Dharma Drum Mountain Support Myanmar’s Impoverished Children on Thingyan Water Festival

In light of the combined impact of political instability and the COVID-19 pandemic, Myanmar's economy is currently facing a severe recession, and its people are struggling in poverty. To coincide with Myanmar's New Year in mid-April, Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation sent donations and supplies through the Chit Myit Tar Foundation to the Thāmanaykyaw Mahāgandhāyone Monastery in Rangoon, headed by Venerable Chan MasterThāmanaykyaw Sayādaw. In addition, on April 17, the last day of the Thingyan Water Festival, they organized a New Year Giving Event to distribute milk powder, dried noodles, fruits etc. to 400 impoverished children in the surrounding areas, helping these disadvantaged families to a good start to the new year. On April 27, Venerable Thāmanaykyaw Sayādaw led his disciples to Taunggyi City, the capital of Shan State, and continued distributing these donated daily necessities to approximately two hundred impoverished children from neighborhoods around the monastery.

On the morning of April 17, massive groups of mothers and children flocked to the Thāmanaykyaw Mahāgandhāyone Monastery, joyfully awaiting the commencement of the New Year Giving Event. Meanwhile, inside the monastery, supplies such as milk powder, cereals, apples, along with sweet soup, cold mixed assorted vegetables and rice lined and filled the long walkways. Before giving out the provisions, Venerable Sayālay Ma Javanañāṇī gave blessings and transferred merits on behalf of Venerable Chan Master Thāmanaykyaw Sayādaw, while the participants joyfully chanted Sādha three times to all those who had given so selflessly, thereby wishing them health and happiness.

Through the compassionate giving of necessities to the poor residents, DDM Social Welfare and Charity Foundation brought together the kindness of people from all walks of life, channeling aid and support to the impoverished children of Myanmar---just like the cool splashes of the Water Festival, temporarily flushing away current roused vexations, dousing them with refreshing happiness.

Text: Dharma Drum Monthly No. 389
Photo: Thāmanaykyaw Mahāgandhāyone Monastery
Translation: Jonathan (演森)
Editing: Cheng-yu Chang (張振郁), Keith Brown