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NEWS
International tourists participate at Taunggyi Hotair
Balloon Festival
The November fullmoon is an important date in Myanmar tourist calendar,
especially for those wishing to visit Taunggyi, Lake Inle and its environs.
During this period there are many colourful and enchanting
festivals at Taunggyi. One of the most famous is the Hotair Balloon Competition
where hotair balloons of various sizes, shapes and figures are sent up into the
sky both in competition and sheer joy. The competition is divided into two
parts: a daytime competition and night-time competition.
Balloons sent up during the daytime are small but
nevertheless they are diverse. There are cows, elephants, birds and even
rhinoceroses sailing up into the sky. They may be alone or in pairs or even in
groups of 4 or 5 balloons. The balloons that are sent up at night are huge, some
measuring more than 30 feet in diameter and 60-70 feet high. They are hung with
many small glass-paper lanterns on the outside and teams must race to finish
lighting them up in stipulated period. As they fly up pyrotechnics displays are
released against the dark background. Marks are given for the creativity, flight
patterns, outside decorations, the ability to complete all tasks in stipulated
time etc. But whatever the results everyone has a goodtime, including many
tourists.
Parade Of Lights Lit Up Taunggyi
On the evening of the November Fullmoon evening the whole of Taunggyi is
lit up. Teams from all the residential wards of Taunggyi line up along the main
road with decorated floats with scenes from the Jataka (the Holy Life of Lord
Buddha) or with small lanterns in their hands. The snaked their way through the
town to the Sulamuni Lawka Chantha Pagoda at the other end of the town to pay
homage to the Buddha on this auspicious day. This is a tradition that has been
observed in Taunggyi throughout the years.
Kahtein or the Offering of Holy Robes to the Monks.
After 3 months of monsoon the robes of the monks had become soiled and
Lord Buddha had permitted the laity to offer new holy robes to them. This
tradition has been carried on throughout the whole Buddhist world including
Myanmar. But the ceremony of offering holy robes to the monks takes on a special
significance in Taunggyi. On the eve of the Fullmoon day of November all the
residential quarters of Taunggyi gather along the main road with their offerings
to congregate at the main Ordination Hall in the centre of the town. The
offerings include not only holy robes but also other necessary items for the
monks like blankets, towels and medicines etc. These are hung on decorated
frames and carried on the shoulders of the participants. The whole procession
proceeds towards the main Ordination Hall accompanied by native music troupes
with much dancing and chanting of the Holy Scriptures. All the offerings are
deposited in front of the Hall where lots are drawn between the many monasteries
around the town to divide the offerings.
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