In Myanmar, there are many traditional festivals. The Hot-Air Balloon Festival is one of the well-known events, which is held annually for 50 years in Taunggyi, a capital city of Southern Shan State.

The Balloon Competition consists of three categories- one event in Daytime and Seinnaban and Nya Mee Gyi events in nighttime. Most of the young people take part in the Daytime Balloon Competition. They start the preparations 1 month ahead of the Competition in order to materialize their own ideas for their Balloons.

I’m U Kyin Thein of Sein Le` Kan Thar Group of Taunggyi. Our balloon is made with local Shan paper and we have to cut 20 square-feet shaped-papers proportionally. These papers are then stuck with glue, to get the required figures.For making the required figure, firstly sketch the figure on the paper using a 1/20 inches scale. And then cut the paper and stick them with glue. This is the opening of the balloon, which is 4½ feet of bamboo coiled. The important thing is to make the coiled, bamboo, which is required to be proportionally shaped on the top-part and the end-part of the balloon. Systematic releasing of the balloon is needed so that Balloon can drift in the air beautifully.

In the competition, varieties of Balloons are released into the air. These balloons are made with Shan-paper, multi-coloured oilpaper and transparent paper.
Shapes and designs of the balloons which have the characteristic of looking true to nature, how the balloon lights, and if the balloon drifts correctly, are the factors on which marks are given and prizes are presented.

Each participating group consists of about 50 locals.

Each group when releasing the balloon must discharge their responsibility dutifully and unitedly. In this way, when they release their balloons one after another you will see many multi coloured balloons with different designs drifting in the air over Taunggyi.