Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival

Like many places in the region, such as Bhutan (see our Bhutan festivals tour), festivals can be the most fascinating time to visit. The is very true for the annual Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda's Festival on Inle Lake which is the country's largest. Celebrated over nearly three weeks each October, it is attended by diversity of hilltribes from throughout the region—from the plains, mountains, and from small remote villages— everybody is here to gain merit and enjoy the festivities.

Like most of life on Inle Lake, the festival is a water bound one. From one of the most famous shrines in Myanmar, Paung Daw U Pagoda at Inle Lake, five small sacred Buddha images are once a year are ceremonially rowed around the Lake in a colorful barge accompanied by many other boats with Inle leg rowers. Although there are five Buddha images at the pagoda, only four Buddha Images are carried on royal barge and conveyed around 14 villages on the Lake. (This is because once, the barge tipped over and the fifth image was nearly lost and only later, somehow, mysteriously appeared back at the pagoda).

The sight of the four sacred Buddha images being rowed around the lake on a shimmering gilded barge towed by hundreds of leg-rowers in long canoes against the backdrop of Inle's stunning landscapes is unforgettable. During the festival, each village greets the four images with vivid fanfare, celebrating every moment of the one-night stopover of the barge. Shan dances and martial arts in each special ceremonial boat. Rowing competitions are the highlight of the festival with teams representing various villages around the lake use their skills and strength to win races which we can witness up close from our boat.

The annual Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival in October is held from the first day of the waxing moon to the 3rd day after the full moon of Thadingyut (the 7th month of the traditional Burmese calendar), falling each year in September and October. Below is a schedule of the festivals for this year, by date, time and activity (though sometimes subject to change, we'll make sure you don't miss anything).

Please contact us for more specific information on Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda's Festival how we can arrange for it to be part of your travel in the country, planning your visit to Inle Lake around this dynamic celebration, with up close and personal encounters and witnessing the various festival activities on the lake from your own private boat. For shooting images, the photographic opportunities are outstanding.

Annual Schedule of the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda's Festival on Inle Lake in October

The festival typically follows the daily schedule below, typically starting at 7:00 AM each day.

Read about other Myanmar festivals