The Stake-driving Ceremony: MoRAC UM attended the ceremony

The stake-driving ceremony for the Great Buddha Sāsanā Promotion Hall was held at Aung San Hall in Tatkone Township, Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory on December 16. At the ceremony, the congregation observed the Nine Precepts administered by the Presiding Sayadaw of Myo Shay Sandayon Monastery, Abhidhaja Aggamahā Saddhammajotikā Bhaddanta Candāsīri .

Next, male devotees offered Paritta flowers, water, thread, sand, and stones to the venerable Sayadaws. They respectfully listened to the the Metta Sutta paritta recited by the members of Sangha, after which the devotees received the Paritta flowers, water, thread, sand, and stones from the Sangha and sprinkled and scattered them throughout the compound of the Great Buddha Sāsanā Promotion Hall. This was followed by the Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture, U Tin Oo Lwin, who formally presented matters relating to religious affairs.

Subsequently, the Union Minister, the Deputy Minister, members of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, and members of the Pagoda Trustees’ donated offertories and stakes to the members of Sangha. Continuing the ceremony, donations intended for the reconstruction of the Great Buddha Sāsanā Promotion Hall contributed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, the Union Minister, ministry staff and their families, and devotees were presented to the Chairman of the Trustees’ Committee, U Zaw Lwin. In addition, donation funds for 277 monasteries and 16 nunneries in Tatkone Township, totaling 293 monastic institutions, were presented to Nay Pyi Taw Council member U Zeya Lin.

The participants then respectfully listened to a sermon of rejoicing (anumodana ) delivered by the Presiding Sayadaw of Myo-Oo Monastery in Tatkon Township, Bhaddanta Pandava , and shared the accrued merits of all donations by pouring water in dedication.

Then, devotees ceremonially carried the stakes and circumambulated clockwise within the compound of the Great Buddha Sāsanā Promotion Hall in reverence. The Chairman of the Trustees’ Committee, U Zaw Lwin, the Chairman of the Construction Committee, U Aye Lu, senior officials, and members of the trustees then drove the stakes and sprinkled consecrated paritta water, while the members of Sangha led the chanting the Jaya-Maṅgala Gatha . The ceremony concluded with the thrice-recited prayer, “Buddha Sāsanaṃ ciraṃ tiṭṭhatu”, after which the event was formally brought to a close, it’s reported.