In Pictures

In Pictures: Myanmar festival rises high

The Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival sees hundreds of lanterns and hot air balloons take to the skies of Shan state.
Htoo Tay Zar Last Modified: 06 Dec 2012 21:52

Taunggyi, Myanmar - 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.
Htoo Tay Zar/Al Jazeera
A man stacks mulberry paper inside a hot air balloon during its construction.


Htoo Tay Zar/Al Jazeera
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.


Htoo Tay Zar/Al Jazeera
Men and women alike enjoy the spectacle in the capital of Shan state.


Htoo Tay Zar/Al Jazeera
Hot air balloons are built of bamboo and locally made mulberry paper.


Htoo Tay Zar/Al Jazeera
Teams warm the air inside the balloons to provide their creations with lift.


Htoo Tay Zar/Al Jazeera
The balloons rise majestically into the crisp night air.


Htoo Tay Zar/Al Jazeera
Members of each balloon team perform a traditional dance as their balloon rises. This team is performing the "Toe Na Yar" dance.


Htoo Tay Zar/Al Jazeera
A young girl lights the candles to be hung on one of the 200 balloons at the festival.


Htoo Tay Zar/Al Jazeera
This balloon is decorated with paper lanterns, one of two classes of balloon at the festival.


Htoo Tay Zar/Al Jazeera
Fireworks exploding from the rising balloons illuminate Ferris wheels and carnival tents.


Htoo Tay Zar/Al Jazeera
People run for safety as fireworks accidentally detonate while still on the ground.


Htoo Tay Zar/Al Jazeera
The spectacle is enjoyed by thousands of people each year.
images:
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captions:
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.;*;Men and women alike enjoy the spectacle in the capital of Shan state. ;*;Hot air balloons are built of bamboo and locally made mulberry paper.;*;Teams warm the air inside the balloons to provide their creations with lift.;*;The balloons rise majestically into the crisp night air.;*;Members of each balloon team perform a traditional dance as their balloon rises. This team is performing the "Toe Na Yar" dance.;*;A young girl lights the candles to be hung on one of the 200 balloons at the festival.;*;This balloon is decorated with paper lanterns, one of two classes of balloon at the festival.;*;Fireworks exploding from the rising balloons illuminate Ferris wheels and carnival tents. ;*;People run for safety as fireworks accidentally detonate while still on the ground. ;*;The spectacle is enjoyed by thousands of people each year. Daylife ID:
1354443833453
Photographer:
Htoo Tay Zar;*;Htoo Tay Zar;*;Htoo Tay Zar;*;Htoo Tay Zar;*;Htoo Tay Zar;*;Htoo Tay Zar;*;Htoo Tay Zar;*;Htoo Tay Zar;*;Htoo Tay Zar;*;Htoo Tay Zar;*;Htoo Tay Zar;*;Htoo Tay Zar
Image Source:
Al Jazeera ;*;Al Jazeera ;*;Al Jazeera ;*;Al Jazeera ;*;Al Jazeera ;*;Al Jazeera ;*;Al Jazeera ;*;Al Jazeera ;*;Al Jazeera ;*;Al Jazeera ;*;Al Jazeera ;*;Al Jazeera
Gallery Source:
Daylife
Daylife Raw Data:
Myanmar Traditional Hot Air Balloon Festivalhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453en-usAl Jazeerafeedback@daylife.com10Sun, 02 Dec 2012 10:23:54 GMTSun, 02 Dec 2012 12:51:43 GMT http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=0ef56Gn0YA3l7

In November, one of the most famous festival is celebrated in Myanmar, at Taunggyi the capital of Shan state. Above, a man stacks mulberry paper inside a hot air balloon during construction.

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=0ef56Gn0YA3l7Htoo Tay ZarAl Jazeera Al Jazeera Upload Images

In November, one of the most famous festival is celebrated in Myanmar, at Taunggyi the capital of Shan state. Above, a man stacks mulberry paper inside a hot air balloon during construction.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=0fGadir0lc0cG

The hot air balloon contest is part of the Taung Gyi Tazaungdaing Festival. A member of a hot air balloon team makes a fire-sticks with gun-powder at a garage.

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=0fGadir0lc0cGHtoo Tay ZarAl Jazeera Al Jazeera Upload Images

The hot air balloon contest is part of the Taung Gyi Tazaungdaing Festival. A member of a hot air balloon team makes a fire-sticks with gun-powder at a garage.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=0gD2bF70OE4fbA young women arrives to enjoy the spectacle. Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=0gD2bF70OE4fbHtoo Tay ZarAl Jazeera Al Jazeera Upload ImagesA young women arrives to enjoy the spectacle. http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=0bcKdV04q70xk

Hot air balloons are made out of bamboo and locally made mulberry paper. Members are preparing one of them to be launched.

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 10:28:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=0bcKdV04q70xkHtoo Tay ZarAl Jazeera Al Jazeera Upload Images

Hot air balloons are made out of bamboo and locally made mulberry paper. Members are preparing one of them to be launched.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=00g51om1i36zgA man waits to set the fire on burner of the hot air balloon.Sun, 02 Dec 2012 10:28:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=00g51om1i36zgHtoo Tay ZarAl Jazeera Al Jazeera Upload ImagesA man waits to set the fire on burner of the hot air balloon. http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=02qpfElbTOb2eMost of the balloons are at least 15 to 20 feet tall.Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=02qpfElbTOb2eHtoo Tay ZarAl Jazeera Al Jazeera Upload ImagesMost of the balloons are at least 15 to 20 feet tall. http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=0gBGcWI4TFc5t

Members of each hot air balloon team perform a traditional dance to cheer when their balloon is up in the air, above members of a team perform the traditional 'Toe Na Yar' creature dance.

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=0gBGcWI4TFc5tHtoo Tay ZarAl Jazeera Al Jazeera Upload Images

Members of each hot air balloon team perform a traditional dance to cheer when their balloon is up in the air, above members of a team perform the traditional 'Toe Na Yar' creature dance.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=00wTbs89mFeIyA young girl lights up the candles to hung on a hot air balloon.Sun, 02 Dec 2012 10:29:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=00wTbs89mFeIyHtoo Tay ZarAl Jazeera Al Jazeera Upload ImagesA young girl lights up the candles to hung on a hot air balloon. http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=00k65nIeJa5rL'Sein Na Pan' typed hot air balloon, decorated with paper lanterns floats in the air during the festival.Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=00k65nIeJa5rLHtoo Tay ZarAl Jazeera Al Jazeera Upload Images'Sein Na Pan' typed hot air balloon, decorated with paper lanterns floats in the air during the festival. http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=06jw158cUG0U9

Fireworks and fire-sticks from a hot air balloon fire up over Ferris wheels, and carnival tents.

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 10:30:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=06jw158cUG0U9Htoo Tay ZarAl Jazeera Al Jazeera Upload Images

Fireworks and fire-sticks from a hot air balloon fire up over Ferris wheels, and carnival tents.

http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=0fgcaeUagyfsS

People run for safety as fireworks accidentally burst randomly on the ground.

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=0fgcaeUagyfsSHtoo Tay ZarAl Jazeera Al Jazeera Upload Images

People run for safety as fireworks accidentally burst randomly on the ground.

http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=09IO0gcd6NdTL

People enjoy the spectacle of the fireworks burst from a hot air balloon.

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 10:31:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/1354443833453?image_id=09IO0gcd6NdTLHtoo Tay ZarAl Jazeera Al Jazeera Upload Images

People enjoy the spectacle of the fireworks burst from a hot air balloon.

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