also crowded with visitors.
In the evening, the people donated oil lamps at the pagoda platform and there were also groups of people at the fireworks display in Taboung field near the pagoda.
Similarly, famous pagodas in Nay Pyi Taw were crowded with religious organization members, locals, staff, and pilgrims across the nation. Moreover, streets and roads were packed with people celebrating the Kathina ceremony, Neikban Zay and the shopping centres and places of recreation were also packed with visitors.
The well-known DJ music and the band also entertained visitors at the night market festival of Nay Pyi Taw Water Fountain Park.
People offered candlelight and oil lamps at pagodas and houses and Mezali (Cassia siamea) salad and Pantthaku (kind of discarding cash or materials).
The health workers and members of the Red Cross Society distributed masks to pilgrims and the traffic police and security members also provided security measures for the people. – Tet Thitsa/GNLM
