Mandalay’s annual “Obot Festival” ( Traditional Clayware Festival) drew large crowds on August 1, 2025, as the traditional event made a vibrant  return in Obo Ward, Aung Myay Tha San Township, North Pyin, Mandalay.

“We’ve been selling pots since the fifth day of the first lunar month. Most young women are carrying small pots and taking photos with their phones. Many visitors are also buying pots,” said a local vendor.

The Obot Festival, also known as the “Pot Festival,” is closely tied to the historic Taung Pyone Festival. According to local elders, the festival originated at a former river port where pot and rice merchants would rest on their way to Taung Pyone. Over time, their stopover evolved into a festival of its own.

The event had been held regularly for many years but was paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a long break, the festival resumed in 2023 and continues to attract both locals and tourists alike.