1.
LS PAGODA GROUNDS & CROWD
0.05

2.
MLS PEOPLE COMING WITH OFFERINGS
0.14

3.
LS PEOPLE IN TEMPLE GROUNDS
0.28

4.
MS BUDDHA IMAGE (TO) WORSHIPPERS
0.36

5.
MLS WORSHIPPERS
0.40

6.
MS MONKS GIVEN FOOD (3 SHOTS)
0.56

7.
MS WOMEN POURING WATER TO TREES (3 SHOTS)
1.14



Initials TDH/V/JH/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: BUDDHISTS ALL OVER BURMA CELEBRATED MAY 18 THE VISAK DAY, THE FULL MOON DAY IN MAY ON WHICH LORD BUDDHA WAS REPUTED TO HAVE BEEN BORN AND TO HAVE LEFT THIS WORLD, TWENTY-FIVE CENTURIES AGO.

BURMESE ARE DEVOUT BUDDHISTS, AND THE FAMOUS SHWEDAGON PAGODA IN RANGOON WAS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PLACES WHERE PEOPLE GATHERED IN THOUSANDS FOR THE WORSHIP OF LORD BUDDHA, THE INDIAN PRINCE WHO FOUNDED BUDDHISM.

ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE OBSERVANCE OF THE VISAK DAY IS THE POURING OF WATER FOR BANYAN TREES. IT WAS UNDER A BAYHAN TREE THAT PRINCE SIDDHARTA ATTAINED ENLIGHTENMENT AFTER MANY YEARS OF PENANCE AND SEARCH FOR THE CAUSE OF THE WORLDS'S MISERIES.

"BUDDHA" IN ANCIENT INDIAN LANGUAGE OF PALI MEANS "ENLIGHTENMENT", AND THE ENLIGHTENMENT COULD BE SUMMED UP THUS:
THE WORLD IS FULL OF MISERY; MISERY IS CAUSED BY DESIRE; DESIRE SHOULD BE CONQUERED TO REMOVE MISERY; TO CONQUER DESIRE ONE SHOULD THINK RIGHT, TALK RIGHT AND ACT RIGHT.