Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, currently in the Russian Federation along with his husband Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by Daw Nilar, wife of the SAC Joint Secretary, the wife of the Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air), Vice-President of the Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation Daw Khin May Soe, the wife of the Myanmar Ambassador to the Russian Federation and officials, visited the Myanmar Theravada Buddhist Vihara Centre in Moscow yesterday morning.

She paid homage to Centre Abbot Sayadaw Maha Saddhammajotikadhaja Dr Ashin Icchariya and members of the Sangha and offered offerings.

They listened to a sermon delivered by members of the Sangha and shared merits gained. Daw Kyu Kyu Hla and party offered day meals to members of the Sangha. MNA/TTA

Source: The Global New Light Of Myanmar 

ACCORDING to Ko Aung Kyaw Kyaw, who is currently carrying out the work, the first phase of the restoration of the historic Chanthagyi Buddha statue in Mandalay, which collapsed due to the earthquake, has been completed.
The head of the statue was completely broken off due to the recent Mandalay earthquake. The restoration of the Buddha statue’s head would be carried out in stages, including rubbing off and polishing the face, applying resin, gilding, and installing a golden crown, he had previously said.
The original work on the statue’s facial features was made during the reign of King Thayawady. It was reinforced by another layer around the reign of King Thibaw, so the collapsed double-layered face will be preserved and displayed in the museum. — Htet Oo Maung/ZN

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

THE pagodas in Nay Pyi Taw were bustling with those who did good deeds on the full moon day of Taboung. The pagodas in Nay Pyi Taw Council Maravijaya Buddha Image, Uppatasanti Pagoda, Bodh Gaya (Nay Pyi Taw), Mahathetkya Yanthi Standing Buddha Statue, Yanaungmyin Shwelathla Pagoda, Dhatuzaya Dhatpaungsu Pagoda, Nyeinchanyay Zedi, Hlaykhwin Hill Pagoda, Koenawin Pagoda, Sutaungpyae Lawkamarazein Pagoda, Sansara Nyeinaye Pagoda, Phayakoesu, Koekhangyi Pagoda, Loka Yanhnein Zedi, Phaungtawchekma Zedi, Latloke Hill and other religious places were crowed with religious groups, locals, government employees and pilgrims.
In the evening, the pilgrims flocked to the Maravijaya Buddha Image in the precinct of Buddha Park. The pilgrims offered flowers, water and oil lamps to the Buddha image, and the religious groups recited Dhamma Cakka Sutta.
Visitors observed the Buddha Park, stone plaque chamber pagodas on which Tri Pitaka treatises were carved in Pali and Romanized languages with the use of modern machinery and other religious buildings. Similarly, Paritta, Dhamma Cakka Sutta and Maha Pathana reciting events and 3,000 oil lamps donation ceremony were held at Uppatasanti Pagoda. The white elephant camp, religious item stalls and souvenir shops were also crowded with visitors.
The 17th Buddha Pujaniya Festival at Uppatasanti Pagoda was held from 7 to 13 March in Taboung Ground, and visitors enjoyed the free entertainment programmes. — MNA/KTZH

