President Kalam connects with Myanmar

During his visit, Kalam stopped by the historic Shwe Dagon Pagoda.

It enshrines the sacred hair of Lord Buddha and is Myanmar's most prominent and sacred pagoda. According to legend, soon after Lord Buddha attained enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago, his relics were divided into eight equal parts and enshrined in the great stupas built at the time.

Later, Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Dynasty recovered one of the parts and distributed it among 84,000 stupas. In Myanmar, stupas came to be known as pagodas. The Pagoda is located atop a hill 58 meters high. Its golden mast rises a further 99 metres.

Image: At the Shwe Dagon Pagoda.

Also See: The President and the farmers