Min Aung Hlaing Inspects Renovation Progress at Shwedagon Pagoda
Yangon, The Gulf Observer: Chairman of the State Administration Council and Prime Minister, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, visited the historic Shwedagon Pagoda in Dagon Township yesterday morning, accompanied by Council Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, council members, Union ministers, the Yangon Region Chief Minister, the commander of Yangon Command, and other officials.
During his visit, the Senior General paid homage to the Padamya Myetshin Buddha Image on the upper terrace of the pagoda and offered alms, flowers, and water as a gesture of reverence. He also inspected the ongoing renovation process, including the application of gold foils to the entire structure of the pagoda.
As part of the restoration efforts, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing personally donated two gold plates weighing six ticals each, along with other religious offerings and jewelry. He also observed the maintenance work on the pennant-shaped vane of the pagoda and provided guidance on the preservation and beautification of Yangon City, which he viewed from the scaffolding.
According to the Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture and members of the pagoda board of trustees, the 2024-25 financial year renovation project requires 1,200 one-square-foot gold plates, each weighing six ticals. Thus far, 1,060 plates have been donated, leaving a shortfall of 140 plates. Additionally, 10,000 gold coatings, each weighing one tical, are needed, with 7,500 coatings already installed. Contributions are still required for the remaining 2,500 coatings.
Well-wishers have been encouraged to donate, with each one-square-foot gold plate costing K15 million, while each one-tical gold coating costs K2.5 million. The renovation efforts, which commenced on September 19, 2024, have reached 80% completion, with the final phase expected to conclude by the third week of March 2025.
Shwedagon Pagoda, a revered symbol of Myanmar’s cultural and religious heritage, has undergone continuous restoration efforts throughout history. Gold plates were first donated to the plantain bud of the pagoda in 1899, with subsequent offerings in 1936, 1949-1970, and 1980-2019. Following the damage caused by Cyclone Nargis, new gold plates were installed. The ninth gold foil donation ceremony is set to take place in the 2024-25 financial year, further preserving this sacred landmark for future generations.
