Nay Pyi Taw April 4
An auspicious ceremony to convey the part one of sitting marble Bhumi Phassa Mudra Buddha Image that will be placed in Buddha Park in Dakhinathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, Union Territory, from Hsimeegon port to Nay Pyi Taw, was held near Hsimeegon village, Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region this morning.
Present on the occasion were Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Sihanada of Yadanabon Monastery, Dhammikayama Mona-stery, Chamyathasi Township, Mandalay Region, Chairman of Nganzun Township Sangha Nayaka Committee Bhaddanta Manita, and members of the Sangha, Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, council members General Maung Maung Kyaw, Lt-Gen Moe Myint Tun, Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Ko Ko, Union Minister for Education U Nyunt Pe, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr Thet Khaing Win, Chairman of Mandalay Region Administration Council U Maung Ko, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Moe Aung, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Commander of Central Command Brig-Gen Ko Ko Oo, invited guests and local people.
First, the Sayadaw of Yadanabon Monastery and members of the Sangha dispense metta.
The Sayadaw of Yadanabon Monastery, the Senior General and party sprinkled scented water on the part one of the marble image.
Modular Trailers carrying the 1090-ton part one of the image and 62 tons of steel scaffolds supporting the part, totaling 1152 tons, started their journey to Nay Pyi Taw at the auspicious time. The Sayadaw, the Senior General and congregation paid obeisance to the image.
The ceremony then came to an end in accord with the religious rites.
A total of 16 parts of the image and the throne will be convened from Hsimeegon port to Nay Pyi Taw for seven times, and the current one is the sixth time.
After the ceremony, the Senior General cordially met U Aung Khaing Than of Angelo Mining Company, the donor of the marble boulder, Chairman of Mandalay Myotha Industrial Zone Project U Aung Win Khaing and officials and stressed collective efforts for setting up factories and generating job opportunities for socio-economic progress of the locals and effective utilization of the water from Ayeyawady River.
On arrival at the Magway Myathalun Pagoda, the landmark of Magway, Senior General and party were welcomed by the pagoda board of trustees. They paid homage to the pagoda and offered flowers, water lights and gold foils and signed the visitor’s book.
The Senior General then made cash donation for the all-round maintenance of the pagoda to the board of trustees.
In the evening, the Senior General and party paid obeisance to the Buddha’s Footprint of Pada Pagoda, Mann Shwesettaw Pagoda in Minbu, Magway Region. They offered flowers, water and gold foils to the Buddha’s Footprint. The Senior General made cash donation for all-round maintenance of the pagoda, accepted by the pagoda board of trustees who gave him Dhamma gifts. The Senior General and party cordially greeted pilgrims who were paying homage to the Buddha’s Footprint.
The Senior General urged members of the pagoda board of trustees and officials to install the lift for the con-venience of pilgrims to the Buddha’s Footprint on the upper terrace before the start of the this year’s pagoda festival and to ensure clean-ness and pleasantness of the precinct of the pagoda.
Under the patronage of the Senior General, families of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) and well-wishers donated a three-ton five-foot high and three-inch thick transparent glass cover for the Buddha’s Footprint on 10 July 2014 as a protection against natural disasters, for its long-term existence and ensure year-round pilgri-mage.
