Located on the great Inle Lake, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda is one of the prominent sites in Shan State and famous for its most wonderful festival in Myanmar – the festival of Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda at the Inle Lake. Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, also known as Hpaung Daw U Pagoda,is a Buddhist pagoda lying on the Inle Lake. With Burmese architectural style, this pagoda is the most important symbol of religion of the area. Inside the pagoda, visitors can see five gold-leaf covered small Buddha images at the central shrine which is used for the 18-day-long Phaung Daw Oo Festival. This festival is considered as one of the biggest festival in Myanmar and it is held from September to October. In this festival, four out of five revered Buddha images are paraded around the lake in an elaborate, gilded barge pulled by traditional long boats manned by hundreds of leg-rowers.Throughout the festival rowing competitions are held, which makes for a wonderfully visual spectacle. Pilgrims from all over the country come to this festival to pay homage to the four Buddha images and gain merit whilst enjoying the festive air of the event. Over the years these images have become so embalmed by gold leaf that it is difficult to recognise them.
The mysterious fifth Buddha image is left to ‘guard’ their original resting place at the Phaung Daw U Pagoda whilst the festival takes place. Do make sure you ask your guide for the story of the fifth image! The order of the procession is subject to late changes as there is no fixed route for the festival.
