Naming and house-warming ceremony of baby white elephant born in 2022 held
NAY PYI TAW October 30
Naming and house-warming ceremony of a baby white elephant born at 6.30 am on 23 July 2022 of 33-year old Zarnan Hla, a female elephant, from an elephant camp of MyanmaTimber Enterprise in Taungup Township, Rakhine State, was held at the Yadana White Elephant Hall in the compound of Uppatasandi Pagoda, Nay Pyi Taw, this morning.
Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, SAC members and their wives, the Secretary and wife, the Joint Secretary and wife, Union ministers and their wives, Union level officials, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman, senior military officers and their wives, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander and officials were present.
The baby white elephant walked around the pagoda clockwise at the ceremony to protect the baby from all dangers. The Senior General and the Vice-Senior General sprinkled scented water on the white elephant and the alternate chair of Pagoda Board of Trustees spread popcorns on the calf.
At the house-warming ceremony, the officials placed the little white elephant at the auspicious location in the White Elephant Hall. The Senior General and wife and the Vice-Senior General and wife sprinkled scented water on the calf and fed the baby.
After performing the sun and moon showing ceremony, the name of the baby white elephant facing the pagoda was proclaimed.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Vice-Senior General Soe Win, SAC member General Mya Tun Oo officially declared the title and name of the elephant “Rathanadaka” (Ratha = country, nandaka = love, pleasantness) three times. Hence, the name means “Our beloved white elephant that will bring prosperity to the nation”. Officials placed the name band on his forehead.
The Senior General then presented gifts to the calf through his keeper.
The master of ceremonies prayed for health, happiness and longevity of the baby and peace, prosperity and progress for the Union. The ceremony then came to an end.
The Senior General and wife, the Vice-Senior General and wife and attendees fed the baby white elephant, other white elephants and their companions at the Yadana White Elephant Hall.
At the time of his birth, the height of the baby white elephant was 2 feet 5 inches, width 3 feet 1 inch, and weight 180 pounds. Of the eight unique features -- pearl-coloured eyes, plantain branch-shaped back, white hair, a distinctive tail, auspicious plot signs on the skin, soft pink-coloured skin, each front limb having five claws and each back limb having four claws, and big ears -- of a white elephant, the baby has seven. The baby is now three months and seven days old, and the baby’s height is 2 feet 10 inches, width 4 feet 2 inches and weight 265 pounds. The baby arrived in Nay Pyi Taw together with his mother on 27 October. The white elephant is happily staying at the While Elephant Hall and the baby is fit and healthy. The baby is the tenth white elephant.