10 October 2022
The opening ceremony of Dawei Alm Bowl Floating Festival, which is an annual traditional festival in the full moon day of Thadingyut, was held on the Dawei riverbank of public recreation square in Seikkantha Street of Dawei in Taninthayi Region at 4.30 am on 9 October.
State Ovadacariya Agga Maha Pandita Sayadaw Bhaddanta Pyinnya Sami of Gawsisayama Pali Takkatho monastery, President of Region Sangha Nayaka committee Agga Maha Pandita Sayadaw Bhaddanta Nadavamsa of Zeyawadi Buddhist Learning Centre, region chief minister U Myat Ko, townelders U Ba Myint and U Tun Kyi formally opened the archway of the ceremony.
Then, Sayadaws, Taninthayi Region Chief Minister, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Taninthayi region, region ministers, departmental heads and invited guests offered and dedicated to the Ashin Upaguta with foods put in the alm bowls which are floated down into the Dawei river. After Dawei people passed joyfully through the maze from the archway, they worshipped and floated the alm bowls on the river.
The Alm Bowls Floating Festival (Dawei Tha Beik Hmyaw Pwe) was held on the full moon day of Thadingyut annually. At the festival, the well-wishers hosted foods to all comers, and the region chief minister, invited guests and local people viewed the launching small hot-air balloon, and enjoyed the traditional dance of Dawie, Dawie traditional pot dance, Dawei Tha Beik Hmyaw Pwe dance, Dawei Yain dance and Ozi dance. Afterwards, the region chief minister presented cash awards to the entertainment troupe and music band.
The residents of Dawei, Taninthayi Region, float alms bowls filled with food, fruits, water, candles and small flags made of banknotes on the river. The bowls are offerings to Ashin Upaguta, a mythical monk. People from Dawei worship him especially because they believe he protects them from storms, floods and unfortunate. It can be found that these practice and traditions can hand over to the generation by generation as the present Dawei Culture.
The Dawei Alm Bowls Floating Festival is one of the seasonal festivals held in Myanmar. The buddhists in Dawei of Taninthayi Region held the festival to offer and donate foods, fruits, flowers and water, lights, candles, joss-sticks to the Ashin Upaguta.
The Dawei Alm Bowls Floating Festival (Tha Beik Hmyaw Pwe) were teeming with local people, who were doing merits and floating the alm bowls, from 4.30 am to 6 am.
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