Hpa-an to light 9,000 lamps, balloons soar on Thadingyut

A ceremony featuring the offering of 9,000 oil lamps and the release of hot-air balloons will be held on 26 October at Thayhtamanaung Pagoda and Thiri Playground in Hpa-an, Kayin State, to mark the full moon day of Thadingyut, according to the Kayin State Regional Tourism Committee.
“The hot-air balloon release ceremony will take place at 7 am on 26 October at Thiri Playground in Hpa-an, with 200 small balloons and 32 large balloons to be released. The ceremony for offering 9,000 oil lamps will be held at 6 pm on the same day at Thayhtamanaung Pagoda,” a member of the Kayin State Regional Tourism Committee said.
The festival is being organized by the Kayin State government, with the participation of government departments, private organizations and local communities, to attract tourists to Hpa-an during the Thadingyut festival period. — ASH/MKKS