MANDALAY — As Burmese prepare to bid farewell to the monsoon season for another year, many have begun preparations to celebrate Thadingyut, or the Festival of Lights, held at the end of Buddhist lent.
At almost every corner of the busy streets of Mandalay, stalls have popped up selling beautiful colored paper lanterns ready for customers to take home.
Among the tons of Chinese-made lanterns on offer are local handmade bamboo alternatives of various shapes and sizes.
“People only buy the Chinese ones because they are durable and in different shapes and colors,” said Mya Yee, who sells lanterns from a street stall near the city’s Chinatown.
Locally made lanterns made with bamboo frames and colored polythene in the form of cars, ships, armored vehicles, animal figures and more, were a favorite among children in the past. But since Chinese-made paper lanterns powered by a small battery and bulb can be instantly lit, local versions have suffered in the sales.
“The local handmade [lanterns] use a candle to light up, which is dangerous for the small children and always requires parental attention. So parents prefer to buy Chinese made lanterns now,” said Mya Yee.
Speak to shoppers on the street however, and opinions appear divided.
“Chinese made lanterns are durable and more beautiful than the locally made versions but they are not so amusing [for young people] I think,” said San San Hlaing, who was buying locally-made lanterns for her children.
Neatly crafted local lanterns cost anywhere from 5,000 to 20,000 kyat, which is generally more expensive than Chinese versions which typically start at 2,000 kyat.
“When we were young, we used to pull those wheeled local lanterns along the street while holding our parents’ hands, showing off our toys and taking care that the candle did not blow out. It was so much fun,” San San Hlaing said.
“I want my children to feel that joy, rather than just looking at the foreign made lanterns hanging on the balcony.”
This year, as the country’s general election approaches in November, a new addition has found its way onto Mandalay’s lantern market: a red peacock on wheels that has been designed in support of the country’s main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD).
The peacock, which is tipped with a white star and can be lit from within, is reportedly attracting attention.
“Children and parents who support Aung San Suu Kyi’s party buy these; they are our best sellers [so far] this year,” said Thein Wai, a craftsman who designed the lanterns with bamboo and polythene sheets.
“Everyone who has made these lanterns received many orders. We’ve already sent dozens of these fighting peacock lanterns to Rangoon and to other cities in the past week.”
The Thadingyut Festival is held annually to mark the end of Buddhist Lent when the Buddha descends from heaven on the day of the full moon, which this year falls on Oct. 28.
Buddhists light up their homes with candles, oil lamps, and decorative lights to mark the day and pay respects to their elders.