called the Ramonnya Nikarya [Association], according to Sayadaw Thilar Sarya, of Auk Pegu Monastery,in Moulmein the capital of Mon State.
In addition to other religious festivals, these include ceremonies of novice and monk ordinance as well as cremations of deceased senior monks.
“The Mon monk group is still drawing up the rules and regulations. This will be done next year. After this text is written, the rules will state how both monks and laypeople obey and show respect. And the group will also plan how every monk will show respect after the rules for incineration of monks that have passed-away are laid down, “ said Sayadaw Thilar Sarya, on July 8.
There has been some criticism between monks and devotees (laypeople). The devotees donate money and other offerings to celebrate religious festivals and merit making festivals but the donations are not always a formal transaction.
Sayadaw also said “although the devotees are generous during ceremonies of novication or ordinance, they [usually] spend the money on alcohol or beer, this can cause people to become drunk and lead to problems, that are not necessary. Spending money on such things is not beneficial, and because of that, it destroys the image of traditional festivals as they use the names to celebrate novication and ordinance ceremonies,”.
Sayadaw continued to say “Mon people are very generous when it comes to offering and donating in their villages. But outside of their villages, for matters of Mon literature and culture and other related Mon national matters, they do not want to offer much.”
This upcoming year, the 100th anniversary of [Buddhist]’s first exam in Mon language will be held by the Ramonnya Nikarya.
Led by the Ramonnya Nikarya, the Buddhist [Ramonnya Nikarya] exam is held annually at Sarsana 2500 Monastery, in Moulmein Capital, where thousands of Mon Buddhist monks come to take the exam.
According to Mon historical records, the Rehmonnya Nikarya [Association] was founded in 2406 of Sarsana/Buddhist Calendar (or in 1863),in Pegu City, then Rehmonnya land.
