A Trip to Myanmar to See the Phaung-Daw U Festival
The Phaung Daw U Pagoda is the most famous pagoda on the Inle Lake.
The Pagoda contains five small gilded images of Buddha covered in gold leaf.
In fact the images were originally made from Sandal wood, but have been covered so many times with gold leaf, they now appear rather shapeless objects of pure gold.
The images represent Kakkusandra, Kaunagamana, Kasatpa, Gautama and Arainmareya Buddhas of this world.
Every year at the end of the rainy season boat races are held on the rivers and lakes throughout Myanmar.
The most spectacular festival takes place in October at the Phaung-Daw U Pagoda on Inle Lake near Taunggyi.
During the event, four of the five Buddha images are placed on the Royal Barge.
The fifth Buddha image is left to take care of the monastery.
The barge takes the shape of Karaweik; a mythical bird with a sweet voice and a procession takes place around the lake.
The barge stops at each monastery and village along the way spending the night before moving on the following morning in clockwise direction.
These visits represent those made by King Alaungsithu several centuries ago.
The decorated Royal barge is towed by several boats and powered by leg-rowers from the Inle Lake.
The high point of the festival is on the day when the Buddha images arrive at the main town of Nyaung Shwe, where most pilgrims from the surrounding region come to pay their respects.
There are hundreds of floating boats from near and far.
The barge spends three nights at Nyaung Shwe before returning to the Pagoda via the right-hand side of the river.
The festival lasts 18 days and is held according to the Lunar Calendar of Myanmar.
It begins on the first Waxing Moon day of Thadingyut and ends a couple of days after the Full Moon.
On the final day of the festival there is a boat race.
Each race is held between three boats each containing around 100 people.
The actual Inle Lake is located in the heart of the Shan Plateau 900 metres above sea level.
It is 22 km long and 10 km wide.
Even if not heading to the Inle Lake for the festival, visiting the lake on your travels to Myanmar is definitely worth it.
While spending a day on a scenic boat trip along the lake you will discover many different ethnic people and experience their daily lives.
In 2013 the festival takes place between the 05thand 22nd October.
So if you are travelling to Myanmar during this period it would definitely be worth trying to co-ordinate your tour to Myanmar to include a stop at the Inle Lake.
There is plenty of accommodation in Myanmar to meet a range of budgets but booking early is advised due to high demand.
The Pagoda contains five small gilded images of Buddha covered in gold leaf.
In fact the images were originally made from Sandal wood, but have been covered so many times with gold leaf, they now appear rather shapeless objects of pure gold.
The images represent Kakkusandra, Kaunagamana, Kasatpa, Gautama and Arainmareya Buddhas of this world.
Every year at the end of the rainy season boat races are held on the rivers and lakes throughout Myanmar.
The most spectacular festival takes place in October at the Phaung-Daw U Pagoda on Inle Lake near Taunggyi.
During the event, four of the five Buddha images are placed on the Royal Barge.
The fifth Buddha image is left to take care of the monastery.
The barge takes the shape of Karaweik; a mythical bird with a sweet voice and a procession takes place around the lake.
The barge stops at each monastery and village along the way spending the night before moving on the following morning in clockwise direction.
These visits represent those made by King Alaungsithu several centuries ago.
The decorated Royal barge is towed by several boats and powered by leg-rowers from the Inle Lake.
The high point of the festival is on the day when the Buddha images arrive at the main town of Nyaung Shwe, where most pilgrims from the surrounding region come to pay their respects.
There are hundreds of floating boats from near and far.
The barge spends three nights at Nyaung Shwe before returning to the Pagoda via the right-hand side of the river.
The festival lasts 18 days and is held according to the Lunar Calendar of Myanmar.
It begins on the first Waxing Moon day of Thadingyut and ends a couple of days after the Full Moon.
On the final day of the festival there is a boat race.
Each race is held between three boats each containing around 100 people.
The actual Inle Lake is located in the heart of the Shan Plateau 900 metres above sea level.
It is 22 km long and 10 km wide.
Even if not heading to the Inle Lake for the festival, visiting the lake on your travels to Myanmar is definitely worth it.
While spending a day on a scenic boat trip along the lake you will discover many different ethnic people and experience their daily lives.
In 2013 the festival takes place between the 05thand 22nd October.
So if you are travelling to Myanmar during this period it would definitely be worth trying to co-ordinate your tour to Myanmar to include a stop at the Inle Lake.
There is plenty of accommodation in Myanmar to meet a range of budgets but booking early is advised due to high demand.
