Taw Tha Lin

In the early lives of Gautama Buddha, by following the five precepts of Buddhism, people experienced a prosperous country and overcame the three catastrophes, namely famine, war, and epidemic diseases, during the monsoon season. Keeping this auspicious occasion, devotees in Myanmar use the reference of farmers, which reads, “It is a hot month, hot enough to kill small prawns and crabs in the paddy fields. Its rKharain breaks the small embankments built around paddy plots.” They then regard the full moon day of Tawthalin as Gurudhama A Kar Taw Day. In preserving traditions, the Shwedagon Pagoda’s Board of Trustees, along with the staff members of the pagoda and volunteers, lead a ceremony offering food, flowers, water, fruit, and candlelight to the pagoda at the visitors’ pavilion. At 6 p.m., they conduct a question-and-answer session on the five precepts of Gurudharma, followed by the recitation of Pali mantras and verses. At 9:30 a.m., the audience takes the five precepts from Ovadacariya Sayadaw, rejoices, and shares merit. At 10:30 a.m., they offer alms food to the Ovadacariya Sayadaws and monks and provide food to devotees who observe the sabbath on the full moon day of Tawthalin.