A leg-rower carries a boat loaded with orchids across Inle Lake.

ORCHID fanciers worldwide are in for a treat as preparations go forward for the first Inle Myanmar orchid festival to be held from March 15 to 17 next year, said Daw Tin Tin Yi, the chairperson of the festival organising committee.

The Inle Orchids Images festival is being organised by Taunggyi Zone Hoteliers Association with the participation of the Myanmar Hoteliers Association (MHA) and the Union of Myanmar Travel Association (UMTA).

It will take place at Paramount Hotel in Ngaphair Chaung village in Nyaung Shwe township, mainly to attract local and international tourists and to showcase native orchids.

“Myanmar is rich in natural resources, particularly plant life, and many local residents plant orchids in their homes. We think tourists and orchid fans will be very interested in the range and variety of our flora. Another aim of the festival is to protect the rare species of Myanmar orchids,” said Daw Tin Tin Yi, who is also the owner of Shwe Inthar Hotel in Inle.

She said the blooms would be displayed at the front of Paramount Hotel, where two benches, measuring 37x50 feet, will be constructed for booths. Viewing hours are 8am to 6pm.

UMTA secretary U Hpone Thant listed the festival’s aims as attracting tourists; preserving rare species of Myanmar orchids; exploring rare species of herbal orchids; and also informing local growers about the international orchid business.

He said most of the Myanmar orchids and herbal orchids were contributed by Daw Tin Tin Yi, though the Taunggyi Zone Hoteliers Association will also contribute at least five species of Myanmar orchids to the display.

Daw Tin Tin Yi said the festival would give orchid fans a rare chance to see the best of blooms from Shan State – more than 10 kinds of orchid species will be on display and the original name, regional name, botanical name and the name of original growing place will feature on every pot.

The event will also feature a competition for flower-bedecked boats, a floating market, regional booths from Taunggyi, Kalaw, Pindaya and Nyaung Shwe, as well as information about environmental protection around Inle Lake.

The boat decoration competition will feature vessels of 20 feet long or bigger, and more than 20 boats will participate from nearby villages, while the floating market will offer garments of Inle weave, traditional iron tools, seasonal fruits and local dishes, as well as orchids and other kinds of flowers.

Meanwhile, regional booths from Taunggyi, Kalaw, Pindaya, and Nyaung Shwe will showcase regional orchids, souvenirs of Shan traditions and culture, and pictures of regional beauty spots.

U Hpone Thant said the event would foster awareness of the natural environmental protection of Inle Lake, in conjunction with Save the Children, by distributing pamphlets, photos and publicising a program on wildlife protection.