Nay Pyi Taw November 4
A gala ceremony to donate Mathoe golden lotus robes to the Maravijaya Buddha Image at the 2025 Tazaungdine festival took place at the auspicious time this morning. Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing offered Mathoe golden lotus robes to the Buddha image at the ceremony.
The ceremony was also attended by Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, the wife of the Senior General, Commission Vice Chairman Vice-Senior General Soe Win and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Commission member and Prime Minister U Nyo Saw and his wife, Commission member and Executive Chief U Aung Lin Dway and his wife, Commission Secretary Joint Executive Chief General Ye Win Oo and his wife, commission members and their wives, Union-level dignitaries, Union ministers and their wives, the Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, officials and religious associations.
The ceremony was opened with three-time recitation of Ariya Savutthi Gatha which started with Buddha Saranam Gacchami in a choral manner. Officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture and regions and states conveyed 15 sets of Mathoe golden lotus robes flanked by those in royal ceremonial regalia from the fountain square to the plat-form of the Maravijaya Buddha Image. And then, they went round the image clockwise and proceeded to the venue where the robes will be offered. Mean-while, members of religious associations recited nine attributes of the Lord Buddha in Pali.
The fifteen sets of Mathoe golden lotus robes were folded four times and then these were kept on the golden lotus trays.
The Senior General paid homage to the Maravijaya Buddha Image and offered meals in the alms-bowl, fruits, flowers, water and oil lights. Then, the Senior General offered 15 sets of Mathoe golden lotus robes made by 15 weaving teams representing regions and states including Nay Pyi Taw Council Area.
Disciples kept these robes on the hand of the Buddha Image.
For the time being, the congregation led by the Senior General and his wife recited noble attributes of the Lord Buddha, the Pathana Pali in brief, Parittas and verses of dispersing Metta.
They all shared merits gained with celestial beings and those from 31 abodes. The ceremony came to an end with three-time recitation of “Buddha Sasanam Ciram Titthatu”.
Buddhist Myanmar people weave Mathoe robes in their traditions to offer them to the pagodas in the month of Ta-zaungmone. Weaving the robes started in the evening of the even of full moon day. Before dawn on the full moon day, all process of making robes must be completed to offer them to the pagodas dedicating to the Lord Buddha. Such kind of ceremonies are held in various towns across the nation yearly. This year, well-wishers led by the Senior General and his wife offered Mathoe golden lotus robes to the Maravijaya Buddha Image which is the tallest carved marble Buddha image throughout the world.
