欢乐的缅甸点灯节

By Bruce Wallace

My Tazaungdaing started here. The Tri-shaw Driver Association marches along a downtown street headed for a ferry terminal on the Yangon River. They bang out a song on mic and keyboard routed through a 1）PA. Their bikes are loaded down with kahtein， cash， robes， fans and umbrellas to be donated to Buddhist monks.

Tazaungdaing is a major moment in the Burmese Buddhist year. It happens in the fall on the full moon day that marks the close and climax of a month of religious offering. Families and professional groups pool their resources. The monastery the tri-shaw drivers are heading to is in an under-developed township across the river from downtown. Off the ferry and up the 2）gangplank to a crowded parking area and more waiting and dancing. Back downtown， a group of monks is on an “3）alms walk.” Its a regular sight in Yangon， but with added significance today.

In the evening crowds converge on the iconic Shwedagon Pagoda. Locals believe it dates back 2，500 years to the time of the Buddha and that eight strands of his hair are enshrined here. Visitors pause to pray and leave offerings at shrines around the central spire. The offerings pile up. Candles light the Buddhas symbolic return to Earth after three months of celestial teaching.

All over Yangon， Tazaungdaing balances reverence with 4）revelry.

我的点灯节之旅从这里开始。三轮车夫协会的队伍沿着城中心区的街道游行，一路向仰光河边的一个渡船码头走去。人们通过麦克风和键盘弹唱的歌曲从一套扩音设备响亮地传出，他们的车上满载着准备捐献给佛教僧侣的僧衣、钱币、长袍、扇子和雨伞。

点灯节是缅甸佛历年中的重要时刻，在秋天的月圆之日举行，它标志着历时一个月的宗教供奉活动在此时达到了高潮，同时也接近尾声。很多家庭及专业团体把他们的东西集中起来去捐献。三轮车夫们前往的寺庙位于与城中心区隔河相望的一个落后小镇里，他们下了渡船，走过跳板，来到拥挤的停车区，跳着舞继续等待。而在城中心区，一队僧侣在进行“行脚化缘”，这在仰光很常见，但此举在今天意义不同寻常。

傍晚，人们聚集到仰光的地标仰光大金塔。当地人相信这个塔建于2500年前的佛陀时代，这里供奉着8缕佛陀的头发。朝拜的人们先停下来拜祭，然后将贡品留在中央尖塔周围的神龛上。贡品堆积成小山，明亮的烛光象征着佛陀在天国讲经三个月后回到人间。

在仰光各处，敬佛与狂欢在点灯节活动中并行。翻译：Wendy

缅甸点灯节（Lighting Lantern Day）

这是缅甸的一个传统民间节日，又称光明节。通常在缅历七月月圆之日举行。据佛教传说，佛祖释迦牟尼曾于缅历的四月十五日至七月十五日为众神讲经。在这期间，所有僧侣要安居坐腊，信徒也要避免迁居嫁娶。七月月圆的时候，释迦牟尼在众神的簇拥之下来到人间，缅甸人民便点上各种彩灯和蜡烛迎接。这一天也是僧侣们解除安居的日子，因此点灯节又称解夏节。节日期间，所有佛寺、佛塔、民居和街道会装饰上彩灯，临时搭起的彩色牌楼、彩棚、戏台和小吃店遍布城镇。人们还要去佛寺拜佛，年轻人要准备礼物向长者敬拜。