Magway Region government ordered to close the Mann Shwe Settaw Pagoda festival starting from March 13 as the union government instructed cessation of all mass gatherings except funerals, said Dr Aung Moe Nyo, Chief Minister for the region on March 12.
“The Thingyan festival will not be allowed. We made plans to close the pagoda festival on March 16 but we have an order from the union government to close it now. As far as we know, the COVID-19 virus had spread to 117 countries. The union government decided to ban all events except funerals. I instructed the district administrator and district police force to shut down the pagoda festival. Firstly, we have to bar people to enter the pagoda festival. Next, we have to make the people at the pagoda festival to return home gradually. All deposits made for shops and guesthouses will be refunded by half,” said the chief minister.
People from Magway, Minbu, Sagu, Pwintbyu, Salin, Thayet, Ngape and Sidoktaya townships in addition to vendors from across the country came to the pagoda festival every year. Vendors worried that the rumours about the closure of the pagoda festival in early March were spread around.
The festival was started held on January 29 and it will be held for 80 days. More than 500 shops and over 1,000 tents are made ready for the festival. Some tourists also visited the pagoda festival. The festival is teemed with pilgrims in Full Moon Day of Tabaung and in early March when the middle school exams are finished.
