Uppatasanti Pagoda


Uppātasanti Pagoda is a prominent landmark in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar. The pagoda houses a Buddha tooth relic from China. It is nearly a same-sized replica of Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon and stands tall.

History

Construction of Uppatasanti Pagoda began on 12 November 2006, with the stake-driving ceremony, and completed in March 2009, built under the guidance of Than Shwe, head of Burma's ruling State Peace and Development Council. The invitation card for the stake-driving ceremony opened with a phrase "Rajahtani Naypyidaw". The pagoda is 30 cm shorter than the Shwedagon Pagoda.
"Uppātasanti" roughly translates to "protection against calamity". It is the name of a sūtra prepared by a monk in the early 16th century. It is to be recited in time of crisis, especially in the face of foreign invasion.

Structure

The massive base of the Pagoda which may be mistaken for a large hill is completely man-made.
The pagoda precinct also comprises:
According to The Irrawaddy, 20 people died during a ferris wheel accident at a festival marking the pagoda's consecration in March 2009. The consecration of the pagoda, which involves the hoisting of the htidaw and the seinbudaw, took place on 10 March 2009.

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