At our arrival in Myanmar, we heard about this festival. The description of it made us adapt our plans for this country, in order to make it on time for this spectacular event!

This festival takes place around the Full Moon of Tazaungmon (around end of October) a national holiday that marks the end of the rainy season and it is also known as the Tazaungdaing Festival of Lights. 

For us, this was a vibrant experience. 

The entrance to this festival is free, you can expect to be trapped in traffic for approx 1.5 to 3 hours before making it there, since people come over from all over the country and abroad! But as soon as you enter, an unforgettable experience awaits you!

We went only to the festival at night but we heard that there are also plenty activities during daytime. As soon as it gets dark, the balloon competition starts. Explosive is the word to describe, how the teams arrive with their fanatic supporters/family members/friends/villagers cheering for them!  Loud music, performances, dance shows, flags… everything to make sure the energy for the competition is right and everyone is ready for the original balloons to take off.

Besides seeing this magnificent show, you can wander around the place, try traditional food, dance at the clubs or even get a tatoo…

The crowd ready to see the balloons

First team arriving, they enter with music and traditional dances

Always nice to try some local food

Ink masters Myanmar? We didn´t dare to get a tattoo here.

One of the first balloons we saw

Perhaps one of the best ones of that night

We can´t imagine how much time and effort has been put to create these gigantic balloons. It´s a obvisiously serious thing to represent your village or area

Another team arriving

Just impressive

Some balloons were surprising with beatiful fireworks

No doubt, this was an night to remember..