YANGON: Myanmar’s hilly town Pyin Oo Lwin will hold its famous hot air balloon festival from Nov 24 to Nov 28 this year to attract tourists, an information official from the event organising committee said on Thursday.
The five-day hot air balloon event, to celebrate the country’s traditional Tazaungdaing lighting festival, is scheduled to take place near the Maha Arnthtoo Kantha Sutaungpyae Pagoda in the town.
The event is aimed at preserving cultural traditions by bringing together various ethnic groups and fostering values of harmony, understanding, obedience, unity and cooperation. Additionally, it seeks to boost the region’s economy, Xinhua quoted the official as saying.
A total of 77 hot air balloons, including 32 illuminated nighttime balloons and 45 daytime balloons, will be released during the festival.
To ensure the safety and security of festival-goers, a subcommittee has been established to oversee and manage the security affairs during the event, the official said.
Myanmar’s Tazaungdaing lighting festival, an annual celebration observed on the full moon day of Tazaungmon, the eighth month in the traditional Myanmar calendar, falls on Nov 27 this year. In many parts of the Southeast Asian country, the Tazaungdaing lighting festival is celebrated by releasing hot air balloons with lit candles to drive away evil spirits according to religious belief.–Bernama-Xinhua
