YANGON — A team of divers is trying to retrieve a bronze bell that has been lying for centuries at the confluence of three rivers south of Myanmar's old capital, Yangon.
A ship taking part in the search for the Great Bell of Dhammazedi is seen along the Pegu River in Yangon. A salvage team is attempting to retrieve the ancient bell, which is believed to have sunk to the bottom of the Rangoon River some 400 years ago after being stolen from the nearby Shwedagon Pagoda. If found, the 270-ton bell, said to be the largest bell ever cast, will be returned to its original home at the pagoda. (Reuters photo)
The 270-tonne bell, believed to be one of the largest ever cast, was made on the order of King Dhammazedi in 1476 and donated to the revered Shwedagon pagoda. In the early 1600s, it was stolen by Portuguese despot Philip de Brito. The vessel carrying the historic treasure sank where the Yangon and Bago rivers meet the Pazundaung creek.
Private and foreign groups have tried unsuccessfully to retrieve the bell in the past. Buried deep beneath the mud, they have been deterred in part by murky waters and torrential currents.
A buoy marks the location for salvagers to search for the Great Bell of Dhammazedi, around the convergent point of the Yangon River, Pazundaung Creek and the Pegu River in Yangon. (Reuters photo)
More than 70 divers - including 10 "sea gypsies" from the country's Myeik archipelago, famous for their ability to dive deep without external breathing equipment - were taking part in the latest mission, said Win Myint, the 52-year-old expedition organizer.
They have made exploratory dives over the last several days, but because of heavy silt and mud on the riverbed have not been able to locate the bell, and were set to dive again on Thursday, Mr Myint said.
He said he has always dreamt of salvaging the Dhammazedi Bell and returning it to the Shwedagon pagoda.
As divers wearing goggles and attached to safety ropes jumped into the water, Buddhist monks in a separate boat prayed for their safety, Mr Myint said, expressing confidence that the mission would end in success.
Mr Myint added the project would last up to 45 days and would cost about $200,000, most of which had come through donations.