N 85      The Water Dripping Ceremony in Kunhing… Shan State

Our family had to participate in a big and special occasion this February. That occasion was the water dripping ceremony for the Sukhitaron Dammaryone ( Prayer Hall  ) which was donated by our family along with other donors.It is Buddhists custom to hold this ceremony after making some donations, to make all beings hear of the good deed and receive the merit shared to them. According to  the  agenda of the ceremony   the opening of the Dhammaryone  is  to be  held on the 7^th. The 8^th is  for receiving guests far and near who come to make donations,  and  the water dripping  ceremony on the 9^th. So we got to  Kunhing  on the  evening    of the  6^th.

       

We were reminded that the opening ceremony   would be at 8;00 am . I got there at that time hoping to get into the Dhammaryone which is inside the compound of  Kan Oo monastery, but was amazed to see the short lane to the monastery lined with groups of people, young and old, men and women in their traditional Shan dress. The colour of men’s dresses did not vary much, but each group of women wore  the same colour , and as there were many groups the place looked like a colourful flower garden. The lane was also decorated with flags and  long tungs (  long pieces of cloth with decorated panels  which people offered to get merit ),so that the scenery was so colourful and fascinating that nobody could resist taking photos.There will be the opening of the entrance gate here.

         

  Before  long the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon took place. The cutting was performed by the venerable Sayadaw Aggacina, abbot of Aung Mingalar Monastery and air balloons were released into the air. After that the Sayadaw was escorted into the monastery where the Sukhitaron Dhammaryone  is situated. After some preparations were made the ribbon cutting for the opening of the Dhammaryone  itself  took place.

      

  After the ribbon cuttings were done the people who had lined the lane earlier got into their concerned groups and walked around the Dhammaryone. Sounds of Shan Ouzi and gongs and linguin filled the air and seeing them singing and dancing our hearts were filled with happiness and joy. Women and girls who were not in the dance group carried offertories at chest level and the Padetha pin which Shans called  Toun (tree … tree where offerings are hung )was carried by men and boys. They didn’t carry it quietly , but also played  with it , pulling it to one side and then the other,sometimes nearly crashing into people watching at the side of the passing line of people. I don’t know the meaning of why they do like this but it may be just for fun or to make them forget the tiredness.

       

In this way they circled the prayer Hall 3 times and then went to rest. There was Sar Haw ( recitation of Bhudda’s teaching  and life stories of Buddha ) and people who came to donate money for the Prayer Hall and also for the 3 stories  Hsoon Sar hsaung ( Mess Hall for Sanghas ) that is not fininished yet, listened to that. Everybody who came was offered food the whole day which was donated by some devotees.

To be continued….