Myanmar is well-known as the land of festivals. One of them is Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival and it is held annually and part of the Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival is hot-air balloons competitions and it was held in the day time as well as at night.

In the day time is for amateur level competitions and in the night is for professionals.You will see around me there are many enthusiasts as well as local and foreign visitors flocking around the compound even the weather is extremely cold.

Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival at Taunggyi traditionally features hot–air balloons launching competitions. Expert join the night-events which may be divided into two categories. The first one is nick-named ‘Sein Naya Pan’ meaning Diamond earings which emphasizes beauty and grace. The second one is nick-named ‘Nya Mee Gyi’ that means the great night’s light which emphasizes grandeur. To launch Nga Myee Gyi balloon cost over kyat one lab. In the competitions, to release dangling fire-works, multi-coloured lights with fire crackers from the main balloons. A maximum of 30 visses of gun-powder is used. Thus strict security is observed in the arena.

The balloons may be made in any shapes or colours but the diameter at the top must be 20 to 24 feet wide . Gun-powder must be devised to take place at the minimum height of 500 feet. Pops are glimmered on the wisp of the balloon duration of the lift of in its smoothness, shapes and its streamers, artistic decoration and the grandeur of the fire-work released and etc.

Experienced master judge and give points. The judges also give disciplinary points on the competing teams. Altogether 47 Nya Mee Gyi balloons will release during the festival. In Nya Mee Gyi event, the first prize went to Tain Wei Mee of Kan Ought ward. And in Sein Na Pan event,Shwe Inn Tha Mee from Sein Pan ward fetches the first prize. The first prize amounts to one million kyats.
After six day event today is the prize presentation ceremony and all the winners at the hot-air balloons competitions (amateur and professional levels) are celebrating their success and achievements. Today is very joyous occasion for them and also for us. So we invite you all, come and join this joyous Taunggyi lighting festival.