Kakku Pagoda Festival Tour

 
 

What is Kakku Pagoda Festival?

The Kakku Pagoda Festival is the annual harvest celebration for the Pa’O (Pa-oh) tribe of indigenous people that inhabit the hills to the south of Inle Lake in Myanmar’s Shan State.

The many tribes of Pa’O that live in the region gather at the Kakku Pagoda to celebrate a successful harvest, sell a portion of their bounty, and donate alms to the pagoda as a religious merit-making activity. The annual festival is as much an economic necessity as it is a religious event. The tribal villagers who sell their produce and the temple’s monks who receive donations both depend on the income earned at the Kakku Pagoda Festival. As villagers filter in from the countryside in ox-drawn carts the grounds become a busy market with produce, household goods, religious iconography, hand crafted goods, and even children’s toys being bought and sold.

The Kakku Pagoda is a shrine complex with hundreds of stucco clad stupas laid out in neat rows. A body relic from Gautama Buddha is believed to be enshrined here, and the shrine complex is one of the most important religious sites for the indigenous hill tribes that inhabit the region.

During the Kakku Pagoda Festival, the Pa’O tribes perform ancient songs and dances celebrating their proud traditions. The Pa’O’s native costume, navy or black jacket and pants with a colorful head wrap, makes the indigenous people easy to identify.

When is Kakku Pagoda Festival?

The Kakku Pagoda Festival falls annually between February and March. Myanmar uses a tradition lunar calendar to select festival dates, which causes celebrations to fall on a wide range of dates from year to year. If you’re interested in attending the Kakku Pagoda Festival, one of our Travel Specialists can work with you while developing your luxury tour of Myanmar to incorporate the event into your itinerary.

Kakku Pagoda Festival Highlights:

The festive atmosphere and lively traditional dances are a treat for any traveler. The Kakku Pagoda gives visitors an insightful look into the ancient Buddhist traditions that have thrived in Myanmar for centuries.

Where is Kakku Pagoda Festival Celebrated?

The Kakku Pagoda is located in Taung Gyi Township south of Inle Lake in Myanmar’s Shan State. The shrine complex can be reached overland in a private vehicle in as little as two hours departing from Inle Lake.

Appropriate Attire:

When visiting Buddhist shrines, temples, or monasteries, it’s best to dress modestly in clothing that covers shoulders to knees.