Every year when the cold season ends and the summer begins, Pakokku, a town in Central Myanmar celebrates “ Htamanai Pwe ” or the “ Cooked glutinous rice ” festival.
This is also the “ Buddha Pujaniya ” or "Buddha worship ” festival held at the Su Gyi Pan Pagoda on the Kutheinda Yone hill in the north of Pakokku. Every house in the environs of Kutheinda Yone hill serves the guests and relatives which come from far and near with Htamanai that was prepared and cooked the night before. There we can find the hospitality and good-will of Myanmar people and their charming nature and customs.
At the pagoda festival on the hill, a large quantity of Htamanai are sold from big deep pans. A special feature of this hill festival is the display and selling of earthenware such as earth and sand pottery, Myanmar traditional crafts.It is heartening to find that even though modern utensils are available, Myanmar people still love to use the local earthen pots and earthen dishes.
Soft clay is moulded into different designs and shapes and baked to get varieties of pots for different uses such as water containers, wash basins, cooking pots, cauldrons, vases, candles-stick and incense stick holders, flower pots and earthen toys for children.
Potters from Yesagyo, Pakhan, Myaing, Theiywa, Paunglaung kan villages would arrive at the venue of the pagoda festival two weeks ahead of the festival to sell pottery.Local people would visit this annual pagoda festival to buy new collections of water pots, flower vases and basins which are sold plentifully at reasonable prices.
In central Myanmar where it is hot and dry, earthen pots are preferred as these pots have cooling effect and makes the water cool. Roadside pubic water stands usually have earthen water pots.This pagoda festival is crowded with revelers who have come to buy various pottery for household use and earthen toys for children. The festival also affords an opportunity for the people to mingle and make friends.
So, let me invite you to this famous “ Pakokku hill festival “ to buy pottery and enjoy Htamanai.
