the pa-o tribe’s buddha-washing in a nyaungshwe canal

Tuesday, February 24:  After visiting the Mingala Market, I ride my bicycle down to the canal because I hear a lot of hoopla going on there.  My hotel isn’t far from the canal.  Crowds of Pa-O people are busy washing a Buddha.  I stand on the sidelines and watch.

the canal in Nyaungshwe

They are just finishing up the washing when I arrive.

the Pa-O tribespeople washing the Buddha

They slowly and arduously put him upright, and take him back to the temple.

washing the Buddha

raising and washing the Buddha

washing the Buddha

the crowds carry the Buddha

Buddha and Pa-O tribespeople

the Buddha being raised

Buddha and Pa-O

Buddha all spiffed up

After they take off with the Buddha, the Pa-O people start to disburse.

the Pa-O people

Pa-O people

Pa-O people

Pa-O people

I head to Inle Pancake Kingdom where I order a crepe with cheese, tomato, onion and avocado for lunch.  It’s as delicious as the first time I ate here.

Inle Pancake Kingdom

crepe with cheese, tomato, onion and avocado

After lunch, I head back to the canal, where I hire another boat to take me to Inthein.  I love this boat ride.   Another beautiful afternoon on Inle Lake. 🙂

waking up to a pa-o tribe festival in nyaungshwe

Tuesday, February 24: This morning, following yesterday’s full day on Inle Lake topped off by the puppet show, I sleep in a bit.  When I wake up, I hear tinkling music outside my hotel room window.  After breakfast, I rent a bicycle so I can visit the Mingala Market; it just so happens that today is Nyaungshwe’s 5-day rotating market day.

me on my rental bike in Nyaungshwe

Before I get very far, I hear a lot of hoopla in a sprawling field near my hotel.  Trucks are brimming with hundreds of Pa-O people, and the music I heard earlier from my hotel room is dancing in the air.  Later I’m told the Pa-O tribe visits different villages to wash the Buddhas in the canal and offer up umbrellas.

the festival

Pa-O Pagoda Festival

The Pa-O reside in the Hpa-an area of Kayin State and in the Thaton area of Mon State, as well as in the Taung Gyi area of Shan State, which is where Nyaungshwe and Inle Lake are. They are estimated to number about 700,000 (Inle Lake, Myanmar: Nationalities – Pa-O).

Pa-o Pagoda Festival

Pa-o Pagoda Festival

Pa-o Pagoda Festival

Pa-o Pagoda Festival

Pa-o Pagoda Festival

Pa-O Pagoda Festival

One can easily spot the Pa-O tribespeople who dress in black or dark blue clothes with colorful turban-like towels on their heads.

Pa-O people

Pa-O people

Pa-O people

all decked out for the festival

Pa-O festival

Pa-O festival

Pa-O festival

sleeping Pa-O person

young Pa-O man

festive vehicles

Pa-O festival

After wandering with my bicycle through this field of Pa-O festivities, I head to the Mingala Market.  It’s only later that I’m able to see the Pa-O washing a giant Buddha in the canal. 🙂