• Burmese
Friday, December 8, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
33 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home Photo Essay

Balloon Festival Lights Up Shan Mountains

by Simon Lewis
November 18, 2013
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 1 min read
A A
Balloon Festival Lights Up Shan Mountains

A balloon crashes to the ground

5.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

TAUNGGYI — Tens of thousands of people gathered in the Shan State capital last week for the annual balloon festival to mark the Buddhist celebration Tazaungdaing, also known as the festival of lights.

Each November, teams of locals launch homemade hot air balloons of paper and bamboo in an eight-day competition that concludes on the night of the full moon, which his year fell on Sunday.

RelatedPosts

Three Years On, Looking Back at Myanmar’s Stolen Election

Three Years On, Looking Back at Myanmar’s Stolen Election

November 6, 2023
541
Displaced on the Border

Displaced on the Border

January 12, 2022
3.3k
A volunteer puts on gloves before a COVID-19 mission in Yangon. / The Irrawaddy

On the Front Lines Against COVID-19 in Myanmar’s Biggest City

August 26, 2021
2.6k

The ancient festival marks the end of Kahtein, where robes are given to Buddhist monks. Although the annual balloon competition was reportedly introduced by the British during the colonial era, the practice is also considered an offering of light to Buddhist spirits.

During the day, balloons shaped like animals are launched, and a fairground runs at the site of the festival—a field on the outskirts of the mountaintop town of Taunggyi.

At night, events take on a sense of danger. Streams of people rush into the field for the main event. The teams of locals—cheered on by drums, dancing and chanting—launch their balloons with torches, at the last minute attaching a battery of fireworks or decorative candles.

The crowd looks on at the awesome rise of the balloon, and an airborne pyrotechnics display presumably costing thousands of dollars in fireworks. Sometimes dozens of individual candles fall slowly to ground with tiny parachutes. Often, however, the launch does not go as planned, and the balloon catches fire, descending rapidly to the ground and sending the crowds fleeing from a fireball.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Multimedia
Previous Post

India’s Tendulkar Bids Farewell With Tears and Cheers

Next Post

Stigma Against HIV on Agenda as Burma Joins Regional Conference

Simon Lewis

Simon Lewis

Similar Picks:

Astrologists Tell the Future

Astrologists Tell the Future, Offer Hope in Burma

September 26, 2013
4.4k
A Chronology of the Kachin Conflict

A Chronology of the Kachin Conflict

November 20, 2014
42.2k
Iron Cross

Iron Cross, Burma’s Biggest Band, Rocks Mae Sot

January 14, 2013
4.2k
The Last of the Old Irrawaddy Flotilla

The Last of the Old Irrawaddy Flotilla

March 4, 2013
12.2k
Ancient Irrawaddy Delta City Believed to be 2

Ancient Irrawaddy Delta City Believed to be 2,300 Years Old

February 22, 2016
11.7k
Migrants’ Hopes and Fears in Little Burma

Migrants’ Hopes and Fears in Little Burma

July 16, 2016
10.2k
Load More
Next Post
Stigma Against HIV on Agenda as Burma Joins Regional Conference

Stigma Against HIV on Agenda as Burma Joins Regional Conference

Senior KIA Figure Visits Rangoon

Senior KIA Figure Visits Rangoon, Fresh Fighting In Kachin State - Updated

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Myanmar Regime Stops Fuel Supplies to Yangon Factories

Myanmar Regime Stops Fuel Supplies to Yangon Factories

3 days ago
9k
Charting the Shifting Power Balance on Myanmar’s Battlefields 

Charting the Shifting Power Balance on Myanmar’s Battlefields 

6 days ago
7k

Most Read

  • Kyat Depreciates Further After Myanmar Central Bank Abandons Dollar Forex Rate

    Kyat Depreciates Further After Myanmar Central Bank Abandons Dollar Forex Rate

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Asks China to Pressure Brotherhood Alliance to End Offensive

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Uses Chemical Warfare: Arakan Army

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Boss Tries to Drive Wedge Between Ethnic Armies, Civilians

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • UN Calls for Urgent Action to Stop Arms Flow to Myanmar Junta as Civilian Casualties Soar

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Features
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.