BUDDHISTS celebrate the festivals of Tazaungmone full moon day – Samañaphala Day. Pagodas, temples and resorts in Mandalay were crowded with pilgrims and visitors yesterday.
People celebrated the Tazaungdaing lighting festival, Matho robe-offering ceremony, Kathina robe-offering ceremony and oil lamp offering at pagodas, temples and monasteries. Kathina robe offerings were also held at respective monasteries by families and associations along with merit sharing after doing meritorious deeds and donating refreshments.
One of Mandalay’s famous pagodas – Mahamuni Buddha Image – received its ritual of daily face washing led by the Yaytaw Sayadaw with lay helpers yesterday morning. Alms, water and flowers were offered after the sacred Matho robe was donated to the Buddha image. Religious associations recited Pathana.
In addition, the city park on strand road, resorts in Patheingyi township, the Taungthaman Lake in Amarapura township and U Bein Bridge were alive with a teeming crowd of families, friends and visitors.
It is reported that other famous pagodas in Mandalay were also packed with pilgrims and devotees across the country for offering robes, alms, water, flowers and fruits and donating various traditional food. — Min Htet Aung (Mandalay Sub-Printing House)/GNLM
