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Buddhist Monks take the tram home from the Shwedagon Pagoda
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Buddhist Monks take the tram home from the Shwedagon Pagoda
Buddhist Monks (Hpoongyees) take the tram home from the Shwedagon Pagoda - Entrance (with leogryph) with their alms - Yangon, Myanmar. Date: circa 1908
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Media ID 14339502
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Alms Buddhism Buddhist Burma Burmese Dagon Monk Monks Myanmar Pagoda Rangoon Ride Rides Shwe Shwedagon Trams Trolley Yangon Tram Trolleycar
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph taken circa 1908, a group of Buddhist monks, known as Hpoongyees, make their way home from the revered Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar (then known as Rangoon, Burma). The monks, dressed in their distinctive orange robes, carry their alms bowls, which they will fill with offerings during their daily alms round. The monks have chosen an unusual mode of transportation for their journey - a tram, or trolleycar, which was a relatively new addition to the city's transport system at the time. The tram, adorned with intricate carvings and a leogryph (a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle) at its entrance, adds an air of grandeur to the scene. The Shwedagon Pagoda, a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site, is located atop a hill in Yangon and is renowned for its golden stupa and intricate decorations. The pagoda is believed to house eight hairs of the Buddha and is a place of great spiritual significance for Buddhists in Myanmar and beyond. The monks' daily routine involves waking up early to beg for alms, studying the scriptures, and engaging in meditation and other spiritual practices. After their alms round, they return to their monasteries to continue their religious training. The use of trams as a means of transportation for the monks not only showcases the integration of modern technology into traditional practices but also highlights the accessibility of the pagoda to people of all walks of life. This photograph offers a unique glimpse into the daily lives of Buddhist monks in Myanmar during the early 20th century and provides a fascinating insight into the blending of tradition and modernity in this vibrant and culturally rich country.
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