The opening ceremony of the Tazaungdine hot-air balloon releasing competition for 2025 at the Maravijaya Buddha Image took place at the fountain square of the Maravijaya Buddha Park yesterday evening.
On arrival at the venue where the ceremony will take place, Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla were warmly welcomed by ethnic people from the Myanma Radio and Television and artistes and cultural troupes from the Department of Fine Arts under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture holding Myanmar traditional lanterns.
The Senior General and his wife cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the hot-air balloon releasing ceremony.
Small hot-air balloons were released simultaneously, fireworks were launched and the song with the title of “Myaing-Myaing-Hsaing-Hsaing La-Tazaungdine” was sung with dances. The Senior General, his wife and attendees enjoyed the performances.
The Senior General, his wife and party greeted contesting teams from Union-level organizations and ministries which will take part in the Tazaungdine hot-air balloon releasing competition for 2025 at the Maravijaya Buddha Image. These teams performed traditional dances.
The Senior General, his wife and attendees to the ceremony watched releasing of night lighting hot-air balloons and Seinnapan hot-air balloons by contesting teams and cordially greeted the people.
During the preparation to release the hot-air balloons, traditional cultural troupes performed traditional dances.
The Senior General and his wife paid homage to the Maravijaya Buddha Image and offered flowers, water and oil lights and ignited oil lights together with attendees to the ceremony at the opening ceremony of the Tazaungdine lighting festival at the Maravijaya Buddha Image.
The Senior General and his wife went round the Buddha image clockwise, beat Saddhadhipati Bell and cordially greeted monks, pilgrims and people who joined the lighting festival.
Present at the ceremony were Commission Vice-Chairman Vice-Senior General Soe Win and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Commission member and Prime Minister U Nyo Saw and his wife, Commission member and Executive Chief U Aung Lin Dwe and his wife, Commission Secretary and Joint Executive Chief General Ye Win Oo and his wife, Commission members and their wives, Union-level dignitaries, Union ministers and their wives, the Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, officials, monks and people.
The lighting festival will take place on a grand scale at the Maravijaya Buddha Image Park in Dekkhinathiri Township of Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory from 2 to 4 November.
During the festival, associations will recite religious verses and offer 9,000 oil lights on the platform of the image. Moreover, fireworks will be launched while night hot-air balloons and Seinnapan hot-air balloons will be released. Furthermore, Matho Shwekya lotus robes will be weaved. The precinct of the Buddha Park will be illuminated with multicolour lightings. MSME businesses will display and sell domestic products, foodstuffs, personal goods and Myanmar traditional snacks. In addition, famous artistes will perform music, songs and theatrical performances.
MNA/TTA
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