Residents of the Minhlakyin village in Minbu (Sagu) Township, Minbu District, Magway Region, are preserving the tradition of going to Shwesettaw Pagoda with bullock-carts every year.
Minhlakyin village has more than 430 households and is 13 miles from Shwesettaw Pagoda. All the households, except for those who do not have bullock-carts, go to the pagoda in unison each year, between the 13th Waxing of Tabaung and the 3rd Waning of the month.
The pilgrims usually camp for seven days at the jetty of downstream sandbank, said U Ohn Kyaing, the village administrator.
The Shwesettaw Pagoda is annually held for three months from the 5th Waxing of Tabodwe to the first day of Myanmar New Year (February-April) and is always alive with pilgrims from all over Myanmar.
However, Minhlakyin village is the only village that still keeps the tradition of making an annual pilgrimage to the pagoda with the use of bullock-carts.— Zeyar Htet (Minbu)/GNLM
