PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA FESTIVAL

by Myanmar Voyages

PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA FESTIVAL

Processions, devotion, traditional costumes, music and even boat races.

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda is one of the biggest annual events in Myanmar,

occurring every year around the month of October.

Let’s discover more about it!

WHERE?

IN INLE LAKE!

In 2015 lnle Lake was declared Biosphere

Reserve by UNESCO, the first in Myanmar.

Villages over the lake still keep their

unique and hundreds-years-old traditional

methods for weaving, extracting the threads from

the lotus plant, manufacturing cheroots or

silversmithing.

IN INLE LAKE!

THE FESTIVAL

PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, located on the

western end of Inle Lake, is the holiest

Buddhist site in southern Shan state. In the

middle of the Pagoda’s main room, a

group of five oddly shaped relics covered

in gold leaf are displayed.

FIVE GOLDEN RELICS

These relics, cast during the reign of Bagan’s

King Alanghsithu (1112-1167 CE) and once

with human form, have been changing its

shape after years and years of receiving the

gold leaf donations from thousands of

pilgrims visiting this holy site.

These golden statues are precisely the focal

point of the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda

festival. During the festival, four of the five

statues are placed on a decorative barge

shaped like a karaweik (mythical bird) and

taken on an 18 days tour around the lake,

stopping at each village for a night or longer

so residents can pay homage.

18 DAYS TOUR AROUND THE LAKE

PROCESSIONS

In this procession from village to village,

the barge is propelled by Inle Lake’s

famous leg rowers, who dressed in

traditional costumes row in unison to the

beat of a huge drum, while other

ceremonial boats escorting the barge

carry dancers and martial artists

showcasing their sills.

PROCESSIONS

HIGHLIGHTS

BOAT RACES

One of the highlights of the festival and

best time for visitors to engage with the

festival celebration are undoubtedly the

impressive boat races, in which different

teams of leg rowers representing

villages around the lake compete

aboard narrow boats over ten metres

long.

DATE FROM DEPARTURE TIME TO REMARK

October 10 Phaung Daw Oo 4:00 AM Opening ceremony

October 10 Phaung Daw Oo 7:00 AM Kyay Paw Khon Night Stop

October 11 Khay Paw Khon 8:00 AM Inn Dain Lunch

October 11 Inn Dain 2:30 PM Heya Ywa Ma 2 Nights

October 12 Heya Ywa Ma - Heya Ywa Ma 2 Nights

October 13 Heya Ywa Ma 7:00 AM Nga Phe Chaung Night Stop

October 14 Nga Phe Chaung 7:00 AM Kyay Sar Night Stop

October 15 Kyay Sar 7:00 AM Pwe Sar Kone Lunch

October 15 Pwe Sar Kone 7:00 AM Lin Kin Night Stop

October 16 Lin Kin 7:00 AM Nyaung Shwe 3 Nights

October 17 Nyaung Shwe - Nyaung Shwe 3 Nights

October 18 Nyaung Shwe - Nyaung Shwe 3 Nights

October 19 Nyaung Shwe 7:00 AM Nam Thae Lunch

October 19 Nam Thae 1:00 PM Mine Thout Night Stop

October 20 Mine Thout 7:00 AM Tha Le Oo Night Stop

October 21 Tha Le Oo 7:00 AM Kay Lar Lunch

October 21 Kay Lar 2:30 PM Za Yat Kyee Night Stop

October 22 Za Yat Kyee 7:00 AM Pha Ya Pawik Lunch

October 22 Pha Ya Pawik 2:30 PM Nam Pan Night Stop

October 23 Nam Pan 7:00 AM Ma Kyee Sake Lunch

October 23 Ma Kyee Sake 2:00 PM Kyaing Kham Night Stop

October 24 Kyaing Kham 7:00 AM Mine Phyoe Night Stop

October 25 Mine Phyoe 7:00 AM Nyaung Taw Night Stop

October 26 Nyaung Taw 7:00 AM Inn Paw Khon Lunch

October 26 Inn Paw Khon 2:30 PM Ye Tha Night Stop

October 27 Ye Tha 8:00 AM Phaung Daw Oo Night Stop

CALENDAR

HIGHLIGHTS

Best Sightseeing October 16 7:00 AM Lin Kin to Nyaung Shwe

Boat Race October 16 10:00 AM Nyaung Shwe

Longest procession October 24 7:00 AM Kyaing Kham to Mine Phyoe

Boat Race October 27 10:00 AM Phaung Daw Oo

Every year, the Festival occurs from the first

waxing day to the third waning day of the

lunar month of Thadingyut – this year from

October 10 to October 27.

SEE YOU THERE VERY SOON!

Come join us for one of Myanmar’s

biggest celebration!