21 November
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi attended a ceremony to enshrine religious objects in the Maha Bodhi pagoda located on Poe Panta pagoda hillock in Kyauktalonegyi Town of Taunggyi District in southern Shan State yesterday morning, together with well-wishers of alms-offering to Buddhist monks.
The ceremony was also attended by Union Ministers Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, Lt-Gen Ye Aung, U Min Thu, Dr Myint Htwe, U Ohn Maung, DrAung Thu and U Ohn Win, Chief Minister of Shan State Dr Lin Htut, Deputy Minister U Hla Maw Oo and officials.
They arrived at Kyauktalonegyi Town from Taunggyi the morning by helicopters.
At the enshrinement ceremony, Patron of Nyaung Thonebin Pariyatti Samanekyaw Monastery in Mogok Township Dr Bhaddanta Tejosara Bhivamsa gave the Five Precepts and members of the Sangha recited Paritta.
The State Counsellor, senior government officials and well-wishers donated offertories to members of the Sangha.
Then, Saddhamma Jotika Dhaja Dr Bhaddanta Javana gave Alodawpyi Buddha images to the State Counsellor and senior government officials.
The main and leading donor of pagoda and the patron of Pa-O National Organization, Aggamahasiri Sudhamma Mani Jotadhara Wunna Kyaw Htin U Aung Kham Hte, supplicated on religious affairs.
Then, the Patron of Nyaung Thonebin Pariyatti Samanekyaw Monastery delivered a sermon, and the State Counsellor and the congregation shared merits.
The State Counsellor also donated cash for construction of the pagoda through the officials.
Next, the State Counsellor, the Union Ministers, the Chief Minister, the Deputy Ministers, officials, well-wishers and congregation conveyed the religious objects for enshrinement, and then the donors and devotees enshrined the objects in the pagoda.
She also cordially made conversations with U Aung Kham Hte at the latter’s home.
Later, the State Counsellor, senior government officials and well-wishers offered alms to members of the Sangha.
The Maha Bodhi pagoda will have 81-ft height, 41-ft length and 36-ft width at the completion in the form of Maha Bodhi pagoda in Bodh Gaya, India.
The State Counsellor and party then left Kyauktalonegyi Town for Heho Township by helicopters, and they arrived back in Nay Pyi Taw in the afternoon.—MNA
(Translated by Aung Khin)
