Nay Pyi Taw July 20
A ceremony to offer Waso robes to Maravijaya Buddha Image in commemoration of the first anniversary of the Image’s consecration ceremony was held at the Agga Dhipati Sasana Beikman in Maravijaya Buddha Park here this morning. Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the ceremony and offered Waso robes and alms.
Present were Sayadaws led by Patron Sayadaw of Puakmyaing Monastery, Leway, Nay Pyi Taw Abhidhja Mahar-atthaguru Bhaddanta Janinda and State Ovadacariya Sayadaw Abhidhja Maharatthaguru Bhaddanta Acinna of Maha Thihanada Monastery, Tatkon, the Senior General, Vice Chair- man of SAC Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win, the Secretary of SAC, the Joint Secretary of SAC, members of SAC, union-level digni-taries, union ministers, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chair, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command and officials.
Before the ceremony, the Senior General offered meals in the emerald alms-bowl, fruits, flowers, water and oil lights to the Maravijaya Naungdawgyi Buddha Image inside the Beik-man.
The ceremony was opened by reciting namotassa three times. The congregation led by the Senior General received the Five Precepts from Paukmyaing Sayadaw and meditated on Metta Sutta Paritta recited by Sayadaws.
Then, the Senior General offered Waso robes and alms to Paukmyaing Sayadaw.
The Vice-Senior General off-ered Waso robes and alms to Maha Thihanada Monastery Sayadaw. Next, the SAC Secre-tary, the SAC Joint Secretary, SAC members, union level dignitaries presented Waso Robes and alms Sayadaws.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and the congregation listened to the religious discourse deli-vered by Patron of Pali Tekkatho Mingalazeyon Pariyatti School in Pyinmana, Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Saddhama Jotikadhaja Bhaddanta Vimalabuddhi, with reverence. The cere-mony concluded with three times recitation of Buddha sasanam ciramtithatu after the merits gained were shared.
After the ceremony, the Senior General and the attendees offered day meal to the monks.
The Maravijaya Buddha Image was erected with four objectives — to show the world that Theravada Buddhism is flourish-ing well in Myanmar, for the country, Myanmar, to become the centre of Theravada Buddhism, for national peace and prosperity, and for global peace and tranquility.
Ceremonies to consecrate the Image, to hoist sacred umbrellas atop stone tablet pagodas, and to share the merits were successfully held on the Fullmoon Day of Waso, the Dhammacakka Day, 1385 ME. Today, Waso robes were offered to the Image in commemoration of the first anniversary of the consecration ceremony.
