Traditional procession, boat races highlight Phaungdawoo Festival
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NP News - Sep 20
A 18-day Phaungdawoo Pagoda Festival will be held from October 3rd to 20th in Nyaungshwe Township, southern Shan State, around Inle Lake. The festival will feature a traditional procession of Buddha statues to 21 different sites, according to the Phaungdawoo Pagoda Board of Trustee and Preservation Committee.
The procession will begin on October 3rd (the first day of Thadingyut) at 4 am at Phaungdawoo Monastery. From there, the Buddha statues will be taken to Intein Kyee Pauk Khone Monastery and stay overnight. On October 4th, the procession will continue to Intein San Kyaung, Hayar Village Monastery, and other locations, staying overnight for two nights at each place.
The procession route will cover various monasteries and villages around Inle Lake, including Nga Phe Chaung Kyaung, Kyee Sar Kyaung, Pwe Sar Kone Kyaung, Lin Kin Kyaung, Nyaungshwe Town Monastery, Nan Thae Kyaung, Mine Sauk Kyaung, Thale Oo Kyaung, Kelar Kyaung, Zarapgyi Kyaung, Alodaw Pauk Taung Kyaung, Nant Pan Kyaung, Makanye Sip Kyaung, Kyaukham Kyaung, Mine Pyo Kyaung, Naung Tau Kyaung, In Pau Khone Kyaung, and Ye Thar Kyaung. The final procession will return to Phaung Daw Oo Monastery on October 20th.
In addition to the Buddha statues procession, the festival will also feature traditional Intha boat races, including a one-legged rowing competition on October 21st and November 1st.