Religious Ceremonies: 11,000 Oil Lamps and Alms Food Offered at Shwedagon

Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees held an oil lamps offering ceremony on Tuesday evening, before the full moon day of Thadingyut.

During the ceremony in Yangon, members and staff of the Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees offered 11,000 oil lamps donated by the public on the oil lamp tray structures around the precinct of the Shwedagon Pagoda.

The offering of oil lamps at Shwedagon Pagoda is a distinguished event in which Buddhists earn merit through performing good deeds. The lighting of the oil lamps at Shwedagon Pagoda is a tradition that dates back before the days of electricity.

Also, on Wednesday morning, before the full moon day of Thadingyut, alms food was offered at Shwedagon Pagoda. Thadingyut, the seventh month of the Myanmar calendar, is the end of the Buddhist lent.

Thadingyut festival lasts for three days: the day before the full moon day, the full moon day and the day after the full moon day. It is the celebration to welcome the descent of Buddha to earth from the celestial abode after he preached the Abidhama to his reborn mother.

During the Thadingyut period, Buddhists pay homage to their parents, teachers and elders as an expression of gratitude and apology for trespasses. Thadingyut is called the festival of lights as Buddhists light up their houses and temples to mark the return of Buddha.

Some Buddhists usually keep fast on the full moon day. Buddhists offer candles, flowers, incense sticks to the Lord Buddha and do other good deeds on the full moon day.