ACCORDING to U Tin Aung Myint, a member of the Shwemawdaw Pagoda Board of Trustees, a rice donation ceremony for 1,000 monks and 100 nuns and the ceremonial pouring of water on the sacred banyan tree will be held at Shwemawdaw Pagoda in Bago, Bago Region, on Wednesday, 11 May.
“At 5 am on the full moon day of Kason, a total of 1,000 monks from various monasteries in Bago will consecrate the pagoda. At 5.30 am, dawn meals will be offered to 1,000 monks and 100 nuns. The rice offering ceremony will take place on the platform of the pagoda. Starting at 4 pm, the traditional water-pouring ceremony onto the sacred banyan tree will take place. At around 6 pm, a Dhamma sermon will be delivered at the main hall of the pagoda,” said U Tin Aung Myint.
While only the water-pouring ceremony is usually held on the full moon day of Kason each year at the pagoda, this year’s event will include several additional ceremonies. These include a pagoda consecration ceremony, a rice donation to monks and nuns, and a Dhamma sermon. During the evening’s water-pouring ceremony, guests will also be served with charity feast. — ASH/KNN
