Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, Inle Lake, Southern Shan State

Buddhist festivals fall all year round in Myanmar and taken place in almost every major location around the county. The festivals are based on the traditional Burmese calendar usually coincide with the full moon day so the dates may change from year to year in western calendar.
Among them, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival is the biggest annual event in Inle Lake, the holiest religious site in Shan State. It is held on a grand scale for 18 days and annually falls between September and October. Four out of five reversed Buddha images are ferried around the lake in a bird like gilded-barge pull by hundreds of leg-rowers in traditional long boats. Throughout the festival, boat rowing competitions are held, including fun fairs and traditional dances which make wonderfully visual spectacle. Thousands of devotees and pilgrims from all over the country come to this festival to pay homage and veneration. The festival is a fantastic opportunity to embrace the vibrant life, festive spirit and culture of Myanmar so be sure to join the celebration.