Hsu / Yoon (NP News) - Sep 25

It is reported that Inle Phaungdawoo Pagoda Festival will be reconvened on October 15 this year after three-year suspension. It will be celebrated for about 18 days from October 15 to November 1, according to the local social organization. 

The festival is primarily a religious event that celebrates the four Buddha images enshrined at the Phaungdawoo Pagoda. The most iconic and anticipated part of the festival is the grand procession of decorated boats. Four elaborately adorned barges, each carrying one of the sacred Buddha images, are rowed around Inle Lake by leg-rowing Intha fishermen. These boats are accompanied by a fleet of smaller vessels, creating a mesmerizing and colorful spectacle.

The Inle Phaungdawoo Pagoda Festival is not only a religious event but also a vibrant cultural celebration that showcases the beauty and uniqueness of Inle Lake and its surroundings. It’s a wonderful time to witness Myanmar’s cultural heritage and the strong religious devotion of its people. 

The festival will also feature a series of traditional competitions and activities, including the Intha men and women leg-rowing competition showing their unique leg-rowing skills and individual male rowing competitions.