Shwedagon Pagoda to extend opening hours from 5 am to 6 pm daily

Due to the increased number of pilgrims to the Great Shwedagon Pagoda in the morning, the opening hours of the pagoda will be extended from 5 am to 6 pm every day starting today, according to the Board of Trustees of the Shwedagon Pagoda.
Since the last week of March, the opening hour to the pagoda was set from 6 am to 6 pm daily, and it was extended from 5 am to 7 pm on 20 and 21 October, which include the fullmoon day of Thadingyut (Abhidhamma Day) as increasing numbers of visitors came to the pagoda to pray and share good deeds on such holy days.
The pagoda reportedly admits more visitors in the morning and it is crowded even on working days, according to U Bo Thin, member of the Board of Trustees of the Shwedagon Pagoda. According to the record of the Board of Trustees, the number of pilgrims to the pagoda is roughly 8,000 and 10,000 per day, and between 30,000 and 50,000 pilgrims pay homage to the pagoda during public holidays and weekends. It is also learned that a total of 127,793 pilgrims visited on the full moon day of Thadingyut (Abhidhamma Day).
The Board of Trustees takes COVID-19 preventive measures and ensures the pilgrims strictly follow the rules and regulations set for the prevention of the disease. Visitors have to wear masks and face shields systematically at the entrance to the lifts and pavilions.
During the time visitors are not present at the pagoda, the areas around the precinct are sprayed with disinfectants to protect against the disease. In addition, facts to follow to prevent the COVID-19 disease are printed on posters and vinyl and held at the pagoda. —Pwint Thitsar/GNLM