Gold plates and foils offering ceremony 2005 of Shwedagon Pagoda held

YANGON, 29 Jan — A ceremony to offer gold plates and gold foils to the Shwedagon Pagoda was held at the platform of the pagoda this morning.

Minister for Religious Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Yangon Mayor Brig-Gen Aung Thein Lin and officials donated ‘soon’ to Sayadaws.

Next, the gold plates and foils offering ceremony followed at the prayer hall.

Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myint Swe offered gold plates and foils donated by wellwishers and alms to Vice-Chairman of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Ovadaçariya of the pagoda board of trustees Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Aungmyebonsan Sayadaw Bhaddanta Paññindabhivamsa. Similarly, Minister Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Chairman of the Committee for All-round Perpetual Renovation of Shwedagon Pagoda Maj-Gen Hsan Hsint, the deputy ministers and officials presented gold plates and foils and provisions to the Sayadaws.

The Secretary Sayadaw delivered a sermon, followed by sharing of merits.

Afterwards, the commander, the minister and officials conveyed gold plates and foils round the pagoda. Next, Maj-Gen Myint Swe, Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Maj-Gen Hsan Hsint and the deputy ministers fixed gold plates and foils at the pagoda. The commander and the minister sprinkled scented water on them.

In so doing, the plan is under way to spend over K 18,500 million on the gold plates and foils offering ceremony. Nowadays, the pagoda board of trustees has accepted 2,165 gold plates worth K 422,175,000 and 2 viss and 69 ticals of gold, 136 ornaments and K 223 million donated by 83 wellwishers including one viss and two ticals of gold donated by a wellwisher from Kyaukse and one viss of gold by a wellwisher in Yangon.

The gold plate donors will be allowed to fix their donations themselves at the pagoda. Arrangements are being made for offering gold plates and foils to the pagoda up to Myanmar New Year Day of 1367 ME.

Also present on the occasion were State Ovadaçariya Sayadaws, Secretary Magway Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kumara and members of the Sangha, officials and wellwishers.