Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing graced a ceremony marking the Deepavali (Diwali) Festival organized by Hindus residing in Myanmar at the National Theatre on Myoma Kyaung Street in Dagon Township, Yangon, on 2 November.
First, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister and wife were welcomed by officials with the use of oil incense lamps. During the event, the Senior General and the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar unveiled the ceremony to mark the Deepavali Festival, and had a commemorative photo together with the attendees.
After that, the Senior General and wife, the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar and wife, and officials ignited the oil light to mark the festival. Then, the Ambassador and his wife decorated the Senior General and his wife with the honourable shawls and garlands. After watching a solo dance, Ganesha Dhamma song and oil lamp dance presented by staff of the Indian Embassy, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister delivered a remark on the occasion as follows:
- Deepawali Festival is a traditional lighting festival of Hindus, and “Deepa” means lighting and “Avali” is defined as procession. So, the combined meaning shows actions of procession with oil lights.
- It is believed that Hindus beautifully illuminate their temples and homes in accord with their traditions on this festival occasion with oil lights so as to gain strength for their lives.
- Unlike previous years, this year Deepawali celebration was joyfully organized on a grand scale with the participation of all Hindu religious groups, social organizations, and other religious communities.
- It is a proud moment that all members of the Hindu religious groups which participated in this event is a remarkable milestone.
- All citizens of Myanmar may have differences in ethnicity or religion. Therefore, they must respect each other’s beliefs and religions as they have all grown up together in the same motherland.
- Although today’s conflicts in Myanmar were based on political conditions, these have not yet been resolved in political ways. Such things depend on external instigation based on political, racist and religious affairs.
- Through such instigations, terror acts are being recklessly committed within the country.
- Regardless of ethnicity or religion, as everybody needs to share the same land, water, and air in Myanmar, people must cultivate a love for the country and the Union spirit to live together peacefully.
- Currently, the government has been striving to implement the planned roadmaps to guide the nation back onto the path of democracy.
- Although there are many differences and diversity within Myanmar, everybody must create strength through unity of these differences only. To achieve such a unified strength, the Senior General said that he is leading and taking action himself.
- Everybody knows that the government supports religious ceremonies of various religions in Myanmar, as well as commemorative days and events related to different ethnic groups to the fullest extent possible.
- Through this auspicious festival of Deepawali organized by the Hindu community, the Senior General made his sincere wish and message for all citizens to share mutual love, respect, understanding, and forgiveness toward one another, urging all to come together in unity to foster peace and harmony in the nation and the world.
Following this, the SAC Chairman Prime Minister and wife, and dignitaries enjoyed traditional Hindu dances and songs, dances of ethnic groups, and Myanmar traditional dances performed by traditional Hindu cultural troupes and the cultural troupes from the National University of Arts and Culture (Yangon). Afterwards, the Senior General and his wife and the Indian Ambassador and his wife presented flower baskets to those troupes. Later, the Senior General, his wife, and the attendees had dinner together to commemorate the Deepavali Festival.
Also present together with the Senior General were his wife, Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, SAC Joint-Secretary General Ye Win Oo and wife, SAC member General Nyo Saw and wife, union ministers and wives, the Yangon Region chief minister, ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions in Myanmar, senior military officers from Office of Commander-in-Chief and wives, the Yangon command commander, officials of organizations, Hindu ethnic groups, Hindu cultural troupes, and distinguished guests.
Source: GNLM (3-11-2024)
- It is believed that Hindus beautifully illuminate their temples and homes in accord with their traditions on this festival occasion with oil lights so as to gain strength for their lives.
- Unlike previous years, this year Deepawali celebration was joyfully organized on a grand scale with the participation of all Hindu religious groups, social organizations, and other religious communities.
- Although today’s conflicts in Myanmar were based on political conditions, these have not yet been resolved in political ways. Such things depend on external instigation based on political, racist and religious affairs.
- Regardless of ethnicity or religion, as everybody needs to share the same land, water, and air in Myanmar, people must cultivate a love for the country and the Union spirit to live together peacefully.
- The government has been striving to implement the planned roadmaps to guide the nation back onto the path of democracy.