YANGON, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's popular tourist destination Inle Lake located in the eastern Shan State will resume its beloved tradition of leg-rowing boat races this year after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an event organizer said on Monday.
The traditional boat races are an integral part of Inle Lake's Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival, which kicked off on Oct. 15 and is scheduled to last through Nov. 1, the event organizer said.
U Khun Thein Maung, spokesperson of the Shan State government, told Xinhua on Monday that the boat races are a regional signature and landmark event, signifying unity among the local people, and reflecting the development, peace, and stability of the area, he said.
The resumption of the traditional boat race and the pagoda festival are expected to significantly boost the local tourism industry, he said.
About 30 boat teams, representing various villages in the region, are set to participate in different categories of two boat race events held during the pagoda festival on Inle Lake.
Inle Lake, spanning 489,721 hectares, is located in Nyaungshwe Township of Taunggyi District in the south of Shan state. ■
