Taunggyi Tazaungdaing fire balloon festival returns in full strength with record-breaking entries
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Hsu/Saw (NP news)- November 1
The annual festival at the Awei Ywar Fire Balloon Ground in Taunggyi, Shan State, is once again drawing crowds and excitement on par with the period before the COVID-19 pandemic. This was confirmed by an official from the Southern Shan State Traditional Fire Balloon Experts Association in an interview with The Statesman journal.
The Tazaungdaing Fire Balloon Festival faced a three-year suspension starting in 2020 because of the COVID-19 outbreak, but it was resumed in 2023. Last year's 2024 celebration showcased a magnificent display, including 26 large nighttime fire balloons, 24 “Sein Narpan” (decorative) balloons, and over 100 daytime balloons.
Data from the festival organizing committee shows this year event will feature a total of 81 nighttime fire balloons: 18 in the 25 ft, 25 in the 22ft, and 38 in the “Sein Narpan” category. For the daytime events, a total of 361 balloons are scheduled, including 191 two-puppet balloons, 104 four-puppet balloons, and 66 group-puppet balloons.
“There will be 81 nighttime balloons in total — combining the Sein Narpan and large night balloons — and 361 daytime balloons. That’s more than double last year’s figure,” the official said.
Hotel, motel, and guesthouse rooms are reportedly fully booked well in advance of the festival. To accommodate the massive influx of visitors, local business owners are renting out short-stay houses and bungalow rooms, and even monasteries are opening their doors to host travelers.
“This year, there are more competitors, and from the second day onward, the number of daytime balloon launches has been quite high. Nighttime balloon events will start on October 29. We expect the festival to be as lively as, or even surpass, the record set in 2019 before COVID. Attendance has noticeably increased, boosting engagement in the tourism sector. When the festival peaks, we may even exceed previous attendance records,” the spokesperson added.
To reduce traffic during the festival, authorities are temporarily banning cargo trucks and trailers from entering the city between 4 p.m. and 4 a.m., from October 29 to November 5.
“It’s definitely more crowded than before. Because of this, traffic police are giving special attention to safety and security across the festival area. With strict inner and outer security zones in place, visitors can enjoy the event peacefully and safely,” the official said. –