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

A ceremony to offer religious titles for 2025 was held in conjunction with the rice-offering ceremony in the precinct of Maravijaya Buddha Park in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon, attended by Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla.
The ceremony was also attended by religious title recipient Sayadaws and nuns at home and abroad led by State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Chairman Aggamaha Pandita Aggamaha Saddhammajotikadhaja Thanlyin Minkyaung Monastery Sayadaw Dr Bhaddanta Candima Bhivamsa, SSMNC Secretary Presiding Patron of Mandalay’s Masoeyein Taikthit Monastery Sayadaw of Dhamma Thameikdi Monastery Aggamahapandita Aggamaha Saddhammajotikadhaja Mahadhammakathika Bahujanahitadhara Bhaddanta Vasettha Bhivamsa.
Moreover, SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Council Secretary General Aung Lin Dwe and his wife, Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo and his wife, council members and their wives, union-level dignitaries, union ministers and their wives, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, officials and Sasana Nuggaha title recipient laypersons.
Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Aye Tun opened the ceremony with supplicating the opening paper.
The Chairman Sayadaw administered the Eight Precepts. Rector of the State Pariyatti Sasana University of Mayangon Township Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru Dr Bhaddanta Kumara gave a Sammodaniya Ovadakatha and Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Tin Oo Lwin supplicated religious affairs.
At the ceremony, the Senior General offered the Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru title to Mahahtupayon Buddhism Learning Centre Sayadaw Bhaddanta Paññobhasa in Thonze, Bago Region.
The Vice-Senior General also offered the Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru title to Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kesava, Head of Abbot Training School in Aungmyaythazan Township, Mandalay.
The SAC Secretary and the Joint Secretary presented the Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru title to Maha Withokdayon (Pali) Tekkatho Shwegyin Taikthit Sayadaw Tipitakadhara Dhammabhandagarika Yaw Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sirinda Bhivamsa of Bahan Township in Yangon Region and Sayadaw Bhaddanta Candavara Bhivamsa of Khemathiwun Buddhism Learning Centre in Myitkyina of Kachin State.
Council members, Union-level dignitaries, union ministers and, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and officials offered Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru, Abhidhaja Aggamaha Saddhammajotika, Aggamaha Pandita, Aggamaha Saddhammajotikadhaja, Aggamaha Ganthavacakapandita and Aggamaha Kammathanacariya titles to recipient Sayadaws respectively.
The wife of the Senior General presented the Aggamaha Ganthavacakapandita title to Nun Dr Candasingi, Presiding Nun of Thameikdawdaya Pyapon Nunnery from Bahan Township in Yangon Region and Nun Daw Visingi, Presiding Nun of Zeyatheingi Corner Nunnery of Sagaing from Sagaing Region.
The Senior General also conferred the Aggamaha Thirithudhamma Manijotadhara title on U Kyaw Pe, U Kyaw Zeya and U Bran Mai, respectively.
The Vice-Senior General presented the Thirithudhamma Manijotadhara title to U Myint Soe Tun. The wife of the Senior General gave Thirithudhamma Theingi titles to Daw Than Than Nwe, Daw Kin Aye Myint, Daw Htwe Htwe Nyunt, Daw Aye Myint and Daw Myint Myint Yi respectively while the wife of the Vice-Senior General handed Thirithudhamma Theingi title to Daw Hla Win, Daw Mu Mu San, Daw Wah Wah Hlaing and Daw Chaw Su Myat respectively.
The SSMNC Secretary Sayadaw delivered a sermon, and the congregation shared the merits gained.
This year, the State Administration Council offered religious titles to 120 members of the Sangha, two nuns and 10 laypersons. At the ceremony, the Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru title and offertories were offered to eight members of the Sangha, the Abhidhaja Aggamaha Saddhammajotika title to five members of the Sangha, the Aggamaha Pandita title to 20 members of the Sangha, Aggamaha Saddhammajotika title to 52 members of the Sangha, Aggamaha Ganthavacaka Pandita title to 25 members of the Sangha, Aggamaha Kammathanacariya title to 10 members of the Sangha and Aggamaha Ganthavacaka Pandita title to two nuns.
Chief Ministers and officials from the Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, regions and states also presented relevant titles to the remaining title recipient Sayadaws, nuns and laypersons.
The rice offering ceremony followed. At the ceremony, the Senior General and his wife, the Vice-Senior General and his wife, the Council Secretary and his wife, the Joint Secretary and his wife, council members and their wives, union-level dignitaries, union ministers and their wives, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, departmental staff and well-wishers donated rice and alms to title recipient Sayadaws and nuns at home and abroad. — MNA/TTA

