Wednesday Nov. 14 saw the opening of the country’s largest hot air balloon festival in Shan State’s cool capital and events will continue for one week up to the November full moon of Tazaungdaing.
After nightfall each evening, handmade decorative hot air balloons, with a frame of fireworks attached, are launched into the air amid music and dance as the balloon-making teams celebrate the successful launch from the ground below, while the fireworks explode in the air above the crowd of thousands of festival-goers.
The schedule of balloons for the first day of the festival saw 13 balloons launched, including some traditional candle-lit balloons.
The festival will continue until Nov. 22.