It is estimated that approximately 1,500 people from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) live in Marshalltown, most of them refugees from the Karen and Karenni ethnic groups that have been engaged in an ongoing civil war with the country’s Bamar government. Many of these new residents have found employment with JBS.

The morning events, which included the Buddha Puja Anekaja Mingala, the Monk Donation Ceremony, the blessing and sharing of merits to all living beings and offering lunch to the monks, focused primarily on Buddhist religious traditions. A total of 21 monks, including three from Marshalltown were present for the occasion.

The Buddhist monks in attendance were served a special lunch.

Ashin Tikkha is one of the monks who serves the local Buddhist community at the Yaw Nwe Dhamma Center, and he was encouraged by the spirit of unity and friendship forged during the event. Tikkha was born in Mandalay, the second largest city in his home country, and came to the U.S. in 2010.

“We need to share our religion. We need to share our culture with the second generation,” he said. “Marshalltown is (full of) very nice people. They welcome us, our people, our culture, our religion.”

He has only heard a few negative comments, he added, from those who took exception with the large statue of the Buddha on the site, but the vast majority of the people he has met have been overwhelmingly supportive.

“You are human. I am human. So we live happily. I want to make you happy — not only you, everybody,” Tikkha said.

Individuals of all faiths and ethnicities are invited to visit the center on days other than just the picnic — as Tikkha noted, Buddhists don’t necessarily hold weekly services like most Christian churches do, but members of the faith come to pray and worship as needed.

“Anybody can come here and have a picnic, come after work, come anytime. It’s open. People can see the statue, take pictures. They welcome everybody anytime,” said Jeff Heiden, the owner of New Horizons Realty in Marshalltown and a friend of the community.

After the morning ceremonies, the focus shifted to the hearty and delicious free meal of traditional cuisine offered to everyone in attendance, and several singers and dancers — many of them donning traditional attire — took to the main stage to perform for a large audience with vendor booths set up and inflatables available for the youngsters.

T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY — City Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem Mike Ladehoff addressed the audience at the TDSI picnic on Sunday and expressed his gratitude that the community’s Burmese residents have chosen to make Marshalltown their home.

Marshalltown Mayor Pro Tem Mike Ladehoff, filling in for Mayor Joel Greer, delivered brief remarks offering his heartfelt thanks to the Burmese people who have made Marshalltown their home.

“I am incredibly honored to be here today. Marshalltown is a town that believes everyone together works better. So many of you came to Marshalltown and you could’ve picked any place in the world to go. And we are so happy that you picked Marshalltown,” Ladehoff said. “I am incredibly proud that you came to Marshalltown. It is wonderful that you chose Marshalltown to come and live in because we believe that everyone needs to live in a beautiful, vibrant, accepting town.”

The mayor pro tem also referenced the yet-to-be constructed Water Plaza at Mega-10 Park and said the Burmese people were kept “very much in thought” during the design process.

“It will be a very beautiful place to come with your children to play. It will be a beautiful place that you can come and sit with your family. And we certainly hope that we call it yours just like every other citizen of Marshalltown,” Ladehoff said. “Again, I’m incredibly grateful that I was invited. The food was wonderful, and I hope to see you all again next year.”

Tay Tun, 30, of Des Moines and formerly of Marshalltown, was the youngest of the monks at the event, and he said the celebration provides a crucial link to the cultural traditions the younger generations of Burmese-Americans may not otherwise be exposed to — especially for those who are born in the U.S.

“It means everything to us because the younger generation, they hardly get to see this kind of culture, this kind of tradition, this kind of respect and this kind of unity from the communities,” he said. “This is kind of a reminder for each and every one of us. Also, this is something that we are very proud to celebrate to show everybody who we are and where we came from. It’s all about coming together.”

Tun, who, like Tikkha, was born in Burma, said becoming a monk is a way to honor his parents, and he is proud of the work he’s done as a tribute to them. In addition to those who reside in Marshalltown or surrounding areas, some visitors like 22-year-old Eh Nar of Omaha, who commented that the dancing, drumming and unique makeup are his favorite parts of the day. traveled several hours just to get a glimpse of the festivities.

And while the vast majority of the attendees were of southeast Asian descent, others, like Dave and Judy Beane of Le Grand and Bruce and Brenda Woodward of Marshalltown, stopped out and remarked on how welcoming and inviting the atmosphere felt.

“(I’ve been) just learning more about their culture and the things they’ve been through before they got here. Some of them have been here a long time. We don’t understand all that they’ve been through,” Dave Beane said. “It gives them a time to show their culture and work together in their culture. Just to dress up like this is great to see. No matter who you are, you can feel proud of yourself… We’re a world culture. We need to be integrated. We’re all interrelated.”

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepuboican.com.