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

THE full moon day of Taboung is one of the significant religious days for Buddhist people, and the Shwedagon Pagoda and other pagodas in Yangon were also crowded with visitors on the full moon day of Taboung.
The pagoda board of trustees of the Shwedagon Pagoda organized alms donations and the 2,613th anniversary Buddha Pujaniya Taboung festival for the successful completion of the Maha Pathana recitation event at the Shwedagon pagoda.
First, the Sayadaws and attendees offered alms meals to the pagoda on the victory ground at the northwest corner of the pagoda.
During the event to mark the successful completion of Maha Pathana recitation, Ovadacariya Sayadaw Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida Dhamma Bhandagarika Soonloon Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sunada delivered the Nine Precepts to the congregation, comprising Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein, regional ministers and other devotees.
The officials donated offertories to Sayadaws and monks and shared the merit gained. They also offered day meals to Sayadaws.
Similarly, the religious events marking the full moon day of Taboung took place at Botahtaung Pagoda, Maha Wizaya Pagoda, Sule Pagoda, Thiri Mingala Kaba Aye Pagoda, Sacred Buddha Tooth Relic Pagoda (Yangon), Lokachantha Abhaya Labhamuni Buddha Image on Mindhamma Hill, Shwephonepwint Pagoda, Kyaikkasan Pagoda, Meilamu Pagoda and Koehtetkyee Pagoda. — Ko Ko Zaw (MNA)/KTZH

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

CHAIRMAN of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla of-
fered day meals to venerable members of the Sangha who will accept religious titles for 2025 at Aggadhipati Sasana Beikman in the precinct of Maravijaya Buddha Park in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
Also, present at the ceremony were State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Chairman Aggamaha Pandita Aggamaha Saddhammajotikadhaja Thanlyin Minkyaung Sayadaw Dr Bhaddanta Candima Bhivamsa, Secretary Mandalay Masoeyein Taikthit Mahanayaka Dhammathameikdi Monastery Sayadaw Aggamaha Pandita Aggamaha Saddhammajotikadhaja Mahadhammakathika Bahujanahitadhara Bhaddanta Vasettha Bhivamsa, 118 local and foreign title-recipient Sayadaws and two title recipient nuns, SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, the Council Secretary and his wife, the Joint Secretary and his wife, council members and their wives, union-level dignitaries, union ministers and their wives, the Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command and officials.
The Senior General offered alms in the emerald alms bowl, fruits, flowers, water and joss sticks to the Naungdawgyi Buddha image of Maravijaya Buddha Image in the Beikman.
The Senior General and his wife, together with the congregation, observed Five Precepts from Chairman Sayadaw and listened to Paritta recited by members of the Sangha.
The Senior General and his wife donated offerings to Chairman Sayadaw, the Vice-Senior General and his wife to Secretary Sayadaw, the Council Secretary and his wife, the Joint Secretary and his wife and distinguished guests to title-recipient Sayadaws, respectively.
The wife of the Senior General also donated alms to title-recipient nuns. The Secretary Sayadaw delivered a sermon, followed by the sharing of merits gained.
After the ceremony, the Senior General and his wife, and distinguished attendees offered day meals to religious title-recipient Sayadaws and nuns led by the SSMNC Chairman and Secretary Sayadaws. — MNA/TTA

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

THE 2,613th Buddha Pujaniya Taboung Festival will be held at the Shwedagon Pagoda for ten days, from 4 to 13 March, according to the pagoda board of trustees.
During the festival, the board of trustees will hold ceremonies dedicated to worshipping the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha.
“In the 2,613th Shwedagon Pagoda Buddha Pujaniya Taboung Festival, the Maha Pathana recitation will be included, along with the rice-offering ceremony to over 100 monks, including Ovadacariya Sayadaws. Additionally, 28 Buddha statues will be conveyed onto the pagoda platform for public obeisance,” said U Htay Hlaing, a member of the pagoda board of trustees.
The 2,613th Shwedagon Buddha Pujaniya Taboung Festival will include the conveying of 28 Buddha statues onto the pagoda platform. Additionally, 120 monks from various monasteries in Dagon and Bahan Townships will recite the Maha Pathana continuously for 216 hours, from 4 to 13 March, with the recitation concluding on 13 March, the full moon day of Taboung. — ASH/MKKS

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Source: https://mrtv.gov.mm/

THE Buddha Pujaniya Festival at the Santaw shin Myat Mawtinsun Pagoda in Hainggyikyun Town, Ngaputaw Township, Pathein District, Ayeyawady Region, will be held on a grand scale, according to a member of the pagoda’s board of trustees. 

