The Shwemawdaw Pagoda ( Burmese : ရွှေမောဓော ဘုရား [ʃwè mɔ̀dɔ́ pʰəjá] ; Mon : ကျာ်မုဟ်တ [tɕaɪʔmṵtú] ) is a Buddhist stupa located in Bago , Myanmar . At 125 m (410 ft) in overall height, the Shwemadaw is the tallest stupa in the country , and probably in the world.
7-501: The annual pagoda festival is a 10-day affair that takes place during the Burmese month of Tagu . According to tradition, the original version of the pagoda was built during the lifetime of the Buddha. Two merchant brothers Kullasala and Mahasala had received two strands of hair from the Buddha himself, and upon their return to their native land, built a 22 m (72 ft) tall stupa, with
14-456: A significant important part of cultural life, particularly in the countryside. During pagoda festivals, temporary bazaars (including food stalls and merchandise stands), entertainment venues (including anyeint dramas, yoke the performances, lethwei matches, and arcades) are set up in the vicinity of the pagoda. This article about the culture of Myanmar is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to
21-450: The fallen pre-1917 version of the pagoda remain at the site. Repair work began in 1951 and completed in 1954. The new stupa itself stands at 114 m (374 ft). Its overall height (including the hti spire) is 125 m (410 ft). Pagoda festival Pagoda festivals ( Burmese : ဘုရားပွဲ ; paya pwe ) are regular festivals found throughout Myanmar that commemorate major religious events in pagoda 's history, including
28-474: The founding of a pagoda and the crowning of the pagoda's hti (umbrella). Pagoda festivals are dictated by the Burmese religious calendar and often are held several days at a time. Major events in a pagoda festival typically do not coincide with Uposatha (Buddhist Sabbath) days, during which pious Buddhists observe the Eight Precepts . The majority of pagoda festivals are held during the dry season, from
35-402: The months of Tazaungmon (November) to Tabaung (March). During the full moon day of Tabaung ( Magha Puja ), Buddhist devotees in various parts of Myanmar also celebrate sand pagoda festivals. More well-known pagoda festivals often attract numerous pilgrims from throughout the country. Pagoda festivals are similar in nature to agricultural shows (country fairs) or carnivals , and form
42-615: The pagoda and/or its premises. King Razadarit built 160 small stupas around the pagoda in 1390 while King Dhammazedi donated a bell in the late 15th century. In 1556, King Bayinnaung installed a hti spire umbrella with jewels from his crown, and built 52 stupas, signifying his age at the time. In 1796, King Bodawpaya raised the pagoda to 90 m (295 ft), and added a new hti spire umbrella for an overall height of 98.8 m (324 ft). The pagoda had been severely damaged several times due to earthquakes, including one in 1912, another in 1917 and another in 1930 . Portions of
49-502: The two strands in the relic chamber. In 982/83 CE (344 ME), a sacred tooth was added to the collection. According to Donald Stadtner, this tradition emerged only in the late 18th century (between 1754 and 1795), perhaps to elevate the stature of the pagoda to that of the Shwedagon Pagoda . The historical pagoda dates from at least the late 14th century when Pegu became the capital of Hanthawaddy . Successive monarchs added additions to
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