Hello again,
This morning had a early wake up (= at holiday about 6.30) and had a fast breakfast to go to Senior monks graduation. Same time there was donation for monks for food and small present. As I have written earlier, all monks have to get their only daily lunch donated by people and usually they leave very early morning to their "begging" walk to get food. If no one give them food, they have to wait next day. Well today the donation was for about 190 monks, if I counted the "seats" right.
On the way to
Swedagon Pagoda I saw actually first accident here after one month staying. Car smashed and I didn't see anything worse.
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| Voluntary helpers preparing food |
After arriving, there was a lot of preparing work for food as my estimation was about 400 people was fed eventually.
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| Lot of tables are prepared also. |
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| Monks have silk towel to sit, |
Salads and other food are prepared on the big table. Totally the amount of volunteers was probably over 200 helping this gathering.
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| Food divided evenly to plates then to tables |
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| Table looks pretty empty at early morning |
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| Melons ready to be splitted |
The food hall had 3 buddha statues which got their own share of offerings.
More and more small plates of Burmese food were added to tables during the morning.
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| A volunteer adding some plates to monks table |
Eventually well before 10.30 the food was prepared and rice added to plates
Nice volunteer workers preparing fruits for monks
Also a local delicacy "jelly" was added to plates and to tables
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| Everything is getting ready for monks |
After all tables were prepared, a senior monk come and blessed the food with the help of donors, who offered the food and presents to monks. This kind of donation is big part of Myanmar life and lot of people are doing it, when they have time and money. This also makes it possible for this time the monks to concentrate on this important examinations, instead of spending time for begging their food.
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| All the tables were blesses separately |
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| Food blessed by senior Monk |
After this the time was up, monks have to eat and everything was ready for them.
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| Waiting for monks to arrive |
The monks will arrive in order of seniority, oldest first and most juniors last. However as this was event only for those, who will graduate as P.Hd (highest possible education level on Buddhism) I didn't see any "junior" monks. I saw maybe 7-10 monks with different color robes, that indicates they are from Thailand, graduating here.
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| First and the most senior monk arriving |
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| More monks coming |
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| Some monks has different color robes as they are not from Myanmar |
After monks got their meal, some kind people donated few presents to all the monks.
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| I was offered the change to give the presents also |
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| Giving small presents to monk |
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| Most senior monk leave last |
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| Monks are waiting their turn |
After monks left was the "water giving" ceremony for the six monk representatives. Six donors are offering the water for monks and get their blessings. This took place after monks had eaten and volunteer workers had their meal.
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| Senior monks arrive |
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| Donors waiting for monks |
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| Receiving blessings |
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| Six monks giving blessings to donors at water ceremony |
