Nay Pyi Taw October 21
A ceremony to convey Inle Phaung Daw Oo Buddha images to Athadisa Dhammavihara monastery in Nyaungshwe was held this morning, attended by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who paid homage to and conveyed the images.
Present together with the Senior General were wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, the Joint SAC Secretary and wife, SAC members and wives, union ministers and wives, the Shan State chief minister, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Eastern Command commander, invited guests, and a large number of local national races and local and foreign visitors.
On arrival at the Phaungdawpyan guesthouse, the Senior General and wife and party were warmly welcomed by officials and local national races.
The Senior General and wife and party enjoyed a variety dance show including Keinnari Keinnara dance of ethnic dance troupes, Shan traditional dance, Toenaya dance, In national meehsukan dance, sword dance, PaO dance, Shangyi dance.
The Senior General and wife and party left the guesthouse for Phaungdawseik rest house by motorboat. They paid homage to Inle Phaung Daw Oo Buddha images arrived there by decorated Karaweik Barge, conveyed around Nyaungshwe for public obeisance and then placed the images on decorated Baw vehicles that will carry the images to Athadisa Dhammavihara monastery.
The Senior General and wife and those present at the ceremony watched the Intha traditional boat races including the men’s 46-oar Intha traditional boat race, men’s over-100-oar Intha traditional boat race, men’s single Intha traditional boat race, women’s 26-oar Intha traditional boat race day.
Male and female leg-rowers took part in the races with full energy and unyielding spirit, and the ceremony was reverberated with the applause of the Senior General and wife, the attendees, local national races and local and foreign visitors.
At the prize-giving ceremony, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Min Naung presented awards of honor and honorary cash awards for meal transport boats for monks, Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Planning and Finance U Win Shein, awards of honour and honorary cash awards for boats, SAC member Khun San Lwin, prizes and honorary cash awards to consolation award winners in individual boat races, SAC member Lt-Gen Nyo Saw, prizes and honorary cash awards to consolation award winners in men’s 46-oar boat races, SAC member General Maung Maung Aye, prizes and honorary cash awards to consolation award winners in men’s over-100-oar boat races, SAC member General Mya Tun Oo, prizes and honorary cash awards to first and second prize winners in men’s single boat races, Joint SAC Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, prizes and honorary cash awards to first and second prize winners in men’s 46-oar boat races.
Then, Daw Kyu Kyu Hla presented honorary awards and cash awards to Moethaukin village team, second prize winner, and Aindaunkgyi village B team, first prize winner, in women’s 26-oar race.
Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing presented honorary awards and cash awards to Shwepyitha village team, second prize winner, and Kela village team, first prize winner, in men’s over-100-oar boat race.
The chief minister presented a gift of honor commemorating the boat race to the Senior Ge-neural.
After the prize presentation ceremony, the Senior General and party cordially greeted the attendees, and the local national races extended warm greetings by playing traditional drums.
On arrival at the Athadisa Dha-mmavihara monastery, the Senior General and wife and party paid homage to Inle Ph-aung Daw Oo Buddha images that would be temporarily kept at the monastery. Members of the Sangha offered gold foils.
Then, the Senior General and wife offered meals, water, flo-wers and oil lamps to the Inlay Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and the Senior General and party offered gold leaf to the pagoda.
Afterwards, the ceremony to place the Inlay Phaung Daw Oo Buddha Images at the Nyaung Shwe San Kyaung was opened by reciting Namotassa three times and then the Senior Ge- neral and wife and party and local residents received the Five Precepts from the Nayaka Sayadaw of Kyaunggyi Kyaungtaik, Nyaungshwe followed by parittas recited by the Sayadaw and Sanghas.
Then, the Senior General and wife and party offered alms to the Sayadaws and then, together with the local residents, they received a sermon delivered by the Sayadaw of Kyangyi Kyaungtaik.
Merits gained were then shared. The ceremony came to an end by reciting Buddha Sasanam Ciramtithatu three times.
Afterwards, the Senior General and wife made a cash donation for multiple renovation and maintenance of the Athadisa Dhamma Vihara Desarcaryi Kyaungdawgyi through officials.
Yesterday evening, the Senior General and wife and party visited Shwe Phone Pwint Pagoda, the pride of Taunggyi, and Sulamuni Lawkachantha Pagoda.
They were welcomed by the Pagoda Board of Trustees chairman and members. The Senior General and wife and party paid homage to the Shwe Phone Pwint Pagoda and offered flowers, water and oil lamps to the pagoda.
They then enjoyed the scenery of the city from the viewpoint at the pagoda. The Senior General gave instructions to officials on the need to work together for making the city green, clean and pleasant, to conserve the natural resources of the city which is one of the well-known cities in the country, to renovate the road to Myasein Hill to become a better climbing route and to make survey and research for upgrading Bogyoke Road in the centre of the city.
The Senior General and wife made a cash donation for the pagoda through the chairman of the pagoda board of trustees and the Senior General then signed in the visitors’ record book of the pagoda.
The Senior General and party then visited the Sulamuni Lawkachantha Pagoda where they were welcomed by the chairman and members of the pagoda board of trustees. They paid homage to the Buddha Image at the pagoda and offered flowers and water.
The chairman of the pagoda board of trustees and officials reported to the Senior General on tasks being taken and done regarding the instructions given by the Senior General when he visited the pagoda in May. Regarding the report, the Senior General gave instructions to ensure sustainable maintenance for long-term durability and existence of the pagoda and convenience of the people who visit the pagoda. At the pagoda, the Senior General cordially greeted the people who came and paid homage to the pagoda.
Later, the Senior General and wife made a cash donation for the pagoda through the chairman of the pagoda board of trustees. Then, the Senior General signed in the visitors’ record book of the pagoda.
