Over K1.2 bln worth of gold foils to be offered to Sule Pagoda

Over K1,200 million worth of gold foils will be offered to Sule Pagoda and well-wishers can participate in donations, according to Yangon Region Gold Entrepreneurs Association.
“It is estimated to spend over K1,200 million to offer the golden umbrella and gold platesto the pagoda and encircled pagodas,” said Gold foil Offering Committee Chairman U Nyunt Pe at the meeting held on 20 November.
It is slated to complete the donation before Thingyan and the association will support the necessary assistance. Anyone who wants to donate gold foils can make donations and the association will scrutinize the gold foils, said U Myo Myint, chairman of the Yangon Region Gold Entrepreneurs Association.
The gold foils donation ceremony was held once every five years. The gold tender will be accepted starting from 23 November to 6 December and the application form is priced at K20,000.
Although there are different opinions or beliefs regarding the title of Sule Pagoda, most of people understand the facts mentioned in Shwedagon pagoda history.
More than 2,600 years ago, BC 588, 103 Maha Era, the two brothers Taphussa and Bhalikasearched the Singuttara Hill to build the pagoda after bringing the eight sacred hair of Buddha to King Okkalapa. As they could not find the hill, the Thagyamin (Celestial King) sent Visakyone Nat to clean the forest for them to find the hill. After asking the four Great Nats (Celestial Spirits) about the place to build the pagoda at the place where the Sule Pagoda was built later, together with King Okkalapa and people including Nats, they knew about the place and built the Shwedagon Pagoda. Therefore, it is called Suway (gathering) pagoda marking a form of Nats and people. — TWA/GNLM