NAY PYI TAW November 15
The 2024 Tazaungdaing Festival, hot air balloon releasing, Matho Shwekya Robes weaving and offering and prize presentation ceremony of Maravijaya Buddha Image in Dekkhinathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, Union Territorywas held on a grand scale at Fountain Square, Maravijaya Buddha Park, this evening.
Present were Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, the SAC Secretary and wife, the SAC Joint Secretary and wife, Head of Republic of Buryatia Chair of Buryatia H.E. Mr. Tsydenov Alekesei Sambuevich and members of the goodwill delegation who were on a friendship visit in Myanmar, SAC members and wives, union ministers and wives, the Nay Pyi Taw council chair, senior military officers from the Office of theCommander- in-Chief and wives, the Nay Pyi Taw command commander, officials, participants of hot air balloon releasing, Matho Shwekya Robes weaving competitions from Nay Pyi Taw Council Area and regions and states, and monks and layperson pilgrims.
The Senior General and wife, the Head of Republic of Buryatia and attendees paid homage to and offered flowers, water, lights and to the Maravijaya Buddha Image lighted the lamps together.
They went round the Image clock wise and rang the Saddhadhipati Bell.
On arrival at the venue, the Senior General and wife and attendees were welcomed by ethnic traditional dances.
The Senior General and the Head of Republic of Buryatia and delegation watched the hot air balloon releasing competition.
They then watched the release of Myatyaungchi hot air balloon to mark Russia-Myanmar friendship. Decorated with floral designs the balloon bore the words Myatyaungchi in blue colour. The balloon is also carrying the lotus flowers figures and words Buryatia.
While the contestants were preparing to launch the balloon, ethnic dance troupes performed yein dances, traditional songs and dances.
The Senior General and the Head of Republic of Buryatia and delegation visited the stone-tablet pagodas.
At the prize-presentation ceremony, SAC members presented best team-wise discipline award, best team-wise performance award, best seamstress award, best fabric award, and best loom operation award to winners.
SAC member General Mya Tun Oo presented fifth prize to Nay Pyi Taw Council team, the SAC Joint Secretary fourth prize to Kachin State team, the SAC Secretary third prize to Sagaing Region team, the Vice- Senior General second prize to Taninthayi Region team together with the cups and cash awards and certificates.
The Senior General presented the trophy, cash award and a certificate of honour to first prize winning Mandalay Region team.
Council members presented the best discipline award, best beautiful award, best innovative award, best releasing award, best releasing record award, best shape award, and best lantern paper award to the teams representing ministries in the Seinnaban hot-air balloon releasing contest.
The Secretary and the SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister presented trophies, cash awards and certificates of honour to third and second prize winning Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement respectively.
The Senior General presented the trophy, cash award and a certificate of honour to first prize winning the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) team of the Ministry of Defence.
Council members also presented trophies, cash awards and certificates of honour to the best discipline award, best beautiful award, best innovative award, best releasing award, best releasing record award, best shape award, and best lantern paper award to the teams representing ministries in the night flare (night large balloon) releasing contest.
The Secretary and the the SAC Vice-Chairman Deputy Prime Minister presented trophies, cash awards and certificates of honour to the third prize winning Ministry of Border Affairs and the second prize winning Ministry of Home Affairs respectively.
The Senior General gave the trophy, cash award and a certificate of honour to the first prize winning Ministry of Transport and Communications.
After the awarding ceremony, the ceremony ended with display of fireworks. The Senior General and his wife cordially greeted audiences to the contests and festival and pilgrim monks and people.
The Tazaungdine lighting festival was held at the Buddha Park of Maravijaya Buddha Image in Dekkhinathiri Township of Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory from 13 to 15 November. During the period, Maha Pathana treatises and religious verses were recited. Moreover, fireworks were displayed with releasing of night flares and Seinnaban hot-air balloons and the second Mathose lotus robe weaving contest for the Buddha image. The precinct of the Buddha image was illuminated with LED blubs. The shops sold MSME products, domestic products, foodstuffs and personal goods as well as Myanmar traditional snacks. Artistes from Fine Arts Department and performer Po Chit theatrical troupe performed entertainment, crowed with pilgrims and people.
