Ceremony of Umbrella Hoisting: SAC member and Union Minister umbrella atop the pagoda

Member of the State Administration Council U Maung Ko, Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn, Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Myo Aung attended a ceremony to hoist the decorated umbrella atop the Thitagu Sanchi Pagoda erected under the guidance of the State Sangha Ovadacariya, Chairperson of ShweKyin Nikaya,  Mahanayaka, Sangharaja, Abhidhajamaharathaguru, AbhidhajaAggamahasaddhammaJotika, chancellor of Thitagu Buddhist Universities Dr. BaddantaNyanitthara Thitagu Sayadawgyi in HtoneBo Village of PyinOo Lwin Township in the morning on 19th February.

First, the congregation led by a member of the State Administration Council U Maung Ko, Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn, Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Myo Aung observed five precepts administered by the ThitaguSayadaw followed by taking the Paritta Suttas recited by the Sangha led by the ThitaguSayadawgyi.

Next, the SAC member, Union Minister, Chief Minister and well wishers conveyed the parts of decorated umbrella, ornamental vane and diamond bud in clockwise direction around the pagoda.Afterward, the SAC member, Union Minister, Chief Minister and well wishers was atop the decorated umbrella, ornamental vane and diamond bud on the pagoda at the auspicious time, sprinkled with scented water and tossed the banknotes as the token of the achievement of the ceremony.

Then, from the South-East corner, three Maha Bodhi saplings and a sapling of Lin Lun or Sandboxtree were planted in clockwise direction and, sprinkled with scented water on them.Afterward, the Sangha led by the ThitaguSayadawgyi held consecration ceremony of the pagoda by reciting the consecration Pali verses.

Later, the SAC member, Union Minister, Chief Minister and well wishers offered the offertories to the members of Sangha including 2 million Kyats donated by the SAC member U Maung Ko, 5 million Kyats by the Union Minister U Maung Maung Ohn, 6 million Kyats by Daw Dipra Theri, 40 million by Tawwin U Ko Ko Htwe and family, 2 million by Mawriya herbal medicine manufacturing family.

Then, the ThitaguSayadawgyi and guests posed for documentary group photo and concluded the ceremony by reciting three times of versers on “Thitagu Resolution”.Next, the Sangha led by the ThitaguSayadawgyi were offered ‘Soon’ (Day meal) and the guests were catered with the foodstuff, it’s learnt.