Minhlakyin village keeps Myanmar’s bullock-cart pilgrimage tradition alive during Shwesettaw Festival
MINHLAKYIN village,
located in Minbu Township of Magway Region, is the only village that continues
the Myanmar tradition of making a pilgrimage by bullock-cart.
“Our village is 12
miles from Shwesettaw Pagoda. Every year, during the pagoda festival, we travel
there using a caravan of bullock-carts. The younger generation is enthusiastic
about participating in this tradition, while our grandparents and elders
treasure it as part of our cultural heritage. We are committed to keeping this
tradition alive, so each year when the Shwesettaw Pagoda Festival arrives, we
gather together for this pilgrimage,” explained U Ohn Kyaing, the village
administrator.
The village has around
430 households, with agriculture being the main source of livelihood for the
villagers. In addition to farming, they are involved in various crafts such as
weaving, bamboo work, and basket making. When the festival season approaches,
the village administrator and youth leaders organize the pilgrimage, which
involves the entire village.
Photographers from
across Myanmar, drawn by the unique bullock-cart pilgrimage, visit the village
to capture stunning photographs of the scenic landscapes and the bullock-carts
with arched roofs, as they journey through valleys and hills towards the
festival. These images are often shared widely on social media. — Zayar Htet
(Minbu)/ TRKM
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