15 JUNE 2013 - YANGON, MYANMAR: A woman bathes a statue of the Buddha to make merit at Shwedagon Pagoda. Shwedagon Pagoda is officially known as Shwedagon Zedi Daw and is also called the Great Dagon Pagoda or the Golden Pagoda. It is a 99 meter (325 ft) tall pagoda and stupa located in Yangon, Burma. The pagoda lies to the west of on Singuttara Hill, and dominates the skyline of the city. It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar and contains relics of the past four Buddhas enshrined: the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Koṇāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight strands of hair from Gautama, the historical Buddha. Burmese believe the pagoda was established as early ca 540BC, but archaeological suggests it was built between the 6th and 10th centuries. The pagoda has been renovated numerous times through the centuries. Millions of Burmese and tens of thousands of tourists visit the pagoda every year, which is the most visited site in Yangon. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
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