Over 20,000 pilgrims throng Shwedagon Pagoda on 74th Independence Day

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon Region was crowded with a total of 23,697 pilgrims on the 74th Independence Day (4 January), according to the Shwedagon Pagoda Trustees Board.
The pagoda is normally open between 5 am and 6 pm on weekdays. Many pilgrims arrive the pagoda during gazetted holidays and weekends. Therefore, beginning 27 November, the opening hours have been extended from 5 am to 7 pm, said U Bo Thin, a member of the Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees.
On 4 January, 249 monks, 212 nuns, 10,734 male visitors, 12,444 female visitors, 40 male tourists and 18 female tourists paid homage to the pagoda, totalling 23,697 visitors, the Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees recorded.
Shwedagon Pagoda daily admits approximately 20,000-30,000 visitors in early January. The Shwedagon Pagoda Trustees Board is raising awareness of the preventive measures for the COVID-19. All the visitors are mandatory to strictly adhere to the health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health, including wearing face masks, measuring body temperatures and handwashing. — Pwint Thitsar/GNLM