Religious Ceremony: Donation to Botahtaung Kyaik De Att Pagoda

For the propagation and promotion of Buddha Sasana in China and Myanmar, providing services for Myanmar people, maintaining the Myanmar-China Pauk-Phaw friendship and strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries, a Chinese monastery and well-wishers made a donation to the Botahtaung Kyaik De Att Pagoda in Yangon. Handover ceremony of the donated Polycarbonate mirror was held at Sar Oo Thwin prayer hall on September 26. This security-related polycarbonate mirror is for the entrance and exit of the relic chamber and the gold covered walls around the relic chamber.

The handover ceremony was opened by reciting Namotasa three times and Mr. Cheng Hai, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Myanmar, gave a speech about this donation. Also, Union Minister for Culture and Religious Affairs U Ko Ko made remarks.

On behalf of the presiding Sayadaw of Ling Guang Si Monastery in Beijing, concerned officials signed related documents which were handed over in front of the Union Minister, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein and many other concerned officials as well as the Chinese Ambassador, representative of the Ling Guang Si Monastery and Chairman and many other officials from the Shwe Than Lwin Construction Co., ltd. 

Alternate Chair, Botahtaung Pagoda Board of Trustees, Aung Ko Zaw said "Installation process of the polycarbonate mirror started on 6th September this year and was completed within 20 days. Presiding Sayadaw of the Ling Guang Si monastery and his lay persons visited the Botahtaung pagoda in 2018, decided to make this donation, made discussions with the Myanmar State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee and received permission. Donation could be made but the installation process was delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Polycarbonate mirror and related items donated by the Presiding Sayadaw and Chinese well-wishers are worth 2 million Yuan. Shwe Than Lwin Co., ltd family has also contributed technical cooperation to the installation process."

Member, Botahtaung Pagoda Board of Trustees, Myo Myint said "Although the state-level permission was received, it took some years to undertake the installation process due to COVID-19 outbreak. This donation was finished in a whole complete with the cooperation of the Presiding Sayadaw of Ling Guang Si monastery, well wishers, Shwe Than Lwin Co., ltd family and members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees."

The Botahtaung Pagoda was built around the same time as Shwedagon Pagoda more than 2500 years ago, and is known as Kyaik De Att in Mon language. It has a deep history and is also a place where hair relics of the Guttama Buddha are enshrined and Buddhism flourishes.