PHAUNG DAW OO FESTIVAL by 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 . 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 ’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. 18 DAYS TOUR AROUND THE LAKE

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. 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 CALENDAR 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 Every year, the Festival occurs from the first October 14 Nga Phe Chaung 7:00 AM Kyay Sar Night Stop October 15 Kyay Sar 7:00 AM Pwe Sar Kone Lunch waxing day to the third waning day of the October 15 Pwe Sar Kone 7:00 AM Lin Kin Night Stop lunar month of – this year from October 16 Lin Kin 7:00 AM Nyaung Shwe 3 Nights October 17 Nyaung Shwe - Nyaung Shwe 3 Nights October 10 to October 27. 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

HIGHLIGHTS October 21 Tha Le Oo 7:00 AM Kay Lar Lunch Best Sightseeing October 16 7:00 AM Lin Kin to Nyaung Shwe October 21 Kay Lar 2:30 PM Za Yat Kyee Night Stop October 22 Za Yat Kyee 7:00 AM Pha Ya Pawik Lunch Boat Race October 16 10:00 AM Nyaung Shwe October 22 Pha Ya Pawik 2:30 PM Nam Pan Night Stop October 23 Nam Pan 7:00 AM Ma Kyee Sake Lunch Longest procession October 24 7:00 AM Kyaing Kham to Mine Phyoe October 23 Ma Kyee Sake 2:00 PM Kyaing Kham Night Stop October 24 Kyaing Kham 7:00 AM Mine Phyoe Night Stop

Boat Race October 27 10:00 AM Phaung Daw Oo 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 SEE YOU THERE VERY SOON!

Come join us for one of Myanmar’s biggest celebration!