NAY PYI TAW, 9 Feb — A ceremony to enshrine religious objects at the seven reliquaries and at the central reliquary and to erect the pivot at Uppatasanti Pagoda was held here today. Chairman of the leading committee for construction of Uppatasanti Pagoda Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo attended the ceremony and enshrined the religious objects at the reliquaries and erected the pivot of the pagoda.

It was attended by members of the Central Working Committee of the Sangha, Ovadacariya Sayadaws for the construction of the pagoda, Maj-Gen Ko Ko,Lt-Gen Tha Aye of the Ministry of Defence, Adjutant- General Lt-Gen Thura Myint Aung, Maj-Gen Hla Htay Win and Maj-Gen Maung Shein of Ministry of Defence, Commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command Maj-Gen Wai Lwin, the ministers, the attorney-general, the auditor-general, deputy ministers, members of the leading committee and working committee of the construction of the pagoda, departmental heads, chairmen of district/township Peace and Development Councils,dnors, responsible personnel from religious organizations and invited guests. Sadhamma Jotika Dhaja U Thura of the Ministry of Religious Affairs acted as master of ceremonies.
The ceremony was opened with three times recitation of Nammo Tassa and the congregation received the Nine-Precepts from Vice-Chairman of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Presiding Sayadaw of Masoeyein Monastery Sayadaw Agga Maha Panditta Bhaddanta Tejosara Bhivamsa. Members of the Sangha recited the parittas.

Bodhi Tree and Buddha Image

Afterwards, on behalf of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Secretary-1 Lt- Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo presented a replica of Bodhi Tree and Buddha Image which will be enshrined in the pagoda to Sayadaw Agga Maha Panditta Bhaddanta Tejosara Bhivamsa. Family members of the Head of State, Lt-Gen Thura Myint Aung, Commander Maj-Gen Wai Lwin, Minister for Religious Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung and Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt presented Buddha Images and offertories to the Sayadaw and Minister for Electric Power No-2 Maj- Gen Khin Maung Myint the pivot of the pagoda to the Sayadaw. Secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Sadhamma Jotika Bhaddanta Osadha Bhivamsa delivered a sermon and the congregation led by Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo shared the merits gained.

Relics and religious objects

Afterwards, a ceremony to enshrine relics and religious objects at the seven reliquaries and to erect the pivot was followed and Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo conveyed a silver replica of Bodhi Tree; family members of the Head of State Kakusandha Buddha Image and Padhima Buddha Image; Maj-Gen Ko Ko of Ministry of Defence Konagamana Buddha Image; Lt-Gen Tha Aye of Ministry of Defence Kassapa Buddha Image, Adjutant- General Lt-Gen Thura Myint Aung Gotama Buddha Image; Maj-Gen Thein Htike of Ministry of Defence the relics of Buddha and Three Tipitaka; Maj-Gen Hsan Hsint of Ministry of Defence eight prerequisites, silver tree and religious objects; Maj-Gen Soe Maung of Ministry of Defence four silver replicas of Shwedagon Pagoda; Maj-Gen Hla Htay Win of Ministry of Defence three silver replicas of Shwedagon Pagoda; Maj- Gen Maung Shein of Ministry of Defence three silver replicas of Shwedagon Pagoda and Commander Maj-Gen Wai Lwin a jade Buddha Image around the pagoda clock-wise. Ministers Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Maj-Gen Htay Oo, Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint, Col Thein Nyunt, Brig-Gen Lun Thi, Maj-Gen Khin Aung Myint, U Aung Kyi, Brig- Gen Kyaw Hsan, Maj-Gen Hla Tun and delegates from states and divisions who Commander Maj-Gen Wai Lwin, Minister Brig- Gen Thura Myint Maung, and Minister Col Thein Nyunt enshrined Buddha images, other images, eight replicas of the Shwedagon Pagoda, and other religious objects into the reliquary. The Secretary-1 scattered stones of various gems inside the reliquary. Maj-Gen Aye Myint of the Ministry of Defence closed Satta Thana reliquary.
The Secretary-1 and laypersons sprinkled scented water onto it. Members of the Sangha recited Jaya Mangala Gatha. Maj-Gen Sein Lin of the Ministry of Defence opened the middle reliquary and Col Thet Soe offered lights. The Secretary-1 laid down the silver Bodhi tree at the site of the jade podium, and Kakusandha Buddha image at the south corner of the middle reliquary Family members of the Head of State laid down Konagamana Buddha image at the west corner; and Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Thura Myint Aung, Kassapa Buddha image at the north corner of the reliquary.Commander Maj-Gen Wai Lwin placed Gotama Buddha image, Dhatu and Dhamma stupas, gem casket, religious objects and replicas of the Shwedagon Pagoda at the east corner; and Minister Col Thein Nyunt, replicas of the Shwedagon Pagoda, jade Buddha image and religious objects in the reliquary.
The Secretary-1 scattered gem stones inside the reliquary. Maj-Gen Khin Maung Tun of the Ministry of Defence closed the middle reliquary. The Secretary-1 and laypersons sprinkled scented water onto the reliquary. Members of the Sangha recited Jaya Mangala Gatha. The installation of the pivot followed atop the pagoda.
The Secretary-1, family members of the Head of State, Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Thura Myint Aung, and Commander Maj-Gen Wai Lwin set up the pivot atop the pagoda. Members of the Sangha recited Jaya Mangala Gatha, followed by the sharing of the merits gained.The ceremony ended at 9.50 a.m. The Secretary-1 performed gold and silver showers to mark the successful completion of the ceremony. The Secretary-1, laypersons, senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence,the commander and party offered alms food to members of the Sangha.