STORY: Myanmar to unveil giant sitting marble statue of Buddha in Nay Pyi Taw
DATELINE: July 22, 2023
LENGTH: 00:05:00
LOCATION: Nay Pyi Taw
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Maravijaya Buddha Image
2. various of the compound of the pagoda
 
STORYLINE:
 
After more than three years of construction, Myanmar is preparing to unveil a giant sitting marble statue of Lord Buddha in its capital Nay Pyi Taw on Aug. 1, the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council said on Friday.
   
The magnificent marble statue, namely Maravijaya Buddha Image, weighing 1,782 tons, stands tall at 63 feet and is accompanied by an 18-foot-tall throne, weighing an additional 3,510 tons.
   
The monumental project, spanning over three years, involved the dedicated efforts of more than 500 skilled engineering workers, said Zaw Min Tun, head of the State Administration Council's Information Team.
   
"It is the world's largest marble sitting Buddha statue, and was entirely funded by public donations," Zaw Min Tun said.
   
The construction of the marble statue aims to showcase the prominence of Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar, promote the country's national prosperity and support global peace, he said.
   
The sitting Buddha statue would soon become a prominent landmark of Nay Pyi Taw, attracting tourists from far and wide. "I would like to invite tourists to Myanmar, and want to tell them not to forget to visit Nay Pyi Taw," he added.
   
The Buddha statue sits on a vast 228-acre land, forming an impressive compound that includes small pagodas, lakes, ordination halls, water fountains and a park.
   
The giant Buddha statue, which will be consecrated with a state-level ceremony on Aug. 1, will be broadcast live on state-owned television channels, the information team said.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nay Pyi Taw.
(XHTV)