The revered Buddha Pujaniya Festival at Mohnyin Thanbuddhe Pagoda in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region is set to return in full splendour on the full moon day of Tazaungmone, organisers confirmed this week.
Held annually at the striking Mohnyin Thanbuddhe Pagoda in Myaynae Village, southeast of Monywa, the festival is one of the region’s most significant religious gatherings. This year’s event will once again feature large-scale alms-giving ceremonies, Buddhist sermons, and traditional offerings of rice.
Eighty monks from Monywa and surrounding areas are expected to receive alms during the celebration—an increase from last year’s 75, though still fewer than the 150 monks invited in earlier years from cities like Yangon, Mandalay, and Pakokku.
The festival, which avoids musical entertainment in favour of solemn devotion, draws thousands of pilgrims and devotees. Stalls for vendors will be allocated on the ninth waxing day of Tazaungmone, allowing local sellers to prepare for the influx of visitors.
The Mohnyin Thanbuddhe Pagoda itself is a landmark of Buddhist architecture, with construction dating back to 1301 ME and completion in 1314 ME. Its annual Pujaniya Festival continues to serve as a spiritual anchor for the community and a celebration of enduring faith.
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