Full Moon Day of Waso: Pagodas and stupas crowded with pilgrims
The auspicious Waso Full Moon Day (Dhamma Cakka Day) is a special and blessed day for Buddhists in Myanmar.
Across the nation, at pagodas and stupas, people are performing meritorious deeds in devotion to the Buddha. These include offering Waso robes and Waso flowers, making donations, observing precepts, and practicing meditation.
Since the morning, the Maravijaya Buddha Image, the tallest sitting marvel Buddha Image in the world, enshrined in the Buddha Park in Dekkhinathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, has been exceptionally crowded with pilgrims arriving with immense faith and devotion.
Similarly, other religious sites in Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory including (Let Loke Taung and Shwenan-thwin Pagoda, the Datucaya Dat Paung Su Pagoda, Yan Aung Myin Pagoda, Phaungdaw Chatma Pagoda, Satta Sattaha Mahabodhi Pagoda, and the four Saṃvejaniya holy places were bustling with pilgrims.
In honor of this day, pagodas and stupas across Yangon, including the Shwedagon Pagoda, are crowded with devotees who are observing the Precepts, performing meritorious deeds, and paying homage.
At the Shwedagon Pagoda, ceremonies commemorating the Full Moon Day of Waso (Dhamma Cakka Day) of the year 1387 ME were organized under the supervision of the Pagoda Board of Trustee and began at 5 AM in designated areas around the pagoda precincts.
Similar ceremonies were organized at other renowned pagodas in Yangon such as Sirimangala Kabha Aye Pagoda, Botahtaung Kyaikdae-ap Hair Relic Pagoda, Sule Pagoda, Lokachanthar Abhaya Labhamuni Buddha Image (Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda), Tooth Relic Pagoda (Yangon), Kyaikwaing Pagoda, Maelamu Pagoda, Nga-Htat Kyee Pagoda, Chauk-Htat Kyee Pagoda, Koe Htat Kyee Pagoda, Thabbin-Nyu Stupa (Yangon).
Likewise, starting from in the morning, not only local residents but also monks and laypeople from various regions have been visiting the renowned Mahamuni Buddha Image in Mandalay. They are paying homage with deep reverence offering alms, water, flowers, and robes, lighting oil lamps.
In addition, many are observing the precepts, engaging in meditation, and participating in religious and social organizations’ group recitations of Dhamma Sakya sermons, accumulating merit through these acts of devotion.
Furthermore, at pagodas, stupas, shrines, and monasteries across Mandalay city and its surrounding areas, Buddhist monks and lay devotees have been actively taking part since dawn in various religious ceremonies marking Dhamma Cakkya Day. These include Waso robe offering ceremonies, Waso flower and robe donations, alms offering, and acts of generosity such as life-saving donations, all of which are being vibrantly observed by numerous merit-makers.
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