NAY PYI TAW November 6
Chairman of State Administ-ration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the Deepavali Cele-bration, one of the most sublime Hindu traditional festivals, at Shri Maha Laxmi Temple in Yankin Township, Yangon, this evening.
Present were State Administration Council Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, State Administration Council member Jeng Phang Naw Taung, Union ministers, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein, Ambassador of India to Myanmar H.E. Mr. Vinay Kumar and wife, Amba-ssador of Russian Federation to Myanmar H.E. Mr. Listopadov Nikolai Alexandrovich, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Yangon Command Commander Maj-Gen Nyunt Win Swe and officials, Chairman of Interfaith Friendship Organization (Central) U Sein Than and officials, YMBA Chairman U Ye Tun and members, Secretary of All My-anmar Hindu Central Council Vice Chairman of Interfaith Fri-endship Organization (Central) U Zaw Zaw Naing and officials, officials of Myanmar-India International Entrepreneurs Federation and traders, Hindus of vari-ous races, Hindu traditional cultural troupes and invited guests.
The Senior General and party were welcomed by Chairman of Deepavali Celebration Org-anizing Committee U Zaw Zaw Naing and officials. The Senior General and party offered flowers, water and lights to the Bu-ddha Image under the Bo Tree in the temple compound. They made offerings to the Statue of Shri Maha Laxmi in accord with the Hindu tradition.
Afterwards, respects were paid in accord with the Hindu tradition. U Zaw Zaw Naing honoured the Senior General, the ambassadors of India and Russ-ia with garlands and silk cloths in accord with Hindu tradition.
The Senior General, the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar and wife, the Russian Federation Ambassador, Chairman of organi-zing committee U Zaw Zaw Naing lit the oil light to mark the Deepavali festival and posed for documentary photo. Then, the chairman explained the purpose of holding the festival.
Speaking on the occasion, the Senior General explained the purpose of his attendance to the festival, saying that Deepavali festival is set on the moonless day of Thadingyut in Myanmar tradition. Deepavali festival is the noblest festival of Hindus and it is a religious festival as well as a national festival. The festival means the victory of “Kalyana” over “Kahna” to flourish the wisdom “Vijja” by discarding the naughty “Avijja” and the victory of “Dhamma” over “Addhamma”.
The word Deepavali is com-bined with “Dipa” and “Avali” in Pali. It means paying homage with lightings of oil lights. In the background history, King Rama defeated Ravana called Dassagiri and returned to the Ayuddhaya Palace. From then on, the king was welcomed by oil lights on the moonless night of Thadingyut to start the Deepavali festival.
It can be seen that the lighting festivals of Myanmar Buddhists and Hindus are different in backgrounds but holding of lighting festival is the same.
Section 362 in Chapter VII of the 2008 Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar stipulates the Union also recognizes Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Animism as the religions existing in the Union at the day of the coming into operation of this Constitution, and Section 363 mentions the Union may assist and protect the religions it recognizes to its utmost.
As such, the Senior General continued to say that the govern-ment provides necessary ass-istance for holding the religious ceremonies of four major reli-gions in the nation whereas the Head of State and Union ministers join the relevant ceremonies. The Republic of the Union of Myanmar allows all the people to have relevant faiths in an independence manner. It is a good tradition that as the government has been assisting in all major religions including Hinduism as much as it can, all people in relevant faiths can celebrate the religious ceremonies with essence.
Likeminded people of four major religions in Myanmar were brought together and the Interfaith Friendship Organi-zation was established as a core on 31 January 2008. It is learnt that for ensuring interfaith unity, four basic principles such as to reside together with mutual respect, peace and unity among people of different faiths, to help those troubled by religious and social conflicts and to seek coordination and negotiation in accord with the law if any loss surfaces in relation to religion. Hindus are also urged to continue to help and cooperate with efforts for interfaith friendship in accord with these basic principles.
May all the people living in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar regardless of race or religion continue to serve the national interests by upholding the four cardinal virtues such as metta, karuna, mudita and uppekha and following the teachings of their own religions.
Based on this auspicious occasion, may they spread lights of Dhamma out of humanity, compassion and tolerance. May they with a sense of duty promote their efforts for building up a modern, developed coun-try, serving the interests of Myanmar and achieving natio-nal prosperity.
The Indian ambassador ex-pressed special thanks to the State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister and other State level dignitaries for their presence at the event and to all organizers of the event. He said Myanmar and India share borders as well as basically similar religions, cultures and faiths. The two governments and peoples have good relations that must be maintained and strengthened. The Russian ambassador for his part said the Deepavali festival is a crucial event for Hindus, expressing his thanks for being invited to attend it. He expressed his wish for peace and tranquility of people of all faiths in Myanmar and India. He then spoke in Myanmar language reciting a saying “Let the amity last long and the hate die down” and wishing for mental and physical wellbeing of those in attendance. Then, missionary Sayadaw Dr Hla Tun explained facts about Hinduism and expressed greetings.
Later, the Senior General and those in attendance were pre-sented traditional Hindu dances. After the performance, the Senior General presented a flower basket to the cultural troupe.
