Asia & the Pacific



A hot air balloon festival to celebrate Tazaungdine, the festival of lights, is on in Myanmar.

Contestants launch hot-air balloon during annual Tazaungdine Festival Wednesday, Nov 25, 2015, in Taunggyi, southern Shan State, Myanmar. Local and foreign tourists taking part in Tazaungdine hot air balloon festival, one of the tourist attractions of Myanmar. Balloons made of bamboo and traditional papers are released day and night during the annual six-day festival.

Contestants launch hot-air balloon during annual Tazaungdine Festival Wednesday, Nov 25, 2015, in Taunggyi, southern Shan State, Myanmar. Image by AP Photo/Khin Maung Win

The Tazaungdine festival is held in the eight month of the traditional calendar, marking the end of the rainy season. The festivities coincide with the full moon, which is on 26 November this year.

One of the more well-known events of the festival is the Taunggyi fire balloon event, which fills the air with hot air balloons that are released into the sky to carry away sins.

Balloons made of bamboo and traditional mulberry papers are released day and night during the annual six-day balloon festival.

Last year’s event was marked with tragedy after two spectators were killed and more were injured after a hot air balloon carrying fireworks dropped down onto the crowd.

Read more:

The essential guide to travelling to Myanmar/Burma