People release a hot air balloon carrying fireworks during the Tazaungdaing festival in Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar, Nov. 6, 2022. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

Myanmar held a five-day hot air balloon festival in Pyin Oo Lwin starting from Friday after a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

About 76 hot air balloons in three main categories were competing in this year's event, which runs until Tuesday in the central city of Pyin Oo Lwin, to celebrate the traditional Tazaungdaing lighting festival on Monday.

Myanmar's Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival is held on the full moon day of Tazaungmon, the eighth month of the Myanmar calendar, to mark the end of the rainy season as well as the end of the Kathina season, during which monks are offered new robes and alms.

People release small hot air balloons during the Tazaungdaing festival in Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar, Nov. 6, 2022. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

"This year, we had only about 40 days to prepare for the hot air balloons competition," Kyaw Htay Ko, secretary of the Pyin Oo Lwin Tazaungdaing Hot Air Balloons Competition Organizing Committee, told Xinhua.

In the past years, the organizers and the hot air balloon builders prepared for the annual event about six months in advance, according to the organizing committee.

"However, the number of balloons competing in this year's event is not much lesser than previous years' competitions," Kyaw Htay Ko said.

People release a hot air balloon shaped like an elephant during the Tazaungdaing festival in Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar, Nov. 6, 2022. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

The annual hot air balloons festival, which began in 2005, was organized to boost the tourism sector, assist the region's development and promote the region's economy, he added.

In many parts of Myanmar, hot air balloons, lit with candles, are released to celebrate the Tazaungdaing lighting festival to drive away evil spirits according to religious belief.

This year's five-day festival features daytime and nighttime balloon launches, traditional dances, musical performances, and sports competitions.

Web editor: Wang Xiaoxuan

Reviewer1: Zhang Yanlan

Reviewer 2: Dai Shanshan

Reviewer3:Tang Caihong