Traditional Fireworks Festival: Traditional fireworks festival opened in Kalaw

On the evening of November 5th at 8 PM, Shan State Chief Minister U Aung Aung and his wife, accompanied by officials, warmly greeted local ethnic attendees and visiting festival guests who were parading with creative designed candle-lit lanterns during the opening ceremony of the 20th Kalaw Township-Wide Maha Tazaungdaing Traditional Mee Shaw Daing or firework pole festival and the procession of Mee Kyar San or creative designed candle-lit lanterns. They observed and encouraged the procession.

Subsequently, the opening ceremony of the Traditional Mee Shaw Daing or firework pole Festival was held at the Maw Myay Oo Park and Mee Shaw Daing Ground in Kalaw. The ceremony was opened with a ribbon-cutting by Commander of Kalaw Station Brigadier General Kyaw Thu Ra and responsible officials, officially inaugurating the 20th Kalaw Traditional Mee Shaw Daing or firework pole Festival and creative designed candle-lit lanterns Festival.

Following this, Shan State Chief Minister U Aung Aung delivered the opening address.

The Shan State Chief Minister U Aung Aung then pressed a button to symbolically launch 200 small hot-air balloons and set off fireworks, officially commencing the Traditional Mee Shaw Daing or firework pole festival and the procession of Mee Kyar San မီးကြာစံ or creative designed candle-lit lanterns. The competing creative designed candle-lit lanterns procession teams and ethnic traditional dance troupes also performed.

Afterwards, competing teams from Kalaw Ward (1), such as the Shwe Myanmar Mee Shaw Daing teams, began their display by launching and illuminating their firework pole in competition. Chief Minister U Aung Aung and his wife, the wife of the Commander of East Command, the Kalaw Station Commander and his wife, State Ministers, the State Advocate General, the State Government Secretary, and officials watched and encouraged the performances by local singers, nationally famous actors, and composers.

In this Mee Shaw Daing competition, eleven wards and village-tracts from Kalaw Township are participating. The competition involves 21 Traditional Mee Shaw Daing or firework poles, with 4 firework poles being launched each night. The festival will be held over four days, from November 5th to November 8th. 

Later, in the morning of November 6th, at the Taunggyi Women's and Children's Specialty Hospital, Shan State Chief Minister U Aung Aung, and officials observed and encouraged a collective blood donation drive involving 22 staff members from the State, District, and Township General Administration Departments. This event was held in honor of the 37th anniversary of the General Administration Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs. They also provided nutritional foodstuff to the donors.