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

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 UN children's agency says it is opening makeshift learning spaces for children in the Gaza Strip. But it notes that the children are suffering from trauma and are worried about whether the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will continue.

The United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF, estimates that more than 90 percent of the schools in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, due to Israel's attacks. It says the few schools that have survived are still being used as shelters.

UNICEF is setting up temporary learning spaces in the Gaza Strip to enable children to study again. The agency says many of the spaces are in tents. The agency says children can learn Arabic, English, math and other subjects. It also says that it is providing the children with stationary, bags and dietary supplements.

A UNICEF official said that children in Gaza have been robbed of their childhoods. She noted that the learning spaces are places where they can get a bit of a "reprieve." But she pointed out that many of the children are experiencing severe symptoms of trauma, due to the intense fighting. She said some children completely withdraw and stop speaking, while others shake and scream when they hear sounds made by drones.

The UNICEF official said children walk up to her when they see her in Gaza. She reported that, while pulling her arm, they ask if the fighting is going to start again and why more assistance has not come.

The official said people are terribly afraid that aid could be completely halted or that the ceasefire could break down.

Source: NHK World

About 38,000 athletes have taken part in the 2025 Tokyo Marathon, one of the nation's largest marathon races.

Members of the public who won a lottery were allowed to participate in Sunday's event. Elite runners from both Japan and abroad were also invited. The race started from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Shinjuku at around 9 a.m.

A runner in his 50s from Saitama Prefecture said he has taken part in races across the nation, but this is his first Tokyo Marathon thanks to his good luck in the lottery. He said his goal is to complete the race without injury supported by cheers from spectators along the route.

A woman in her 40s from Osaka said the appeal of this event is to be able to run through popular sights of central Tokyo. She said she is looking forward to seeing the Senso-ji temple and the Tokyo Skytree.

The route took runners to Asakusa, Ginza and other iconic spots of the Japanese capital and finished in front of Tokyo Station. People along the route cheered on the runners, and many of them responded by waving their hands.

The runners smiled as they crossed the finish line. A woman in her 50s from Kanagawa Prefecture said it was a little bit hot, but the onlookers encouraged her and she enjoyed the race.

A Tokyo resident in his 60s said he is determined to keep running into his 70s and 80s.

Traffic has been restricted in a wide area around the marathon route. Some roads will be closed to traffic as late as 9 p.m.

Source : NHK

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 Beikthano Archaeological Museum in the ancient Beikthano cultural zone, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, about 12 miles from west of Taungdwingyi township of Magway Region was constructed on 12 July 2004. The construction was completed on 30 November 2007, and the museum was opened to the public on 1 September 2008.
The Beikthano museum features booths of stone, iron and bronze eras, fossil fuels, traditional houses, the Beikthano ancient city map, the history of the city, significant characteristics of Pyu, pre-historical evidence of old Beikthano city, literature explored in Beikthano, Pyu literary writing style, bricks of Pyu era, vase, bronze Buddha statue, bird-shaped urn, model building for the burring urn, royal architectural pieces of evidence, city wall and barrier (model), bowl-shaped urn, coins and beads of Pyu.
The Beikthano Archaeological Museum is established as per the policy of the Ministry of Culture to explore, conserve and improve Myanmar’s cultural heritage, and to cherish the country and people by doing so.
The museum is open free for the public from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm daily except Mondays and public holidays. — Naung Naung (Beikthano Myay)/KTZH

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

IT is under arrangement to restore the ancient Inwa palace tooth-relic building to its original state, referring to the painting in Parabaik, said archaeologist and writer Bo Shake.
One donor will fund it and it has been submitted to the Department of Archaeology and National Museums to design and rebuild it to its original state as per Parabaik.
“It has been submitted to the archaeological department to renovate the tooth-relic building under the law to the style shown in the Parabaik painting.
We will start working immediately after receiving permission from the department. We will work together with the archaeology department for their advice and technology. Sayagyi U Win Maung will draw the designs based on the Parabaik painting,” he said.
It is a rare tooth-relic building in the palace and a pagoda where people can learn about the Buddhist beliefs and custom of successive ancient Myanmar Kings.
By reconstructing the building, future generations will be able to observe the culture and customs of the ancient kings, he said. The Inwa tooth-relic building is between the Ywaytawyu Gate and the Red Gate of the palace and is located in the innermost part of the three layers of the wall. The only tooth-relic pagoda in Inwa has a very beautiful staircase with intricate reliefs with stucco and is said to be the most beautiful rare work. — MT/ZN

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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