The largest bamboo pagoda is constructed in the compound of Taung Thone Lone Zetawun Pariyatti monastery of Sayadaw Baddhanta Vepula in Lewe Township of Nay Pyi Taw Council Territory.
The stake driving ceremony was conducted on 12 June and it was completed up to 15 feet in October.
There will be a cave underneath the pagoda and the pagoda is 150 feet in girth and 180 feet in height. There will be also three lakes with full of lotus in the pagoda compound.
“Before the bamboo pagoda was constructed, Saya Gyi U Kaung of Pyana Pantine of Pyinmana and U Kyaw Win, Chairman of Myanmar Bamboo Growers Association met and the Sayadaw ordered to build the bamboo pagoda in a circular shape. We make sure to keep the cash contributions not to be wasted with the auditors systematically,” said U Mingala Tin.
It is important to use the best quality and mature bamboo in building the pagoda and it will take time to be sustainable existence of the pagoda. Although it was intended to use Dendrocalamus, they used Brandis.
“Before we construct the bamboo pagoda, we estimated to build RC pagoda. When we got a contact from Sayadaw, he told us that he wanted to build a bamboo pagoda. As we have to build the body of the pagoda over the RC foundation, it becomes higher,” said U Kyaw Win, chairman of Bamboo Growers Association.
“We use Brandis instead of Dendrocalamus in building the pagoda. The Brandis does not grow naturally and so we have to order from the bamboo farms. We get three-year-old bamboo and we use it for foundation and Kya Thaung bamboo for the roof,” he continued.
It will cost millions of kyats to construct the pagoda and so the officials will systematically choose the quality bamboo to occur rosy processes.
“First, we have to choose the quality bamboo and wash them and make wholes on them. After that, we boil them with chemicals and dry them in the sun. Although we estimate to complete within one year and two months, it might take much time due to some restrictions of COVID-19,’ he added.
The structure of the bamboo pagoda will be like a Dome-shaped Bodh Gaya Maha Bodhi pagoda. The interior design of the pagoda is a cave and Myanmar language Tripitaka will be depicted on the wall of the pagoda. Even the foundation is used only bamboo and it will be the very first bamboo pagoda in the world.
The well-wishers can donate the bamboo at K1,200 via 09-777777245. — Hein Htet Zaw/GNLM
