15 JUNE 2013 - YANGON, MYANMAR: A Buddhist monk prays at Shwedagon Pagoda. The 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 metres (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 fromGautama, the historical Buddha. The pagoda was built between the 6th and 10th centuries by the Mon people, who used to dominate the area around what is now Yangon (Rangoon). 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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