Inle Lake is the important tourist attraction place in Myanmar. In the Lake , Phaungdawoo Pagoda is famous among not only local pilgrims but also foreign visitors. Every Buddhist tries to go to the pagoda to pay homage. In Myanmar language, phaung Daw means royal barge and Oomeans forwardest place.
The full meaning is the Buddha Images which is situated at the forwardest place of Royal Barge. The distinctive feature of the pagoda is Phaungdawoo Buddha Images are small but they are not enshrined and placed freely in the center of the shrine in the main hall of the temple. Therefore the pilgrims can pay homage freely. The five of Buddha Images are different size and have been covered by gold leaf so we not to able to see the original form. Phaungdawoo pagoda festival is very popular and it is held in sixth month of Thadingyut full moon day according to our Myanmar Lunar Calendar. It lasts for 18 days and at the first Waxing Moon Day of this month the four Buddha Images are carried on a Hintha Bird or Karaweik barge for taking around Inlay Lake.
One Buddha Image is always left at the temple because Intha people believe that once upon a time, when they took all Images on the barge the sky immediately changed into dark and a sudden vicious squall occurred in the lake. One Image was fallen in the Lake and nobody could not find. The next morning the lost and image was found in the temple automatically. Since that day one image has been remaining in the temple. The Karaweik barge is attached by several boats of leg-rowers and is towed from village to village along the lake in clockwise direction, and the Buddha Images are stayed at each village of monastery for one night. At the full moon day the Images arrive to the main temple and it is the most crowed day during the festival period. The most popular event at the festival is races of leg-rowing not only men teams but also women teams. Therefore local tribes, local visitors and foreigners held excitedly the Hpaung Daw U Bagoda festival.
If you like to see around Inle lake and visit to Phaungdawoo pagoda , please join Inle lake day tour by LM Travel Myanmar.