February 29, 2020
President U Win Myint and First Lady Daw Cho Cho, during a State Visit to India, went on a pilgrimage to the Bodh Gaya in the Indian state of Bihar, donated a 36-inch high bronze image of Buddha that is to be enshrined at the Mahabodhi Temple, and paid homage at the 7 sacred places of Buddha yesterday.
President U Win Myint, First Lady Daw Cho Cho and entourage left New Delhi by special flight at 8:30 am local time and they were seen off by Deputy Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Shri Rameswar Teli, Military Attaché Brig-Gen Thein Zaw and wife, and officials from the Myanmar Embassy in India and Ministry of External Affairs of India. The delegation led by the President and the First Lady arrived in Bodh Gaya at 10:30 am local time and were welcomed at Gaya airport by Minister-Counsellor U Myint Soe and wife, and officials from the Office of the Minister-Counsellor and Ministry of External Affairs of India.
The President, the First Lady and party then proceeded in motorcades to Mahabodhi Hotel where they are staying temporarily.
Next, the President, the First Lady and party went to the Mahabodhi Temple, paid homage at the Great Buddha Statute, and presented it with a donation of flowers, water, lights, lotus robe and cash.
President U Win Myint, First Lady Daw Cho Cho and the delegation then attended the donation ceremony of the 36-inch high bronze image of Buddha that is to be enshrined at the Maha Bodhi Tree and its golden precinct.
The donation ceremony was attended by State Central Working Committee of Sangha, Paradesi Sangha Nayaka Committee (India) Chairman Abhidhaza Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Bodh Gaya Myanmar Monastery Sayadaw Bhaddanta Nyaneinda and Sayadaws, Union Minister U Kyaw Tin of the Ministry of International Cooperation, Union Minister Thura U Aung Ko of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, Union Minister U Thant Sin Maung of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu, Ambassador U Moe Kyaw Aung and wife of the Myanmar Embassy in India, Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Saurabh Kumar, Minister-Counsellor U Myint Soe and wife, officials from the Office of the Minister-Counsellor and the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
President U Win Myint and First Lady Daw Cho Cho donated a 36-inch high bronze image of Buddha that is to be enshrined at the Mahabodhi Temple and B.T.M.C Sayadaw U Carainda (India) received the donation.
Next, Sayadaws and monks led by the State Central Sangha Committee Sayadaw, Paradesi Sangha Nayaka Committee Chairman Bodh Gaya Myanmar Monastery Sayadaw recited the religious rituals according to the Buddhist doctrines to enshrine the 36-inch high bronze image of Buddha.
The President and the First Lady then presented the offertories to Sayadaws and monks, observed the prayers given by Bodh Gaya Myanmar Monastery Abbot Sayadaw Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Baddanta Tejeda, and shared Metta (loving-kindness) with respect to the donations.
After the donation ceremony, the President and the First Lady donated thin gold plates at the Maha Bodhi Tree and posed for a documentary photo with the delegation.
The President then paid homage to the Buddha Image on the upper terrace of the Maha Bodhi Temple, offered it with flowers, water and lotus robe, made pilgrimage around 7 sacred places of the Buddha, and fed the fish with fish food at the Mucalinda Lake.
The President and the First Lady then watched the Buddha photo exhibition room and rang the peace bells at the Meditation Park.
The President, the First Lady and party were briefed by the Bodh Gaya Management Committee Chairman and officials on the background history of the Bodh Gaya and the Seven Sacred Places of the Buddha, at the Guest Hall of the Bodh Gaya.
The President then signed in the Guest Record Book at the Seven Sacred Places where a documentary photo was taken with the delegation.
The President, the First Lady and party, in the afternoon, arrived in the Bodh Gaya Myanmar Monastery where they presented the offertories including ‘eight requisites for monks’ to the Sayadaws and monks from (13) Myanmar Monasteries in the Bodh Gaya, and received the Five Precepts and llistened to the Metta Paritta (Buddhist Loving-kindness chant).
President U Win Myint and First Lady Daw Cho Cho, Union Ministers U Kyaw Tin, Thura U Aung Ko, U Thant Sin Maung and Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu presented a donation of cash and offertories including ‘eight requisites for monks’ to the Sayadaws and monks respectively.
Next, the President, the First Lady and the lay audience listened to the sermon given by the Bodh Gaya Myanmar Monastery Abbot Sayadaw Maha Thaddhamma Jotikadhaja Baddanta Tejeda and shared the merits with respect to the donations made.
The President and the First Lady made a study tour at the King Mindon’s Stone Inscription, paid homage to the Daijokyo Buddhist Temple (the Japanese Pagoda) by offering flowers, water and lights, and signed the Guest Record Book there.
The President, the First Lady and party arrived back at the Mahabodhi Hotel after they posed for a documentary photo with the Sayadaws, the officials and the delegation.—MNA (Translated by Aungthu Ya)
