14 October

Famous pagodas and pagodas and dhammayons (religious buildings of wards and communities in Mandalay are crowded with devotees offering flowers, lights and water to the Buddha and keeping Sabbat on the fullmoon day of Thadingyut. At dawn, devotees paid home to Maha Muni Image and offered flowers, lights, water and gold foils. Likewise, famous pagodas such as Shwe Kyeemyin Pagoda, Kyauktawgyi Pagoda, Sandamuni Pagoda, Aungdwmu Pagoda, Jade Pagoda and Swedaw Pagoda of the cultural city were also crowded with pilgrims doing meritorious deeds.

Moreover, dhammayons in wards are also packed with people keeping Sabbath and serving free food. Streets were also full of people who were offering provisions and other provisions to members of Sangha and nuns.

In the late evening, ten thousand lights were offered to the Maha Muni Buddha Image and Kyauktawgyi and other pagodas in Mandalay. Wards of the city also offered lights to their respective pagodas in preserving the age-old tradition.

Three pagodas, Kyauktaw, Sadamuni and Kuthodaw, at the foot of Mandalay Hills held the pagoda festival. There were free entertainment shows and over 100 booths to go shopping. The festival is crowded with visitors till late at night.

Min Htet Aung (Sub-printing House) (Translated by TMT)