The festival takes place every year from the 1st Waxing to the Full Moon of Taboung. This year, it will be held from 27 February (the 1st Waxing of Taboung) to 13 March (the Full Moon of Taboung). 

“As it has been held every year, we will hold the festival again this year. During the festival, 45 members of the Sangha will consecrate the pagoda, followed by the recitation of Maha Pathana treatise. On the full moon day of Taboung, we will offer rice to 160 monks to mark the closing ceremony,” said a member of the pagoda’s board of trustees. 

Pilgrims can visit the Myat Mawtinsun Pagoda by both water and land routes. — ASH/TH

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

NAY PYI TAW February 15

Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, SAC members, union ministers, the Yangon Region chief minister, the Yangon Command commander and officials, paid homage to Shwegadon Pagoda on Theingottara Hill, Dagon Township, this morning.

The Senior General and party were welcomed by members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees and officials. The Senior General paid homage to Padamya Myetshin Buddha Image on the upper terrace of the pagoda and offered meals in the Emerald Bowl, flowers, water to the Image.

The Senior General and party climbed onto the scaffolding pagoda and observed the progress in offering gold plates to the Shwedagon Pagoda surface in full. They examined the durability of the diamond orb of the pagoda and offered diamonds, gold, jewels, and religious objects and sprinkled scented water on them. They also observed the panoramic view of Yangon urban development from the scaffolding pagoda and discussed further programs for beautifying and upgrading the city.

The Senior General and party examined the durability of the vane of Shwedagon Pagoda and rejoiced at the donations made by previous well-wishers.

The Senior General installed two gold plates each weighing six ticals (over 98 grams), donated by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife, Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, and children and grandchildren on the spire-like structure and sprinkled scented water on the plates.

The Senior General and party heard a report on offering of gold plates to Shwedagon Pagoda throughout the past successive periods and the progress in fully installing gold-plates on the pagoda surface in 2024- 2025, presented by the Union Minister for Religious Affairs and members of the board. They said the entire gold coating process needs 1,200 units of one-foot by one-foot gold plates each weighing six ticals. Up to now, 1,060 plates have been installed. Hence, the project needs 140 plates. The project also needs 10,000 gold plates, each weighing one tical. Up to now, 7,500 plates have been installed. Hence, the project needs 2,500 plates. Well-wishers can donate Ks-15 million per six ticals gold plate and Ks-2.5 million per one tical gold plate.

The Senior General looked into the requirements. The Senior General and party visited the pagoda and urged officials to ensure its sustainability and cleanness.

Shwedagon Pagoda is a sacrosanct religious edifice of Myanmar and Yangon. It had been preserved and maintained by kings, governments and the people throughout the past successive periods. As regards the gold-coating of the Shwedagon Pagoda, its spire-like structure was first gold-plated in 1899. In 1936, gold plates were offered on the ovolo moulding, and during the period between 1949 and 1970 gold-coating was conducted every three or four years. During the period between 1980 and 2019, gold-coating was conducted every four or five years and gold-plates damaged by various causes including natural disasters like Cyclone Nargis were replaced.

From 1980 to 2019 (a period of about 40 years) gold-coating was conducted every four or five years, and the 9th full-surface gold-coating will be carried out in 2024-2025. Scaffolding pagoda was built on 19 September 2024 to offer gold plates. Beginning 18 October, gold plates were carried by a decorated carriage and up to now 80 percent of the work has been completed.

Gold-coating process will be completed in the third week of March this year. At present, the project still needs 140 units of one-foot gold plate each weighing six ticals and 2,500 one tical gold plates. Well-wishers may donate Ks-15 million per six ticals gold plate and Ks-2.5million per one tical gold plate.

Source: Myawady Web Portal