The Ministry of Home Affairs under the military council has issued an emergency directive ordering all government departments, ward and village administration offices nationwide to recite the Ratana Sutta nine times over nine days. According to the directive issued on the evening of April 8, the recitation must be performed daily at 7 PM from April 8 to April 16 at all military council-controlled ministry offices, ward and village administration offices, religious halls, monasteries, alms-giving associations, and even in people’s homes.
The military council claims this mandatory recitation is intended to protect against both the current earthquake hazards and potential future disasters. In Minbu Township of Magway Region, following the township administration’s orders, the recitation has begun at the Malun Myathapeit Pagoda’s Gandakuti building, while ward and village administration groups are conducting recitations at their respective religious halls and offices. Government ministry departments are also simultaneously performing the recitation in their office shrine rooms.
The directive has reached down to ward administration offices across townships in Yangon Region, with recitations beginning at 7 PM. A member of the Sangha Nayaka Committee in Sanchaung Township stated that monasteries are conducting the recitations nightly on a rotating basis, in coordination with township administration orders and the township Sangha Nayaka Committee. According to the military council, this mandated recitation of the Ratana Sutta is specifically aimed at protection from natural disasters including fire, storms, floods, and earthquakes.
