NAY PYI TAW May 6
At the watering festival at banyan trees which is one of 12 seasonal festivals of Myanmar on the full moon day of Kason, 1382 ME, today, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla and families of Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy and Air) poured water at Maha Bawdi banyan trees in the precinct of Lawka Chantha Hsutaungpyae Athin Pagoda in Zeyathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, this evening.
First, the Senior General and wife offered flowers, water and oil lights to Lawka Chantha Hsutaungpyae Pagoda.
The Senior General and wife, senior military officers and their wives took positions to pour water at Maha Bawdi banyan trees in the precinct of Lawka Chantha Hsutaungpyae Pagoda. The master of ceremonies recited Maha Bodi Rukkhasinjana Gatha, and they all poured water and sprinkled scented water at respective Maha Bawdi banyan trees.
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife, the Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) and wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) and wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Air) and wife, and senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) and their wives attended the ceremony and watered Maha Bawdi banyan trees.
Similar ceremonies were held at military commands on the full moon day of Kason. Nay Pyi Taw Command, Northern Command, North-East Command, Triangle Region Command, South-East Command, North-West Command, Central Command and Southern Command held the water pouring ceremonies at banyan trees on the full moon day of Kason.
The day when Lord Dipankara Buddha made preordainment for Hermit Sumedha who would be Lord Gotama Buddha on Bhadda World, the day when embryo Buddha Prince Siddhattha was born, the day when Lord Gotama Buddha attained Enlightenment and the day when Lord Buddha Gotama attained Parinibbanna fall on the full moon day of Kason. As such, records were set as “giving birth, attaining Enlightenment, attaining Parinibbanna and receiving preordainment” and “preordainment, giving birth, Enlightenment and Parinibbanna”. Budd-hist set the full moon day of Kason as the noblest Buddha’s day.
As a significant point, not only Lord Gotama Buddha but also 28 Lord Buddhas were born, attained Enlightenment and Parinibbanna on the full moon day of Kason. As such the full moon day of Kason was set as “Buddha’s Day”. The festival of pouring water at banyan trees is one of Myanmar’s cultural heritage as well as a pleasant, meritorious festival. On one day ahead of the full moon day of Kason, Myanmar people carry out spraying scented water, painting lime and cleaning at banyan trees where water will be poured.
