Each year, Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State in northern Myanmar, plays host to the Tazaungdaing Festival. Also known as the Festival of Lights, this visual spectacle sees huge fire balloons launched into the sky on the night of the full moon day of Tazaungmon, the eighth month of the Burmese calendar (23 Nov this year). Similar to Yi Peng, held in northern Thailand, the illuminated balloons are lit in honour of a mythical pagoda in heaven and as a means of driving away evil spirits.
Fun for the whole family
A social gathering
Along for the ride
Soaring expectations
Rain of fire
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This article was originally published in the November 2018 issue of Silkwinds magazine.