Senior General Than Shwe to attend Asian-African Summit 2005

Yangon, 18 April - At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe will attend the Asian-African Summit 2005 and the Commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the Asia-Africa Conference to be held in Indonesia.

Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm/
 

New Year Day marked with meritorious deeds throughout Yangon

YANGON, 17 April — Today is New Year Day of Myanmar. All the Buddhist Myanmar happily and heartily welcome Myanmar New Year Day by performing meritorious deeds at their residences and religious buildings such as pagodas, monasteries, meditation centres, Dhammayons and others.

In the morning of the New Year Day today, the 12th ceremony to release fish and birds and the ceremony to pay respects to the aged were organized by staff of the Ministry of Religious Affairs at Kaba Aye Hill, here, attended by Minister for Religious Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Thura Aung Ko and officials, staff and trainees of the Buddhist Culture Course.

Kaba Aye Pagoda Board of Trustees observed the New Year Day Ceremony at the prayer hall of the pagoda in the afternoon.

Devotees and people thronged Sule Pagoda in Pabedan Township. Theindawgyi Pariyatti Monastery Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kesara administered the Five Precepts. People offered lights, flowers, water and fruits to Buddha images in the prayer hall.

Similarly, Shwe-phonepwint Pagoda was packed with devotees and public who took the Nine Precepts from Shwephonepwint Shwebontha Monastery Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vayama. In the afternoon, members of the pagoda board of trustees freed fish into the lake and birds near Tooth Relic Pagoda.

Likewise, those wishing to do meritorious deeds visited Botahtaung Pagoda.

Mon Literature and Culture Committee (Yangon) organized the 32nd ceremony to pay respects to the aged in conjunction with the prize presentation ceremony for outstanding students at Mon Dhammayon on Shwedagon Pagoda Road.

The Parittas recita- tion ceremony was held at the compound of Insein Township General Administration Department’s Combined Office this afternoon.

The 56th ceremony to pay respects to aged persons, organized by Zaygyi, Talaingpaing, Ngagyawpho and Ohbo Wards of Kyimyindine Township, was held at Maha Ponnyawpakara Dhammayon on Kyaunggyi Road this morning.

Branches of Yangon Division All Bus-line Control Committee conveyed members of the Sangha by car in respective bus lines. Members of the Sangha recited Parittas.

Local people and departments concerned set birds and fish free at lakes of pagodas, Kandawgyi Lake, Inya Lake, Laydauntkan Lake, Thadu Lake, Hlawga Lake and Gyobyu Lake and their environs. At Hninzigon Home for the Aged, departmental staff, social organization members, students and people served the aged with bathing, shampooing and manicuring. In the afternoon, the aged freed over 4,000 fish into the lake on Kaba Aye Hill.

In the evening, members of the Sangha recited Parittas in all parts of Yangon City.

Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm/
 

Dance troupe of neighbouring countries take part in Thingyan festival in Mandalay

YANGON, 17 April— With the aim of promoting tourism industry in Myanmar, Myanmar Holteliers and Tour operators Association organized Myanma Traditional Thingyan Festival at the pandal in front of Inwa Hotel at the corner of 66th and 24th Streets in Mandalay on 16 April. On the Atet day of Thingyan, revellers joyfully took part in the festival. In the evening, the pandal closed with traditional dances of neighbouring countries and damsels of Mandalay Fine Arts Departments. Film stars and musicians also entertained the audience with dances and music.

Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm/

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