Erecting Steel Pillar of Pagoda : Ceremony to erect steel pillar of Uppatasanti Pagoda held

The ceremony to erect the steel pillar of the Uppatasanti Pagoda was held at 8:20 a.m. Sunday, inside the cave of the Uppatasanti Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory.

The ceremony was attended by members of Sangha led by Agga Maha Pandita and Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja , Sayadaw of Maravijaya Monastery, Bhaddanta Neminda , in Dekkhinathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw.

Also present were Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Nyunt Win Swe, Union Minister for Religious Affairs U Tin Oo Lwin, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman U Kan Myint Than, the Commander of the Nay Pyi Taw Command, Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs, members of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, members of the Nay Pyi Taw Development Committee, and officials.

At the ceremony, the congregation observed the Nine Precepts administered by Bhaddanta Neminda  and listened to the Metta Sutta and other Paritta discourses recited by the venerable members of the Sangha.

The religious procedures were then conducted in accordance with the programme. At the auspicious time of 10:08 a.m., the donors of the pagoda erected the steel pillar. This was followed by the ceremonial sprinkling of scented water over the pillar, while the venerable Sayadaws led the congregation in reciting the Jaya Mangala  victory verses. Merit was then shared with all sentient beings through loving-kindness.

After the ceremony concluded, the Union ministers and officials offered a midday meal to the venerable Sayadaws at the Bhojanasala  dining hall of the Uppatasanti Pagoda, it’s reported.