The Mann Shwesettaw Buddha Pujaniya Festival in Minbu (Sagu) Township, Magway Region, welcomed about 30,000 visitors to date during the festival period, and the guest houses were also fully reserved, according to the Pagoda Board of Trustees.
The pagoda festival is held from the 5th waxing of Tabodwe to the 1st day of Myanmar New Year (22 January to 17 April 2026) for 86 days. During the holidays, up to 16 February, about 30,000 pilgrims visited the pagoda. Arrangements have been made to ensure that visitors can stay comfortably in the guesthouses. Pilgrims have arrived not only by coaches from major cities such as Yangon and Mandalay but also by private vehicles from across the country. Daily vehicle entry ranges between 50 and 100 cars. Compared to last year’s festival period, this year has been noticeably more crowded. During weekends and the current long public holiday period, all lodging rooms were fully occupied. The number of pilgrims is expected to increase after the Grade 12 matriculation examinations conclude, said U Aye Ko, chairman of the Pagoda Board of Trustees.
Throughout the festival period, the busiest days each year are the opening day, the full moon day of Tabodwe, the full moon day of Taboung, and the Thingyan public holidays in Tagu. During this year’s festival, the Maha Pathana reciting event will be included. The locals from Minhlakyin village near the pagoda also arrange to visit the pagoda by carts. They visit before the full moon day of Taboung and return 1st waning of Taboung. Those who want to study the tradition of pilgrimage tour to Mann Shwesettaw Pagoda using bullock carts should visit before the full moon day of Taboung, he added.
“We make a day trip from Magway with our family. After arriving, we paid homage to the two sacred footprints, offered flowers, donated gold robes, and alms. We also made a food donation for Naga and gave food to the monkeys at the pagoda. Seeing our children relax and bathe in Mann Creek after walking around the pagoda made us feel joyful and content,” said Ko Zaw Htay Hlaing, a pilgrim from Magway.
“Mann Shwesettaw is a famous pagoda in Myanmar, and our family came together with friends by pilgrimage bus. As the festival takes place during the transition from the cold season to the hot season, we can truly feel the essence of summer. Along the journey, the sight of trees shedding old leaves and sprouting new ones is very beautiful. We will try to come again with our family next year,” said Daw Myint Kyi from Yangon.
“We have long wanted to visit Mann Shwesettaw. Since we had never visited the Shwesettaw Pagoda Festival before, we came with our children so they could experience it. The journey was peaceful and pleasant, and upon reaching the pagoda, we felt calm and happy in our hearts. During our pilgrimage, we performed acts of charity and merit, visited the festival market stalls, and enjoyed bathing in the Mann Creek. The Mann Shwesettaw Pagoda is a peaceful and joyful place to visit, so I would like to invite both those who have been here and those who have not yet visited to come and pay homage,” said Daw Htay Htay Hlaing from Kyimyindine. — Maung Maung (Minbu)/KTZH
