The surface of Inle Lake shimmered in the morning sun as hundreds of spectators gathered along its banks and aboard boats, eager to witness a spectacle that has defined the rhythm of life in southern Shan state for generations. On September 26, 2025, the air was thick with excitement as the annual Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival reached its crescendo: the famed boat races that transform Myanmar’s second-largest freshwater lake into a vibrant stage of athleticism, devotion, and tradition.
Inle Lake, nestled among misty mountains in southern Shan state, is more than just a scenic wonder. For the Intha people, who have called its floating villages home for centuries, the lake is both a lifeline and a sacred space. And once a year, it becomes the beating heart of one of Myanmar’s most important Buddhist celebrations—the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival.
According to the Associated Press, the festival’s highlight is the thrilling boat races, where teams of 25 to 100 rowers power sleek, decorated vessels across the water. But these aren’t just any races. The rowers, members of the Intha ethnic minority, employ a technique that’s utterly unique in the world: standing upright on one leg, they wrap the other leg around a single oar, propelling their boats with a grace and efficiency that seems almost otherworldly. It’s a sight that never fails to leave onlookers in awe, and it’s a skill passed down through generations.
“What makes the event especially thrilling is that the rowing is carried out by crews who stand with one leg wrapped around a single oar, a style unique to the area’s Intha ethnic minority,” reported the Associated Press. This distinctive method isn’t just for show—it allows the rowers to see over the reeds and floating gardens that dot the lake, making it a perfect adaptation to their watery environment.
The boat races are only one part of a festival that stretches over more than two weeks, blending religious reverence with communal joy. At the heart of the celebration are four sacred Buddha images from the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, each believed to be imbued with great spiritual power. These images are placed on an ornate barge, whose bow is shaped into a golden Karaweik bird—a mythical creature that symbolizes grace and purity in Burmese folklore.
As the festival unfolds, the barge, glittering in the sunlight, makes its way to 21 villages around the lake. Everywhere it goes, villagers gather to pay homage, offering prayers, flowers, and incense in a moving display of collective faith. The procession is more than just a religious ritual; it’s a moment when the entire community comes together, forging bonds that endure long after the last oar has dipped into the water.
The Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival is deeply rooted in Burmese Buddhist tradition, yet it’s also a celebration of the Intha people’s ingenuity and resilience. The long, narrow boats—some stretching nearly 70 feet—are decorated with bright paints, flags, and intricate carvings. As the teams race, their synchronized movements create a mesmerizing pattern of splashes and rhythm, drawing cheers and applause from the crowds lining the banks and floating on the water.
“Teams of 25 to 100 rowers compete in long, narrow, decorated vessels on Myanmar’s second-largest freshwater lake,” the Associated Press noted, emphasizing the scale and spectacle of the event. The competition is fierce but friendly, with each team representing a different village or community. For many rowers, participating in the races is a matter of pride and a way to honor their ancestors.
The festival’s origins are shrouded in legend, but its meaning remains clear: it’s a time to celebrate the connection between people, water, and the divine. The journey of the Buddha images from village to village serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion, generosity, and unity. For the Intha, whose lives are shaped by the rhythms of the lake, the festival is a reaffirmation of their identity and their place in Myanmar’s cultural tapestry.
But the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival is not just for the devout. Tourists from across Myanmar and beyond flock to Inle Lake each year to witness the spectacle, drawn by the festival’s reputation for beauty and excitement. The sight of hundreds of boats gliding across the water, propelled by leg-rowing athletes in traditional dress, is a photographer’s dream and a memory that lingers long after the festival ends.
As the barge carrying the Buddha images makes its slow, stately progress around the lake, each stop becomes a mini-festival in its own right. Villages are adorned with colorful banners and lanterns, and food stalls spring up along the shore, offering local delicacies to hungry visitors. Children run along the docks, their laughter mingling with the sound of drums and gongs, while elders share stories of festivals past.
“The event is part of a more than two week-long celebration during which four Buddha images from the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda are carried on an ornate barge featuring a golden image of the mythical Karaweik bird on its bow,” the Associated Press described, capturing the festival’s blend of pageantry and piety.
For many, the highlight is the moment when the Buddha images arrive in their village. People kneel in reverence, their faces illuminated by the flicker of candles, as monks chant prayers and blessings. It’s a powerful reminder of the enduring role that faith plays in daily life, even in a rapidly changing world.
The festival also serves as a showcase for the unique culture of the Intha people. From their floating gardens—ingenious strips of cultivated land anchored to the lakebed—to their stilted houses and bustling markets, the Intha have learned to thrive in an environment that demands adaptability and creativity. The leg-rowing technique, which has become the signature of the festival, is just one example of how the community has turned necessity into art.
As the sun sets over Inle Lake, casting a golden glow on the water, the sounds of celebration echo across the hills. For a few precious weeks each year, the lake becomes a place where the sacred and the joyful meet, where old traditions are honored and new memories are made. And as the last boat crosses the finish line, and the barge continues its journey, the people of Inle Lake know that their festival—like the lake itself—will endure, a living testament to the beauty and resilience of Myanmar’s cultural heritage.