NAY PYI TAW February 15
Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, SAC members, union ministers, the Yangon Region chief minister, the Yangon Command commander and officials, paid homage to Shwegadon Pagoda on Theingottara Hill, Dagon Township, this morning.
The Senior General and party were welcomed by members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees and officials. The Senior General paid homage to Padamya Myetshin Buddha Image on the upper terrace of the pagoda and offered meals in the Emerald Bowl, flowers, water to the Image.
The Senior General and party climbed onto the scaffolding pagoda and observed the progress in offering gold plates to the Shwedagon Pagoda surface in full. They examined the durability of the diamond orb of the pagoda and offered diamonds, gold, jewels, and religious objects and sprinkled scented water on them. They also observed the panoramic view of Yangon urban development from the scaffolding pagoda and discussed further programs for beautifying and upgrading the city.
The Senior General and party examined the durability of the vane of Shwedagon Pagoda and rejoiced at the donations made by previous well-wishers.
The Senior General installed two gold plates each weighing six ticals (over 98 grams), donated by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife, Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, and children and grandchildren on the spire-like structure and sprinkled scented water on the plates.
The Senior General and party heard a report on offering of gold plates to Shwedagon Pagoda throughout the past successive periods and the progress in fully installing gold-plates on the pagoda surface in 2024- 2025, presented by the Union Minister for Religious Affairs and members of the board. They said the entire gold coating process needs 1,200 units of one-foot by one-foot gold plates each weighing six ticals. Up to now, 1,060 plates have been installed. Hence, the project needs 140 plates. The project also needs 10,000 gold plates, each weighing one tical. Up to now, 7,500 plates have been installed. Hence, the project needs 2,500 plates. Well-wishers can donate Ks-15 million per six ticals gold plate and Ks-2.5 million per one tical gold plate.
The Senior General looked into the requirements. The Senior General and party visited the pagoda and urged officials to ensure its sustainability and cleanness.
Shwedagon Pagoda is a sacrosanct religious edifice of Myanmar and Yangon. It had been preserved and maintained by kings, governments and the people throughout the past successive periods. As regards the gold-coating of the Shwedagon Pagoda, its spire-like structure was first gold-plated in 1899. In 1936, gold plates were offered on the ovolo moulding, and during the period between 1949 and 1970 gold-coating was conducted every three or four years. During the period between 1980 and 2019, gold-coating was conducted every four or five years and gold-plates damaged by various causes including natural disasters like Cyclone Nargis were replaced.
From 1980 to 2019 (a period of about 40 years) gold-coating was conducted every four or five years, and the 9th full-surface gold-coating will be carried out in 2024-2025. Scaffolding pagoda was built on 19 September 2024 to offer gold plates. Beginning 18 October, gold plates were carried by a decorated carriage and up to now 80 percent of the work has been completed.
Gold-coating process will be completed in the third week of March this year. At present, the project still needs 140 units of one-foot gold plate each weighing six ticals and 2,500 one tical gold plates. Well-wishers may donate Ks-15 million per six ticals gold plate and Ks-2.5million per one tical gold plate.
