A ceremony to receive Ovada or guidance from the Ovadacariya Sayadawgyis by the Board of Trustees of the Upadasanti Pagoda, for the renovation and restoration of the earthquake-damaged Upadasanti Pagoda and affiliated religious buildings, was held inside the cave hall of the Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw on July 23rd.First, the congregation led by the Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture received the Five Precepts from the Ovadacariya Sayadawgyi of the Upadasanti Pagoda Board of Trustees, Presiding Sayadaw of the Pauk Myaing Monastery in Lewe Township.Next, the Union Minister U Tin Oo Lwin supplicated religious affairs explaining that following the powerful Mandalay earthquake on March 28, 2025, significant damage occurred to the Upadasanti Pagoda, the Thathana Maha Beikman, the Visungama Shwe Thein Taw, the Cetiyapala San Kyaung, Sangarama residences (buildings 1 to 4), the Board of Trustees office, and other religious structures.To address these damages and conduct renovations, various committees were formed under the leadership of the Union Minister and the Chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council. These include the Central Renovation Steering Committee, the Operations Committee, the Technical Advisory Subcommittee, the Information and Public Relations Subcommittee, the Finance Subcommittee, the Procurement Subcommittee, and the Security Subcommittee. Coordination meetings have been held, and work is ongoing.Following that, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman U Than Tun Oo also supplicated the religious affairs. Next, Ovadacariya Sayadawgyis of the Upadasanti Pagoda Board of Trustees, led by the Presiding Sayadaw of the Pauk Myaing Monastery in Lewe Township, Bhaddanta Janinda delivered the Ovada Katha.Then, the Board of Trustees and responsible officials, led by the Union Minister offered donations to the Sayadawgyis. In support of the renovation efforts, Union Minister U Tin Oo Lwin, on behalf of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture and the well-wishers, donated 10.8 million Kyats, which was received by Board of Trustees member U Tun Kyi.Following that, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman U Than Tun Oo donated an additional 10.8 million Kyats on behalf of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, also received by U Tun Kyi.At the end of the ceremony, the guests led by the Union Minister respectfully listened to a sermon delivered by Ovadacariya Sayadawgyi of the Pagoda Board of Trustees, Presiding Sayadaw of Inn-Tha Ah-Shay monastery in Lewe Township Bhaddanta Pandita, shared the merits gained and concluded the ceremony.After that, Union Minister U Tin Oo Lwin, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman U Than Tun Oo, and officials toured and inspected the earthquake-damaged areas of the cave and precincts of the Upadasnti Pagoda. U Tun Tun, a member of the Nay Pyi Taw Development Committee, gave a briefing on the situation, it was reported.mitv
Thu, 24-Jul-2025
