Dhammacakka Day: Pilgrims Perform Meritorious Deeds at Shwedagon Pagoda

Full Moon Day of Waso in Myanmar is a public holiday that marks the commencement of “Buddhist Lent”. Being the full moon day of Waso or Dhammacakka day, Myanmar people perform meritorious deeds at the pagodas and monasteries across the country on 12th July.

At the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, the Pagoda Board of Trustees offered Waso robes to the pagoda and held the religious ceremony on the Waso Full moon.

Waso Full Moon Day marks the beginning of Buddhist lent which lasts for three full months during the rainy season. It commemorates several things: the first sermon delivered by Buddha to five disciples, the day of his conception, and the first day of his quest after enlightenment.

The robes offered to monks and sanghas in the month of Waso are called Waso robes. The full-moon day of Waso is significant day as Buddha preached the first sermon of DhammaSekka to his five disciples so it is also known as Dhammacakka Day..

Member, ShwedagonPagoda Board of Trustees, HtayHlaing said “We offered dawn meals to the pagoda and we recited DhamaSekkaSuttain the ancient prayer hall. We donated offertories to the monks and received the 9 Precepts from the Sanghas. We will provide meals a monastery per week. We also donate masks for the pilgrims for their health safety.”

In this period, people visit pagodas and temples to offer flowers, water and light and offer new robes to the monks. On this significant day, Shwedagon pagoda is crowded with pilgrims and those perform meritorious deeds. 

Member of Wut Association, MyaMya said “I attended Waso robe offering ceremony and recitedDhamaSekkaSuttaat the ceremony. I’m very happy to visit Shwedagon Pagoda on this day. I wish I may perform good deeds like this every year in future.”

During this time, almost all monks are not leaving the grounds of their monastery. Many Buddhists abstain from eating meat and they try to follow the 5 or 9Precepts. During the period of the Buddhist Lent, Myanmar people are not allowed to make weddings, to move house and to hold festival celebrations.