ON the full moon day of Taboung, the famous pagodas in Mandalay were packed with merit-doers, food donors and pilgrims to Buddha Pujaniya pagoda festivals.
Since early morning, Mahamuni Buddha Image has been crowded with visitors who offered flowers, water, oil lamps and gold foils, and the Shwekyimyin pagoda, Kyauktawgyi at the foot of Mandalay Hill, Kuthodaw, Candamuni, Aungdawmu and Phayani were also packed with merit-doers and people who practise meditation.
Similarly, the religious festivals took place at the Mandalay Hill Su Taung Pyae pagoda and other pagodas in the vicinity of Mandalay Hill.
Mandalay local Ko Min Soe said, “This month, we have five holidays, including the full moon day of Taboung, and so we, government employees, get enough time for recreation. We visited famous pagodas in Mandalay on the full moon day of Taboung. At noon, we will go to Shwesaryan pagoda festival. We will take a boat ride in the Dokhtawady River and play water”.
The 77th Buddha Pujaniya festival of Shwesaryan pagoda in Patheingyi township also took place, and the pilgrims from Mandalay and across the nation, including the Shan ethnic people from Shan Hill, participated in the festival.
The pagoda festivals featured local products, Myanmar textile and garment, fruits and vegetables, herbal plants, commodities, Myanmar traditional snacks and souvenirs. — Maung Aye Chan/ KTZH
