NAY PYI TAW November 13
Tazaungdaing Light Festival and hot-air balloon launching opening ceremony of Maravijaya Buddha image in Dekkhinathiri Township in the Union Territory in Nay Pyi Taw was held on a grand scale at the fountain square in the Maravijaya Buddha Park this evening.
Present at the ceremony were Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Vice Chairman of SAC Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win and wife Daw Than Than Nwe, the secretary and joint secretary of the SAC and their wives, members of the SAC and their wives, union ministers and their wives, the chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command and officials and pilgrims including monks and laypersons observed the ceremony in a bustling manner.
First, the Senior General and wife arrived at the venue of the ceremony and were welcomed by men and women of ethnic nationals by holding light seedpods, by traditional dance troupes by performing the U Shwe Yoe and Daw Moe dance, traditional cultural dances, and traditional drums music.
Then, the Senior General and wife formally opened the ceremony by cutting a ribbon.
As soon as the opening ribbon was formally cut, 500 small hot-air balloons were launched while letting off fireworks and performing dances to the song “Bustling Month Tazaungdaing.” The Senior General and wife and participants enjoyed the music and dances.
Afterward, the Senior General and wife and participants observed the Sein Narpan hot-air balloon and Nya Meegyi hotair balloon launching competition.
During the preparations for launching the hot-air balloons, cultural troupes of national races entertained the public with traditional dances, group dances and music and songs.
Then, the Senior General and wife and party launched small hot-air balloons to pay obeisance to the Buddha image together with participants at the festival.
Then, the Senior General and wife paid obeisance to the Maravijaya Buddha image and offered flowers, water and lights before walking around the precinct of the Buddha image and offering oil lights together with participants of the event including monks and laypersons on pilgrim.
The Tazaungdaing light festival of the Maravijaya Buddha image is being held from 13 to 15 November in accordance with cultural traditions on a grand scale. Continuous recitations of Maha Pathana pali chants and recitation of Buddhist sermons by Buddhist associations as well as the let-off of fireworks and decorative hot-air balloons launching and the second Matho golden lotus robe offering will be carried out. Moreover, the Buddha Park is decorated with beautiful lights during the festival and there are shops selling local products, foodstuffs and consumer products set up by MSMEs, local traditional snack shops. And as the Fine Arts Department is staging Jataka show together with entertainments by traditional dance performer Po Chit troupe, the public has been allowed to pay obeisance to the Buddha image.
