Monsoon will be over soon and the sky will be clearer. The best weather condition without heat, rain, wind and cold. The environment of whole Burma is green, fresh and happy. It’s time to celebrate the festivals for Myanmar people all over the country. Among those festivals, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival is remarkable and unique one in Myanmar, and in the whole world.
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, it was built by King Alaung Sithu reigned from A.D 1112-1167, one of the famous and great kings of Bagan Dynasty. The five small gilded Buddha Images were enshrined in Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and people believed that all those Buddha Images have been brought and donated by King Alaung Sithu.
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda is held for 18 days in total annually (during the Myanmar month of Thadingyut usually between September and October). During the festival, four of five Buddha Images were ferried out by the Royal Barge from village to village. (Meanwhile one Buddha Image left at Phaung Daw Oo pagoda.) When the Buddha Images are ferried out by Royal Barge, it was towed by several boats moving by leg-rowers of Inle Lake. The village where The Buddha Image will reside is welcomed by Shan dances and martial arts. Boat Racing by legs competitions are the highlight of the festival. The teams of Inthas from the villages around the Inle Lake come and compete during the festival.