Phaung Daw Oo Festival is held annually from September to October and is one of the largest Buddhist festivals in Myanmar. The festival takes place at the stilted villages of Inle Lake. The festival lasts over 20 days, during which five distinguished Buddha images are paraded around the lake in intricate barges that are pulled along by traditional long boats manned by hundreds of rowers. The rowers have adopted a unique rowing technique which involves rowing with their legs. Pilgrims travel from across the country to pay their respects to the Buddha images and to enjoy the festive environment. In addition, rowing competitions are held throughout the festival making for an exciting experience. There is no fixed schedule or route for the festival, so a guide is essential to get to the best locations on the lake.
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