Myanmar's hot air balloon festival to resume after 3-year halt
Myanmar's renowned hot air balloon festival in Taunggyi, Shan state will resume this year after being suspended for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers said on September 25.
Myanmar's renowned hot air balloon festival in Taunggyi, Shan state will resume this year (Photo:consult-myanmar.com)
Hanoi (VNA)ܫ - Myanmar's renowned hot airballoon festival in Taunggyi, Shan state will resume this year after being suspended for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers said on September25.
Accordingly, this year's festival will take place onNovember 21-27 at the Awaiyar hot air balloon square in Taunggyi, the capitalof Shan state. More than 60 nighttime hot air balloons and numerousdaytime ones will be launched during the festival, organiserssaid. A total of 115 nighttime hot air balloons and 281 daytime ones were launched during the festival in 2019. Spokesperson of Shan state government U Khun TheinMaung said that the organising board aims to preserve this tradition and pass it onto the younger generations. The festival will consist of not only the launching ofhot air balloons but also fireworks displays and a robe-weaving competition.The vibrant celebration is expected to enhance the tourism industry byattracting both local and international visitors, thereby bolstering the localeconomy. The hot air balloon festival is expected to boost theincome of local residents, as tourists from home and abroad come to thefestival. Myanmar's Tazaungdaing Festival, also known as theFestival of Lights, traditionally occurs on the full moon day of Tazaungmon,the eighth month in the Myanmar calendar. It marks the conclusion of the rainyseason and the Kathina season, during which monks are offered new robes. In various regions of Myanmar, illuminated hot airballoons are released during the festival, similar to the Yi Peng celebrationsin northern Thailand. These balloons are set aloft as offerings, intended todispel evil spirits according to local beliefs./.
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Myanmar's renowned hot air balloon festival in Taunggyi, Shan state will resume this year (Photo:consult-myanmar.com) 
