April 18

ON the morning of the Myanmar New Year, pagodas and monasteries were busy with people listening to sermons delivered by members of the Sangha, releasing animals, and participating in donations yesterday.

Famous pagodas in Nay Pyi Taw, including Uppatasanti pagoda, Dhatucaya Datpaungsu pagoda, Lawka Marazein pagoda and Yan Aung Myin Shwe Lat Hla pagoda were alive with people doing good deeds yesterday.

Myanmar people usually starts a new year by doing good deeds after cleaning the filth of the old year with water during the Thingyan period. People usually go to the monasteries and pagodas to fast, to pay homage, to care after elders and to release animals back to the nature to hail the New Year.

In addition, people from governmental departments, civil society organizations, and donors also pay homage and presented with donation items to the elders. Members of the Sangha were also invited to deliver sermons at ministries, wards, staff housings, Dhamma houses, and people listened to the sermons and shared their deeds.—Myo Satt Thit/GNLM