NAY PYI TAW May 14
The 14th Kason water-pouring ceremony for the Maha Bawdi banyan trees in the west within the precincts of the Upptasanti Pagoda took place during the Kason banyan-tree water pouring festival today, the full moon day of Kason in 1384 Myanmar Era, which is one of 12 seasonal festivals for the Buddhist Myanmar people. Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, SAC members and their wives poured water on the banyan trees.
The ceremony was attended by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice- Senior General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, SAC members and wives, the secretary and wife, the jointsecretary and wife, the Union Chief Justice, the chairmanof the Constitutional Tribunal and wife, the chairman of the Union Election Commission, union ministers and wives, the Union Auditor-General and wife, the chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, the chairman of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, the Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) and wife, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command and wife, officials and religious associations.
The Senior General, the Vice-Senior General and wife, council members and wives and others in attendance took their positions to pour water on the Maha Bawdi banyan trees. The master of ceremoniesrecited the Maha Bawdi Yokha Sicana Puza Gatha. They then poured water on the banyan trees and went clockwise. Moreover, Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Vice Chairman of the SAC Deputy Commander- in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife, the Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) and wife, the Commander- in-Chief (Navy), the Commander-in-Chief (Air) and wife, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander- in-Chief and wives and families poured water on the Maha Bawdi banyan trees at the Lawka Chantha Sutaung Pyae Pagoda in Zeyathiri Township.
Full moon day of Kason was the day when Dipankara Buddha guaranteed that Su Mayda Hermit, would-be Gautama Buddha would become Lord Buddha for sure. It was also the day when would-be Buddha Prince Siddhartha was born, became Lord Buddha and attained Parinirvana. All those days fell on full moon day of Kason. On that day every year, the Buddhists hold ceremonies regarding it as a religiously significant day. The day is also called Buddha Day. The Kason banyan-tree water pouring ceremony is a cultural heritage of Myanmar. One day before the full moon day of Kason, scented water is poured on the banyan trees and preparations are made for cleansing the Maha Bawdi throne.
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