Opening of Taunggyi Tazaungdaing :Shan State Chief Minister formally opened the festival

The opening ceremony of the Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Hot Air Balloon Festival was grandly held at the Aweiya Hot Air Balloon Field in Taunggyi, Shan State (South) on November 11.

Initially, the Shan State Chief Minister U Aung Aung and wife, along with the Commander of East Command and wife, Chief Justice of the State High Court and wife, State Ministers, State Advocate General, Secretary of the State Government, and other responsible officials, District and Township level Departmental officials offered flowers, water and oil lamps to the Sulamuni Lawka Chantha Pagoda and released one Sein Napan hot air balloon.

After that, local singers entertained the audience with contemporary music performances at the Aweiya Hot Air Balloon Field.

The 2024 Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Festival was officially opened by Chief Minister U Aung Aung, Commander of East Command Maj-Gen Zaw Min Lat, Chief Justice of the State High Court U Than Oo Lwin, State Minister and officials cut the ribbon to inaugurate the event.

Then, Patron of the Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Festival Organizing Committee and Chief Minister U Aung Aung, said that the festival would be celebrated grandly for seven days from November 11 to 17. During this period, various traditional events would be held, including a procession of Townshipwide Kahtein offertory trees, weaving and offering of Matho Thingan or the special robe which has to be completed weaving within a period between after sunset before sunrise, the procession of the rows of lights, and both day and night hot air balloon competitions. The Chief Minister noted that the Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Festival is a significant event representing the unity of all national races in Shan State, calling upon ethnic brothers and sisters to join and celebrate harmoniously, thereby preserving Myanmar’s traditional heritage for future generations.

The Chief Minister formally opened the festival by pressing a button and releasing one Sein Napan balloon. Ethnic groups released a total of 50 medium-sized balloons, and 1,000 students released 300 small balloons, accompanied by fireworks and firecrackers. The opening was marked by a performance by singer Hein Ko, who presented a song that won the Tazaungdaing Award in 2019, alongside cultural dance groups from the local ethnic community and the Education Degree College Dance Group.

This year, a total of 208 day and night hot air balloons will participate in the competition. The nightly hot air balloon launches will begin each evening at 6:00 PM and continue until the event concludes, while the daytime balloon figure contest will take place daily from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.