Nay Pyi Taw March 4
A ceremony to offer gold foils at the whole structure of historic Shwetaungsar Pagoda for the second time was held in conjunction with the ceremony to hoist a Yadana diamond orb and a pennant-shaped vane atop the pagoda in Dawei of Taninthayi Region this morning, attended by State Ovadacariya Administrator Sayadaw of Zeyawady Monastery in Dawei Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Suriya and members of the Sangha, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Tin Aung San and wife, Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Maung Maung Kyaw and wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, Commander of Coastal Region Command Maj-Gen LinAung, Speaker of Region Hluttaw U Khin Maung Aye, ministers of the region government, departmental personnel, invited guests and local ethnic people.
First, the Senior General and congregation took the Nine Precepts from Sayadaw Bhaddanta Suriya and Metta Sutta.
Laypersons spread and kept Paritta flowers, water, thread and sand in the precinct of the pagoda. The Senior General and wife offered a Yadana diamond orb and alms to the administrator Sayadaw of Zeyawady Monastery. Admiral Tin Aung San and wife also presented a pennant-shaped vane and offertories, the Region Minister for Social Affairs and Development Affairs, various types of small bells and alms, the Speaker of the Region Hluttaw, the religious flag and donations, and General Maung Maung Kyaw and the congregation, offertories to members of the Sangha.
They all shared merits gained for all donations after taking a sermon delivered by the administrator Sayadaw. The Senior General, his wife and party conveyed the Yadana diamond orb and the Speaker of Taninthayi Region Hluttaw and region ministers, the pennant-shaped vane round the pagoda clockwise.
The Senior General and party hoisted Yadana diamond orb and pennant-shaped vane atop the pagoda with the use of the Mingala decorated float and performed the rituals of golden and showers in commemoration of the successful completion of the ceremony. Members of the Sangha consecrated the pagoda. After the ceremony, the Senior General and wife and those present offered day meals to members of the Sangha and nuns.
The umbrella hoisting atop the historic Shwetaungsar Pagoda, the magnificent one in Dawei, was successfully held in 2013 for the fourth time under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Today’s ceremony to offer gold foils at the whole body of the pagoda successfully took place at the venue in conjunction with the decorating the Yadana diamond orb and pennant-shaped vane on a grand scale.
On the evening of 3 March, the Senior General and party went to Lawkamarazein Pagoda in Dawei where the Senior General and wife offered flowers, water and oil lights to the Buddha Image and made cash donation for renovation of the pagoda. The Senior General signed the visitors’ book of the pagoda.
Afterwards, they viewed paintings depicting Thirty Comrades and BIA troops in front of the Buddha Pitakat Chamber in the precinct of the pagoda. Then, youth artist Ko Yin Htwe from Dawei presented a portrait of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services he created to the Senior General.
