09.04.2025 – (04:30 PM)

The diamond crown and the relics of the Mahamuni Buddha statue in Mandalay, a historical monument, were found and returned to the authorities by the military personnel who were working as volunteers.

The earthquake that struck Mandalay on March 28 caused the crown of the Mahamuni Buddha statue, a historical monument, topple, the western side of the golden crown toppled, the diamond crown and the relics were also damaged, as well as the four sides of the Mahamuni Buddha statue, which is enshrined in the Gandhakutiya Monastery.

Due to the damage, the military personnel, in collaboration with the officials of the Pagoda Trustees, carried out the work of clearing the debris in the courtyard of the Mahamuni Buddha.

During this process, from March 28 to April 1, 152 items of jewelry (38 kyats, 4 pa, 4 eks) and the (inner) diamond head were found among the ruins of the building in the western courtyard of the temple. On April 2, 152 items of jewelry (27 kyats, 4 pa, 7 eks) and the (outer) diamond head (lower part) were found. On April 3, 83 items of jewelry (10 kyats, 11 pa, 4 eks) were found. On April 4, 295 items of jewelry (42 kyats, 9 pa, 6 eks) and the outer diamond head (upper part) (diamond 7 yati). On April 5, 264 items of jewelry (47 kyats, 15 pa, 5 eks) were found. On April 6, 84 items of jewelry (14 kyats, 2 pa, 3 eks) were found. On April 7, 124 items of jewelry (18 kyats, 14 pa, 2 eks) were found. On April 8, 64 types of jewelry (7 kyats, 5 pai) were found, and a total of 1,250 types of jewelry (207 kyats, 3 pai, 7 ele) were found to date, and the officials have systematically transferred them to the custodian of the pagoda.

The diamond head of the Mahamuni pagoda was a gift from the great king of the Min Swe dynasty in 1260 (1898 AD) and was restored by the Nyaung Shwe Saw Bwa and Maha Devi in ​​1280 (1918 AD).