8-day Taung Pyone festival to start July 31
Taung Pyone, one of the most popular festivals in Myanmar will be held for eight days, starting from July 31 and vendors who offer various goods to the public, are being invited to apply for lots, according to Wish-fulfilling pagoda trustee member, U Myint Ko Oo.
He said the festival, which is usually crowded with devotees from across the country, will be held at the Taung Pyone Gyi village in Mattaya township, Mandalay Region and vendors from last year will be given priority when applying for shop space rentals.
U Myint Ko Oo said, “The vendors can now start renting the shop spaces with last year’s payment slips and smart cards.
“They will be sold from now through July 10 and will be given first priority. The shop rentals will be fair. In some locations, there are even discounts,” he said yesterday.
Prices range from K120,000 to K200,000, depending on the space in Zay Gyi and Zay Lay areas. Last year there were altogether over 800 shops, he said.
Previously, there were no auctions for the Taung Pyone shop spaces in Zay Gyi and Zay Lay and the lighting decoration had been handled by the trustees. But since 2012, an auction system was introduced which caused a hike in rental prices and vendors faced troubles.
In 2016, the pagoda trustees canceled the auction system and restored the previous one.
On the fourth day of the eight-day festival, two Taung Pyone princes will have a bath and is normally too crowded for people to move about.
Also, the Hsaing Waing, or Myanmar traditional orchestra, at the highest Nat Nan (Palace for spirits) will start playing and will be followed by other palaces.
It is also famous for gays, who participate in the festival, together with traditional believers.
It normally takes 45 minutes by car or by a motorcycle from downtown Mandalay to reach the Taung Pyone festival.But expect the usual festive traffic jams.
Myanmar Railways will run train services to and from Thaye Zay station, Mandalay to Mattaya station with extra special coaches during the festival time.
Visitors can also enjoy traditional snacks as well as play performances, a fun fair and health exhibitions.
Source: Myanmar Times
