Burmese Days and Flowers (4)

Make a Wish

The reader may think that those A Tar Pots or Thingyan Pots only exist for Thingyan festival and Burmese New Year. But a set of flowers or leaves for Seven-Day-Born are always meaningful in the Buddhist way of life. When Burmese Buddhists go to pray at the pagoda, before praying, they buy a set of flowers and leaves from the pagodas stalls. Such a set of flowers and leaves are made to represent the Seven-day-born.

On the pagoda platform, offerings of flowers and candles in honour of the stupa where the relics of Buddha are enshrined, is the act of Burmese Buddhists, giving loving kindness and compassion for all fellow beings. We believe that such good deeds that give the one strength in facing life’s problems. The pilgrim, on his way up the steps of the pagoda, buys flowers, candles, coloured flags and streamers. Such things are very colourful and is full of meaning to Burmese Buddhists.

(The pilgrim buys flowers, coloured flags and streamers which are meaningful to Burmese Buddhists, and offers at the foot of the pagoda. It is the act of dhana, or giving, an important aspect of Buddhist teaching.)

The following items mentioned in the above photo holding by the pilgrim to pray before the shrine or on the pagoda platform wishing you all the best, and healthy. (I will explain the reader later how meaningful to us those flowers and some kinds of streamers or paper made flags.)

Hti (looks like a holy umbrella)

Oun (Coconutpalm)

Gandamar (Choysanthemum)

Nhinnsi (Rose)

Yet (Fan)

Thapyay (Egenia)

Kouka

Maleibwa and dagon

Laykyunkyarkhine (Burmese tulip)

See Leaves (Plum leaves)

Myayzarmyet (Grass)

While we pray before the household shrine or on the Pagoda platform, wishing for all the people around the world, happy and healthy for the coming year.