Ceremonies to Hoist Jewelled Diamond Orb and Pennant-shaped Vane atop Lawkananda Pagoda Held in conjunction with the Consecration in Sittwe of Rakhine State

Ministry of Defense/ Naypyitaw / April 04, 2023

The auspicious ceremonies to hoist a jewelled diamond orb and pennant-shaped vane atop Lawkananda Pagoda, which is the pride of Sittwe, were held in conjunction with the Consecration in Sittwe of Rakhine State on 31 March. The events were graced by the members of Sangha led by Joint Secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Presiding Patron of Pariyatti Dhammikarama Buddhist Learning Centre in Minbya.

Also present at the ceremonies were Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Council Joint-Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo and wife, SAC members and their wives, Union ministers, chief minister of Rakhine State and wife, Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) and wife, senior military officers of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, commander of Western Command, and invited guests.

First, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister and party paid homage to the Buddha image in the cave of the pagoda, and offered alms-bowl made from emerald, flowers, water and oil light to image.

The SAC Chairman Prime Minister and wife, and party offered the jewelled diamond orb and the pennant-shaped vane dedicated to the Lord Buddha to members of the Sangha and donated offerings to venerable Sayadaws. The Senior General, wife and party conveyed the jeweled diamond orb and the pennant-shaped vane by the decorated float round the pagoda clockwise, and fixed the jeweled diamond orb and the pennant-shaped vane atop the pagoda.

Before the consecration ceremony, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister and his wife presented cash for offering gold foils to the whole structure of the pagoda to the officials.

Then, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister and wife, and party paid homage to the Cakkamuni Buddha image in the Cakkamuni ordination hall, and gave instructions on the long-term existence of the image and beautifying tasks to officials.

The construction tasks of Lawkananda Pagoda, pride of Sittwe, was contributed by well-wishers led by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe from 18 February 1995. The golden umbrella was hoisted atop the pagoda on 28 February 1999 and consecration on 2 March. The pagoda is 162 feet (108 taung) with 232 feet in circumference on 459 square feet of terrace, encircled by eight Cetis. The pagoda was renovated by the government, Tatmadaw, local ethnic people and well-wishers in successive eras. Now, the well-wishers led by the SAC Chairman Prime Minister renovated the pagoda including the interior of the cave for long-term existence, and the jewelled diamond orb and the pennant-shaped vane were successfully hoisted atop the pagoda successfully.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar Newspaper (1-4-2023)