The annual event starts with a colorful fluvial parade with decorated motorboats and colorful bancas roving around the Pampanga River. The fluvial procession is called “libad bangka” by the Apalitenos.

Making the fluvial parade livelier are the spectators by the river bank shores, waving their guava branches at Apung Iru while the pagoda passes. It is also a tradition to do this and keep the guava leaves as a doubly effective medicine for stomach aches (probably because of Apo Iru’s blessing).

The celebration will end with the ritual “Pamanatad,” wherein Apung Iru is brought back to its shrine in barangay Capalangan in another fluvial procession via the same river routes.