Members of the public in Nay Pyi Taw visited pagodas and religious edifices for the Full Moon Day of Kasone yesterday.
While the Kasone Full Moon is an auspicious day for Buddhists, the current spread of the global pandemic, COVID-19, and directives from the government have prevented large gatherings of devotees as in the previous years.
A member of the board of trustees of Uppatasanti Pagoda said the pagoda is open from 10 am to 4 pm and they have arranged hand basins and hand gels for visitors. He said the number of visitors has significantly decreased this year due to the spread of COVID-19. He said the board of trustees arranged for the ceremony of pouring water at the sacred Banyan tree to be conducted with a small number of people.
Similarly across Nay Pyi Taw, people visiting the Eternal Peace Pagoda, Yan Aung Myin Pagoda, Phaung Taw Chatma Pagoda, Koekhamgyi Pagoda, Sardusaya Datpaung Pagoda, Lawka Yan Hnein Pagoda, and local pagodas in wards and villages wore face masks and maintained a 6-feet distance between each other.
Even though the Full Moon Day of Kasone is auspicious for Buddhists, many citizens chose to perform merit in their homes at order to mitigate the chances of spreading COVID-19.
Daw Khin San from Lewei said families and relatives would normally gather and visit pagodas all day during Kasone but they are paying obeisance to the image of the Buddha at home because of the current global pandemic. She wished for all of Myanmar to be free from the virus soon. —Han Lin Naing
(Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
