Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights: The festival held at Maravijaya Buddha Image Park

The Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights and hot air balloon launching ceremony at the Maravijaya Buddha Image, the tallest sitting marble Buddha Image in the world, successfully consecrated in Dakhinathiri Township, Union Territory Nay Pyi Taw continued to be held vibrantly on the full moon day of Dazaungmone which falls on November 4, its final day.

The event was densely packed with officials, local residents, and pilgrims from various regions who participated enthusiastically. As today is the full moon day of Tazaungmon (the Samannaphala day), a special day for Myanmar Buddhists, and also the final day of the grand Maravijaya Buddha Image Tazaungdaing Festival, the Buddha Park was particularly crowded with pilgrims who had arrived to joyfully participate in the grand Festival of Lights.

This sight was a delightful and heartwarming scene for all who witnessed it. In the tradition of Myanmar Buddhists, the weaving and offering of the Mathoe-Thingan or non-stale robe is usually held during the Tazaungmone period. The weaving of the sacred robes begins on the evening before the full moon day and is completed before dawn on the full moon day, after which they are dedicated and offered to the Lord Buddha.

This is celebrated grandly and fervently in the townships of regions and states across the country every year. Therefore, to be able to offer the non-stale golden lotus robe to the Maravijaya Buddha Image on the Tazaungmone full moon day, weaving teams of artisans from various Regions and States began their work in the evening of November 3. Using 15 looms, they wove fervently and completed the robes by this morning's auspicious time of the full moon day, successfully offering the Mathoe-Thingan or non-stale golden lotus robe to the Maravijaya Buddha Image.

In the evening, the monks and lay pilgrims who came to the Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights paid respectful homage to the Maravijaya Buddha Image with serene minds and clear faith, offering flowers, scented water, and oil lamps. Within the pagoda platform, the continuous recitation of the Patthana and offerings through recitation sequences by religious service groups filled the Buddha Park with the sounds of Dhamma.

Furthermore, the light from 9,000 oil lamps offered by pilgrims and the magnificent decorations with LED lights further accentuated the radiance of the great Image and the surrounding stupas, making the beauty of the Tazaungmon night even more brilliant. At the various designated sites for launching hot air balloons in offering to the Lord Buddha, the main essence of the grand festival—pilgrims had already arrived and were waiting in anticipation.

They watched with great interest as the officials carried out the step-by-step preparations for successfully launching the balloons, including smoking the balloons and installing firework charges. Tonight, as various ministries competitively launched their diamond earpiece balloons and large night balloons, officials and the public from the respective ministries also simultaneously launched numerous small hot air balloons from their designated areas, surrounding the sky in a collective offering.

Furthermore, during this grand Tazaungdaing Festival dedicated to the Maravijaya Buddha Image, awards were deservedly presented. These went to the competing teams from various ministries who participated in the hot air balloon launching competition, combining dedication, effort, artistry, and meritorious intent to win various prizes; and to the teams of weaving artisans from different Regions and States who participated with ardent dedication in the non-fading gold lotus robe weaving competition, working overnight to complete the robes as the highest form of offering.

The success and joyful smiles of the awardees, accompanied by the supportive and appreciative applause of the public, resonated throughout the entire festival grounds. The Maravijaya Buddha Image Tazaungdaing Festival, featuring the Festival of Lights, the hot air balloon launching ceremony, and the non-fading robe weaving ceremony, along with music and theatrical performances and a festival market, was held grandly and vibrantly for three consecutive days from November 2nd to 4th.