Religious Ceremony: Maha Samaya Day celebrated at Shwedagon Pagoda

Maha Samaya Day or the full moon day of Nayon celebration was held at the ancient statues and Chan Thar Gyi prayer hall of Shwe Dagon pagoda in Yangon on Monday.

The religious ceremony was organized by Shwe Dagon Pagoda Board of Trustees.  

Maha Samaya in Pali means a great occasion. It is a day when the Lord Buddha preached Maha Samaya Sutta to His disciples; members of the Sangha, laypersons, celestial beings, Brahmas and the others from various abodes.

On that significant day, the Buddhists took Sabbath and perform meritorious deeds at the pagodas, temples and monasteries and forge the good spirit with the intention to serve the interests of others. The meritorious deed is not only to donate cash and kindness to any others but also to show good mental and physical behaviors by giving a helping hand for solving the various problems of others.

Boe Thin, Member, Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees said "In this Maha Samaya Day ceremony, we offer alms, flowers, water and oil-lamps to the Shwedagon pagoda at 5 am. Then, the alms food were offered to Ovada Sayadaws of the Pagoda and the congregation listened to the religious sermons relating to Maha Samaya Day. "

At the ceremony, members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees, welfare committee members and staffs recited the Maha Samaya sutta and received ovada Gahta from the Saydaws in accordance with Buddhist tradition.