Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda Festival: Mon State CM attended the opening of pagoda festival

The consecration ceremony, and the opening ceremony of the Buddha Pujaniya Festival at the sacred Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda, in Kyaikto Township, Mon State, were held at 5:30 a.m. on 26 October, the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut in Myanmar Era 1388.

First, dawn meals were offered to the venerable Sayadaws led by the presiding Ovadacariya Sayadaw of Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda. The Ovadacariya Sayadaws then performed the consecration ceremony at the sacred Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda.

The opening ceremony of the Buddha Pujaniya Festival followed. Mon State Chief Minister U Aung Win Than and officials formally opened the festival by cutting a ceremonial ribbon on the platform of Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda. They also presented cash awards to traditional ethnic dance troupes. A ceremony to offer rice and other alms to the Sangha was subsequently held.

The Chief Minister, state ministers, departmental officials and pilgrims offered rice and other donations to the Ovadacariya Sayadaws and the abbots of monasteries on the pagoda platform. Later, state ministers and officials formally opened a free public toilet near the entrance flanked by two lion statues on the upper platform of the sacred Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda by cutting a ceremonial ribbon.