Lord Buddha allowed His disciples to pay homage to Dhatu Ceti, Dhamma Ceti, Paribhoga Ceti and Udissa Ceti, dedicating to His attributes when disciples supplicated how they paid tribute after the Lord Buddha had attained the Parinibbana.
The Buddhism treatises mentioned that the materials, equipment and furniture used by the Lord Buddha could be identified as the Paribhoga Ceti. As the Lord Buddha attained the Enlightenment under the shade of a Bo tree called banyan tree, it can be identified as Paribhoga Ceti.
Banyan trees are thriving across Myanmar, giving large shade and greening where humans and animals can take shelter in any seasons. Banyan trees seldom fall in certain strong winds and natural disasters because of large trunks and long and strengthening roots. Large banyan trees are essential for society due to mitigating the environmental impacts caused by natural disasters or manmade situations.
That is why the water-pouring on banyan trees is a good deed for all Buddhists in preserving Myanmar’s tradition.
As the full moon day of Kason that generally falls in May, dedicating to the preaching of the Lord Buddha, who attained the giving birth, the Enlightenment and the Parinibbana, is involved in the summer. All the people should preserve the good tradition of water-pouring ceremony at banyan trees across the nation.
Myanmar people have been enjoying the festival of pouring water at banyan trees since the reign of King Uzana, who came onto the throne in Pinya City State in the 684 Myanmar Era. Led by the king, all the people started pouring water at banyan trees as a festival in the tradition. Up to now, such tradition of water pouring ceremony at banyan trees has turned some 700 years.
As part of efforts to pay homage to the Paribhoga Ceti, water is poured at banyan trees. On the other hand, such movements aim to thrive banyan trees in the hot season, in line with the Desana preached by the Lord Buddha, to be able to create shade in their environs for all the living beings, contributing to the start of the showers in monsoon.
That is why the water-pouring on banyan trees is a good deed for all Buddhists in preserving Myanmar’s tradition.
