Myanmar festival rises high

Taunggyi, Myanmar. 2012 – One of this country’s most famous festivals is celebrated each year here, the capital of Shan state.

The Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival pays homage at the Sulamuni Buddhist Pagoda, with hot air balloons made from bamboo and mulberry paper (Shan paper) – made locally in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The balloons, between 15 and 20 feet tall, are decorated with paper lanterns, fireworks and flares which detonate in mid-air. 

Members of each balloon team perform traditional dances as their balloon begins to ascend.

Each year, more than 200 lanterns take to the skies in the festival, making this event Myanmar’s largest hot air balloon festival.

A man stacks mulberry paper inside a hot air balloon during its construction.
The hot air balloon contest is part of the Taung Gyi Tazaungdaing Festival, which sees team members making their own firecrackers with gunpowder, ensuring an explosive festival atmosphere.
The balloons rise majestically into the crisp night air.
A young girl carry the lanterns to be hung on one of the 200 balloons at the festival.
Teams warm the air inside the balloons to provide their creations with lift.
Fireworks explodes in the mid-air are being judge by the comittee to be awarded the best spectacula display of the fireworks from hot air balloon award at the end of the festival nights.
Fireworks and fire sticks from a hot air balloon blow up in the mid-air during Tazaungdaing Festival in Taung Gyi, Myanmar, 07 November 2011. Hot air balloons are made up of multicolored papers and hang with paper lanterns, fireworks and fire sticks which are exploded in mid-air. Hot air balloon contest is part of the Taung Gyi Tazaungdaing Festival which is held 5 days before the full moon of November. More than 200 large hot air balloons are participating every year and makes it Myanmar largest hot air balloon festival.
Members of each balloon team perform a traditional dance as their balloon rises. This team is performing the "Toe Na Yar" dance.
People run for safety as fireworks accidentally detonate while still on the ground.
Fireworks exploding from the rising balloons illuminate Ferris wheels and carnival tents.
Team members celebrate and dance as their hot air balloon rises high and explode fireworks mid-air.
The balloons rise majestically into the crisp night air.
The spectacle is enjoyed by thousands of people each year.
Flying away hot air balloon is seen next to Shan state's hills.