Burmese 'donate hair' to repair pagoda road

London, Jun 22 (PTI) Burmese have resorted to a unique
way to repair a route to a sacred Buddhist pagoda in a remote
area -- by donating 1,750 pounds of hair.

Quoting the chief abbot of Mandalay's Naga monastery,
Shin Wayama Nanda, 'Kumudra magazine' has reported that some
30,000 women and more than 100 men from the central city of
Mandalay and nearby towns have donated the hair. And, some of
the locks measured four feet in length.

Monks overseeing the upkeep of the remote Alaungdaw
Kathapha pagoda will use proceeds from the sale of the hair
to repair sections of a road and build bridges leading to the
popular pilgrimage site, which is said to contain the remains
of one of Buddha's disciples, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported.

The hair will be used in wigs or dolls, or it can be sold
to traders from China for similar purposes.

In fact, the campaign has spread to Yangon, the largest
city in Burma, which is also known as Myanmar, another
magazine 'Popular' reported.

Access to the pagoda in the country's northwest is
difficult. Some sections of the route can be reached only by
foot or on elephant.

"With the money acquired from the sale of hair, sections
of the 25-kilometre road (will be repaired) and 15 small and
medium-length bridges will be built," the British newspaper
quoted Nanda as saying. PTI MOT
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