The grand auspicious ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Sixth Buddhist Council will be held over three days, from the full moon day of Kason 1388 Myanmar Era to the 2nd waning from 30 April to 2 May, at the Maha Pasana Cave on Thiri Mingala Kaba Aye Hill, Mayangon Township, Yangon.

The grand ceremony will begin on the evening of 30 April, with a special sermon by Venerable Sitagu Sayadaw, and paper readings on 1-2 May.

The ceremony will feature a grand procession of the Tri Pitakat treatises carried on a ceremonial elephant, along with entertainment programmes, and will also include historical photo gallery, statues, and quiz competitions.

In addition, there are plans to display 500 scanned copies of the 31 books recorded during the Sixth Buddhist Council, publish commemorative magazines and pamphlets, and distribute commemorative items such as T-shirts, mugs, keychains, and calendars.

The Sixth Buddhist Council was started on 24 April 1954, at the Maha Pasana Cave, with the participation of monks from five countries: Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Laos.

It is reported that the Council was led by venerable Naungyan Sayadaw, and, following his passing, venerable Masoeyein Sayadaw continued in that role, while the questions and answers were conducted by Mahasi Sayadaw and Mingun Tipitakadhara Sayadaw.

At the Council, Atthakatha, Tika, and commentaries on the Buddha’s teachings were recited and reviewed in stages over eight years, and the process was completed in 1962. Previously disparate versions of the teachings were consolidated into a single standardized text, which was later printed, published, and recorded on phonograph records.

ASH/TH

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