The Myanmar people marked the end of Myanmar Era (ME) 1379 and the start of 1380 with an auspicious ceremony yesterday.
It is Myanmar tradition to wash away the dirt of the old year from the body with Thingyan water, while the dirt in the mind is washed away through merit making on New Year’s Day.
The New Year’s Day of ME 1380 started with people keeping the Sabbath in pagodas and monasteries, caring for personal hygiene of the elderly, paying respects to the elders, the Jivitadana donation of releasing animals from harm or captivity and other merit makings.
In Nay Pyi Taw, Sabbath keepers flocked to pagodas and monasteries, sayadaws and sanghas recited Paritta and the crowd conducted donations, including Jivitadana donations.
In the morning, the 10th Paritta recitation ceremony to exorcise evil spirits and bad omens was held at the Cave of Uppatasanti Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw, where pilgrims and audience took the Nine Precepts and listened to the sermons and recitation of Paritta delivered by the Sayadaws and Buddhist monks, led by Pyinmana Maha Withutayama Zaygon Monastery Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Kavisara, who is the Ovadacariya (patron) of Uppatasanti Pagoda board of trustee. Present at the occasion were Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko and wife, Union Attorney General U Tun Tun Oo and wife, Nay Pyi Taw Council members, members of the pagoda board of trustees, and members and staff of religious organisations. Later, the union minister and officials provided offertories to the Sayadaw and sanghas.
Later, the Sayadaw and monks recited Paritta in the Nay Pyi Taw Council area in a helicopter to repel imminent dangers and drive away evil spirits on the auspicious occasion of the New Year, sending Metta (loving kindness), and then, the sacred waters were sprayed aerially.
Similarly, famous pagodas in Nay Pyi Taw Council area such as Satta Sattaha Pagoda, Maha Sakya Ranthi Pagoda, Datu Jaya Datupaungsu Pagoda, Ko Kham Pagoda, Loka Marazein Pagoda, Yan Aung Myin Pagoda were crowded with people keeping Sabbath, merit makers making food donations and Jivitadana donation.
In the ministries, Dhammayones, wards and housing apartments of public servants in Nay Pyi Taw, sayadaws, sanghas and monks were invited to recite Parittas and offerings of food and donations were made.
