Shwedagon Pagoda to open from 5 am to 7 pm during Tazaungdine holidays

The Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees said the visiting hour to the pagoda would be extended from 5 am to 7 pm on 17 and 18 November due to a large number of devotees during the Tazaungdine holiday season.
Local and foreign pilgrims are visiting Shwedagon Pagoda, located in Dagon Township, Yangon.
“In the past, we used to weave the robe all night. This year, we will not offer the robe to the pagoda on the morning of the full moon,” said U Bo Thin, a member of the Shwedagon PagodaBoard of Trustees.
“We did not celebrate last year because of COVID-19. There are no plans to hold it this year either. On the full moon day, we will have a brief alms-giving ceremony with the staff in the morning.
Then, at 5:30 am, the Shwekyar robe offering ceremony will take place at Padamya Myetshin Buddha image on upper terrace of the pagoda. Pilgrimages will be extended from 5 am to 7 pm on 17 and 18 November, the full moon day of the festival.
In the coming days, the worship time will be rescheduled from 6 am to 6 pm, ” Shwedagon Pagoda Treasurer U Bo Thin added.
The number of domestic and foreign pilgrims is increasing slightly, and the number of daily pilgrims is between 5,000 and 10,000 per day.
Around 30,000 and 50,000 pilgrims visited the pagoda on government holidays, and weekends.
In addition, the number of local and foreign pilgrims who came to pay homage to the Shwedagon Pagoda on the full moon day of Thadingyut (Abhidhamma Day) this year is 127,793, according to the Shwedagon Pagoda Treasurer.
Pilgrims were asked to strictly follow the COVID-19 prevention measures and enter the Disinfection Chamber when they arrived at the pagoda. Hand washing and body temperature measurements are carried out by the Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees. — Pwint Thitsar/ GNLM