2 January
A consecration and golden umbrella hoisting ceremony of Taungsuya ‘Wa’ Zedi Naungdaw Pagoda was held on the platform of the pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw Zabuthiri Township yesterday morning. The ceremony was attended by President U Win Myint, First Lady Daw Cho Cho and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Sanghas led by Pyinmana Mingalar Zeyone Pali Takkatho monastery patron Sayadaw Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadaja Bhaddanta Vimala Bhuddi graced the event while Vice President U Myint Swe and wife Daw Khin Thet Htay, Vice President U Henry Van Thio and wife Dr. Shwe Hlwan, Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U T Khun Myat and wife Daw Yin May, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than and wife Daw Nant Kyin Kyi, Pyithu Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Tun Tun Hein and wife Dr. Sein Sein Thein, Amyotha Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Aye Tha Aung, Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe and wife, Union Minister for Office of the State Counsellor U Kyaw Tint Swe, Union Minister for Office of the Union Government U Min Thu and wife, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein and wife, Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Kyi Min, Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General and officials were also in attendance.
Before the ceremony commenced, President U Win Myint, First Lady Daw Cho Cho and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi paid homage to the Buddha image in the temporary pandal with ‘soon,’ water, flower and oil lamps. Next, invited guests chanted “Namotasa” three times to start the consecration and golden umbrella hoisting ceremony. The congregation took the Nine Precepts from the Nay Pyi Taw Sangha Nayaka Committee Chairman Tatkon Shwe Inn Yeiktha Pariyatti Sarthintaik Sayadaw Agga Maha Ganda Vasaka Pandita Bhaddanta Pyinnya Thami and offered paritta water, thread and sand to the Sayadaws and sanghas.
After listening to the chanting of parittas by the Sayadaws and sanghas, the invited guests and devotees sprinkled paritta water and sand and tied the paritta thread around the pagoda.
Next, President U Win Myint and First Lady Daw Cho Cho, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Vice President U Myint Swe and wife Daw Khin Thet Htay, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than’s wife Daw Nant Kyin Kyi, Pyithu Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Tun Tun Hein and wife Dr. Sein Sein Thein, Amyotha Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Aye Tha Aung, Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe and wife, Union Minister U Kyaw Tint Swe from the Office of the State Counsellor, Union Minister for Office of the Union Government U Min Thu and wife, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein and wife offered the pagoda’s diamond bud, vane and offerings to the Sayadaws and sanghas and then listened to the sermon given by Pyinmana Mingalar Zeyone Pali Takkatho monastery Sayadaw and shared merits.
Afterwards President U Win Myint, First Lady Daw Cho Cho, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and officials carried the diamond bud, vane, parts of golden umbrellas and golden bells in a clock-wise direction around the pagoda.
Pyinmana Mingalar Zeyone Pali Takkatho monastery patron Sayadaw Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadaja Bhaddanta Vimala Bhuddi, President U Win Myint, First Lady Daw Cho Cho, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Vice President U Myint Swe and wife Daw Khin Thet Htay and invited guests put the golden umbrella parts, vane and diamond bud onto the ceremonial chariot and at the designated auspicious time hoisted it all on top of the pagoda in accordance with tradition. Other parts of the pagoda were also hoisted on top of the pagoda.
Later, a consecration ceremony of the pagoda was held by sanghas led by Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadaza Bhaddanta Vimala Bhuddi. After this, President U Win Myint, First Lady Daw Cho Cho, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Vice President U Myint Swe and wife Daw Khin Thet Htay, Vice President U Henry Van Thio and wife Dr. Shwe Hlwan and the congregation offered ‘soon’ (a day meal) to Sayadaws and sanghas. — MNA (Translated by Zaw Min)
