Religious ceremony: Diamond orb and pennant-shaped vane hoisted

A ceremony to hoist diamond orb and pennant-shaped vane atop Lawka Nanda Pagoda in Sittway, Rakhine State was held in conjunction with consecration ceremony of the pagoda on Friday.

Sayadaws and monks led by Joint Secretary of the State SanghaMahaNayaka Committee, Min PyaPariyattiDhamikarama monastery Presiding SayadawBuddhantaEaindaSariya, Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minsiter Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Joint Secretary of the Council Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo and wife, council members and their wives, Union Ministers, the Rakhine State Chief Minister, senior military officers, invited guests, religious associations and locals graced the ceremony. First, the Prime Minister and party paid homage to the Buddha image in the pagoda cave and offered alms food, flowers, water and lights.

At the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister and wife and party took the Nine Precepts from Min PyaSayadaw and offered holy flowers, water, thread and sand to the sanghas. Later, they listened to the parittas recited by sanghas and monks. After that, they brought the holy flowers, water, thread and sand and sprinkled in the pagoda precinct.

The Prime Minister and wife then offered diamond orb and pennant-shaped vane to the sanghas dedicating to ThatbyinnyuLord Buddha and the Joint secretary, Council members, the Union Ministers and attendees donated offertories to sanghas and monks.

After listening religious sermon from the presiding Sayadaw of DhammaThukha monastery in Sittway, the congregation shared the merits gained. Later, the Prime Minister and wife and party conveyed the diamond orb and pennant-shaped vane by Mingala decorated float to the temporarily worshipping place.

At an auspicious time, the Prime Minister and wife and party hoisted the diamond orb and pennant-shaped vane atop the pagoda. After that, the religious rituals were performed to mark the success of the ceremony. It was followed by cash donation and consecration ceremony for Lawka Nanda Pagoda where the Prime Minister and wife donated cash for offering gold plates to the pagoda. The sanghas and monks then consecrated Lawka Nanda Pagoda in Sittway.

After the consecration ceremony, the religious rituals were performed to mark the success of the ceremonies. The Prime Minister and wife and party then paid homage to Sekkya Muni Buddha Image in Sekkya Muni ordination hall and offered alms food, flowers, water and lights to the Buddha image.

The Prime Minister called on officials for long-term durability of the Buddha image. After ceremonies, the Prime Minister and wife and those present donated day meal to Sayadaws and monks and hosted a luncheon to the guests. Lawka Nanda Pagoda is located in Ye` Nwe Su ward in Sittway and well-wishers led by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe contributed construction of the pagoda on 18th February 1995.

The golden umbrella hoisting ceremony was held on 28th February 1999 and consecration ceremony was held on 2nd March. The government, Tatmadaw, local ethnic people and well-wishers have renovated and maintained the pagoda in successive eras.

At present, for the long-term durability of the pagoda, well-wishers led by SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing have made all-round renovation including the pagoda cave and the diamond orb and pennant-shaped vane hoisting atop the Pagoda and the consecration ceremonies were held successfully.