Buddha Pujaniya Festival: Plan to be held at Shwedagon Pagoda

The full moon day of Thadingyut, Abhidhamma Day is the significant day of Myanmar Buddhists and it is also the festival of lights, marking the end of the Rain Retreat of Buddhist Monks. Myanmar Buddhists celebrate the festival of lights dedicating to the Lord Buddha descending from a celestial abode after preaching Abhidhamma for three months to His deceased mother, who was reborn in the celestial abode.

The Abhidhamma Day and Buddha Pujaniya festival is planned to celebrate at Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon on the full moon day of Thadingyut.

Among the 12-month seasonal festivals celebrated at the Shwedagon Pagoda, Abhidhamma Day celebration is one of them and it will be held in line with the COVID-19 rules and regulations.

On the Abhidhamma Day, the Buddhists offer lights to the Buddha images and perform good deeds as per the tradition. According to announcement of the Pagoda Board of Trustees, the conveying ceremony of colorful lanterns will be held at the Shwedagon Pagoda on the eve full moon day of Thadingyut, the 8th October and members of the Treasurer’s Board of Trustees, the office staffs and charity organizations will offer candle lights to Buddha images.

On 9th October, on the fullmoon day of Thadingyut (Abhidhamma Day), alms food offering,paritta recitation and Q&A sessions about Abhidhamma Day will be held at the pagoda.

According to the announcement of Shwedagon Pagoda Treasurer’s Board of Trustees, the religious sermons recitation and the merit sharing for the successful completion of Buddha Pujaniya festival will be held in the prayer hall at the south corner of the pagoda.

Similarly, Buddhist devotees will perform meritorious deeds at the pagodas and stupas across the country on the Fullmoon Day of Thadingyut.

At night, buildings, homes, roads and streets will be illuminated with colourful lights and Nivarna or charity markets will be held to mark the Abhidhamma Day traditionally.