HOUSE OF THE WEEK
A Golden Valley white out
UNBEKNOWST to Myanmar’s diligent meteorological department, an extremely localised snowstorm has carpeted the interior of this two-storey Golden Valley house. moreHair donations help communities repair road
(Volume 26, No. 506)
A man has his long hair cut. People have been donating their hair to raise money for repairs to the road between Le Nague and Chin Pyit. Pic: Supplied HARD work requires blood and sweat but a road project close to Monywa is also calling for hair too. The road that stretches from Le Nague to Chin Pyit in Sagaing Division was in poor condition until local communities, organised by the venerable monk Sayadaw Waiponla, got together to raise over K100 million to repair it by selling their own hair.
The road is the only way to access Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, home to Alaungdaw Kathapa Pagoda, one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Sagaing Division.
In the past it could take up to three hours to travel the 15 mile road to the local hospital.
“Ten years ago, when I went back to my native village I heard about the death of a pregnant woman who died on the way [to hospital] and other similar cases owing to the terrible road,” said Sayadaw Waiponla “I have sought to repair the road for the past ten years but I could only begin implementation in December 2006.
Presiding monks from 60 villages and the local authorities gave assistance to the road-building project. The repair of the road started with contributions from 80 monks who each donated K50,000.”
In addition to this, Sayadaw Waiponla also went to 60 villages seeking their support but he faced many barriers in his task because villagers considered the task to be too great considering the total cost would be more than K100 million.
“So I suggested to them to save money instead of buying snacks or spending on other extravagances. After one year we had saved nearly 40 million. We then decided to repair 15 miles of the road including 17 bridges along the way. Now we have finished ten and a half miles and 12 bridges,” he said.
The new road has already helped save the lives of 13 patients who travelled to the hospital during the rainy season.
In Buddhism, donating a part of the body is one of the most precious forms of donation, according to venerable monk Sayadaw Nyar Nisara, a member of the road-repairing group.
“To donate money is not convenient for everybody so we decided to accept hair, which does not place such a burden on people and everybody who has at least 12 inches is able to contribute,” he said.
Ma Su Su Lwin heard about the hair donation program from a friend and wanted to get involved.
“Hair is one of the most important body parts for women, but I wanted to donate it for the health benefit of vulnerable villagers and for travellers to the pagoda. Some of my male friends also keep their hair long and donate it for the road.
The group of monks also helps patients with free or subsidised transportation to the hospital and arranges subsidised trips to pagodas.
“At first we planned to repair 15 miles [of road] including 17 bridges, now we have decided to continue with another five miles, including five more bridges. We have already secured two donors for two of the bridges and will upgrade the finished part of the road to a tar surface,” said Sayadaw Waiponla, adding that “From the start [of the project] to January 2010, we have received more than 2600 viss (4160kg) [of hair] from donors around the country.”
