Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing graces Deepawali Festival

Hindus in Myanmar collectively observed Deepawali Festival at National Theatre on Myomakyaung Street, Dagon Township, Yangon this evening, graced by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present together with the Senior General were his wife, Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo and wife, SAC member General Nyo Saw and wife, union ministers and wives, the Yangon region chief minister, ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions in Myanmar, senior military officers from Office of Commander-in-Chief and wives, the Yangon command commander, officials of organizations, Hindu ethnic groups, Hindu cultural troupes, and honoured guests.
First, the Senior General and wife and party were welcomed by officials. Then, officials formally opened the archway of the Hindu traditional Deepawali Festival, followed by the blowing of Hindu traditional kaboos and releasing of hot balloons.
Afterwards, the Senior General and wife were welcomed by oil incense lamps. The Senior General and the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar formally opened the festival by pushing the button and posed for documentary photos together with the attendees.
The Senior General and wife and party visited the boots of Hindu associations and Hindu ethnic races in sequence.
At the second part of the ceremony, held at the Theatre Hall, the Senior General and wife and the ambassador and wife, and officials lit the Deepawali lamps. The ambassador and wife wore the Senior General and wife Mingala Shawl and Garland.
The Senior General and wife and attendees posed for group documentary photos. Master of ceremonies explained points about the Deepawali and the tradition of lighting the lamps.
The Senior General and wife and attendees enjoyed the solo dance show, Gangesha Dhamma Puja song, and lamp dance staged by the Indian Embassy in Myanmar.
Speaking on the occasion, the Senior General said that Deepawali Festival is a traditional lighting festival of Hindus, and “Deepa” means lighting and “Avali” is defined as possession.
So, the combined meaning shows actions of possession with oil lights.
Oil lighting can remove darkness and the festival means arrivals of good things leaving bad conditions as well as emergence of the anticipation. The literature defines it that “Lighting shall remove darkness”. Such a meaning is the most comprehensive for bringing good things as primary strength and power to all humans. Hence, it can believe that Hindus beautifully illuminate their temples and homes in accord with their traditions on this festival occasion with oil lights so as to gain strength for their lives.
The Deepawali celebration held this year was unlike previous years, as it was joyfully organized on a grand scale with the participation of all Hindu religious groups, social organizations, and followers in Myanmar, along with people from other faiths joining in. It is believed that this demonstrates harmony and unity among the diverse religious communities in Myanmar. The Senior General expressed his very pleasure and joy in seeing all members of the Hindu community coming together to participate, making this a remarkable milestone. All citizens of Myanmar may have differences in ethnicity or religion. However, since they have all grown up together on the same motherland, they must respect each other’s beliefs and religions.
Based on the Union spirit, they have to serve interests of Myanmar through bilaterally friendly relations. Although today’s conflicts in Myanmar were based on political conditions, these are not resolved in political ways yet. Such things depend on external instigation based on political, racism and religious affairs.
Through such instigations, terror acts are being recklessly committed within the country, implying that division among the people only leads to further conflict. Regardless of ethnicity or religion, as everybody needs to share the same land, water, and air in Myanmar, it is essential that people cultivate a love for the country and the Union spirit in order to live together peacefully. Currently, the Senior General said he is striving to implement the planned steps to guide the nation back onto the path of democracy.
Therefore, he urges everyone to work together to resolve ongoing conflicts and to soonest return to the path everybody aspires to. Although there are many differences and diversity within Myanmar, it is only by uniting and organizing these differences that everybody can create strength. To achieve such a unified strength, the Senior General said that he is leading and taking action himself.
He has also facilitated meetings between representatives of Indian and Chinese ethnic communities from Myanmar.
The needs of the organizations were inquired about and fulfilled, and responses were also provided to their feedback. In Myanmar, everybody knows that the government supports religious ceremonies of various religions in Myanmar, as well as commemorative days and events related to different ethnic groups to the fullest extent possible.
Today, at this Deepawali Festival celebration, everybody has also seen a spirit of unity and togetherness among all attendees.
It is necessary to continue building upon this foundation with even greater strength.
Therefore, with the start of this auspicious festival of Deepawali, celebrated by the Hindu community, the Senior General made his sincere wish and message for all citizens to share mutual love, respect, understanding, and forgiveness toward one another, urging all to come together in unity to foster peace and harmony in the nation and the world.
The Senior General and the Indian Ambassador exchanged commemorative gifts.
The Indian Ambassador gave a remark, and the Chairman of the Leading Committee for Organizing the festival spoke words of thanks.
The Senior General, his wife and attendees enjoyed Hindu traditional cultural dances and songs, dances of ethnic groups and Myanmar traditional dances performed by Hindu traditional cultural troupe and the cultural troupes from the National University of Arts and Culture (Yangon).
Afterwards, the Senior General and his wife and the Indian Ambassador and his wife presented flower baskets to those troupes. After the ceremony, the Senior General and his wife, and party cordially greeted attendee Hindu ethnicities and Hindu traditional cultural troupes.
Later, the Senior General, his wife and attendees had the dinner in commemoration of the Deepawali Festival together.

Source- Myawady Webportal