THE work of donating the full-body gold foils to the Shweda­gon Pagoda is about 80 per cent finished, and it is expected to be finalized by April 2025, accord­ing to the Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees.

The board has been imple­menting the process of donat­ing full-body gold foils to the Shwedagon Pagoda since Sep­tember 2024, with the target of completion in May 2025, before the consecration ceremony is held.

Well-wishers can donate K15 million for each one-square-foot, six-tical gold plate and K2.5 million for each ten-square-inch, one-tical gold coating to the pagoda. In addi­tion, the gold plates, which will be donated until March 2025, will be included in the full-body gold foil donation.

The Shwedagon Pago­da consecration ceremony is typically held on the full moon day of Kason (Buddha Day) in May each year. It is planned to hold both the consecration ceremony and the Kason water pouring festival together once the full-body gold foils donation is completed in May. — ASH/TH