Mizzima-Oct 20
What were pilgrims praying for during the latest Thadingyut Festival at the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon? The Light Festival of Myanmar, held on the full moon day of the Burmese lunar month of Thadingyut, saw Yangon residents throng the pagoda. But this year there appeared to be a substantial uptick of people traveling from across crisis-hit Myanmar. Working class people and people from a wide spread of Myanmar townships came this week to pay homage and make merit. As is custom, Thadingyut, held at the end of the Buddhist sabbath or Vassa , is the second most popular festival in Myanmar after Thingyan Festival, the New Year Water Festival. Thadingyut festival is the celebration to welcome the Buddha’s descent from the heaven after he preached the Abhidhamma to his mother, Maya, who was reborn in the heaven. Visiting pilgrims had a lot on their minds, not least the Myanmar civil war that touches everybody’s lives, but also the recent massive flooding that struck many parts of Myanmar this year. Anecdotally, it appeared many pilgrims from “out of town” crisis-hit regions sought solace and better luck as the country wallows in man-made and natural problems. Prayers are indeed needed as the Myanmar people seek an end to their nightmare. But real action is needed from the international community if there is to be any chance of turning the tables on the brutal military junta. Read more at: https://eng.mizzima.com/2024/10/20/15264
