Boat services expanded for Mawtinsun Pagoda festival pilgrims

 

February 28

 

The Ayeyawady Region’s Mawtinsun Pagoda festival is currently ongoing from 16 February to 2 March, the full moon day of Taboung. As the full moon day approaches, the number of pilgrims is increasing, so additional boats from Pathein Port to Mawtinsun are being deployed to facilitate transport.

 

“The Mawtinsun Pagoda festival is especially crowded on the full moon day of Taboung. However, since yesterday, there have been many pilgrims on the boats, so we have had to increase the number of vessels. Normally, a boat leaves Pathein Port at 6 pm, arrives at Mawtinsun at 1 am, and returns to Pathein at 6 pm with as many passengers as possible, then departs the next evening again. Starting yesterday, after arriving at Mawtinsun at 1 am, the boats wait for one hour to board passengers and then immediately return to Pathein to depart Mawtinsun at 6 pm. We have to increase the number of boats because it is very crowded. There were many pilgrims yesterday evening, and tomorrow there will be even more,” said U Kyaw Htwe, in charge of the Pathein ferries.

 

The office will be closed from Saturday, 28 February, to 2 March. As 2 March is the Taboung full moon day, a large number of visitors are expected. On 27 February, Grade 9 and Grade 5 exams will have finished, so many visitors are expected to travel by boat from Pathein Port to Mawtinsun on Saturday and Sunday. Previously, there were eight or nine ferries per day, but now there are more than 15. — Oktha/MKKS