YANGON — Every evening, more than a dozen men and women walk in a tight row in front of Myanmar's most-revered Buddhist pagoda, sweeping the vast marble terrace in unison in hopes of keeping it clean for barefoot pilgrims.
To these volunteers, this is not a chore but a noble act - one they carry out eagerly in an effort to gain merit, or spiritual credit.
Situated on a hilltop in the old capital of Yangon, the 99-metre-high Shwedagon draws hundreds of visitors every day.