13 October

THE residents of Yenangyoung Township, Magway region, purchased colourful lanterns during the Thadingyut festival, and the lanterns to be selling well in the local market, said Ko Mya Twin, a lantern seller.

The  Thadingyut  festival,  the  lighting  festival  of  Myanmar,  is  held  on  the  full  moon  of  the  Myanmar  Lunar  month  of  Thadingyut.  During  the  lighting  festival,  people  hang  colourful  lanterns  in  their  homes.

Traditional  lanterns  are  made from coloured paper and bamboo.  Ahead  of  the  crafting  process, lantern makers collect and  trim  bamboo.  Then  they  bend  it  into  shapes  and  affix  paper to the bamboo structure. Skilled artisans can shape lanterns  into  elephants,  peacocks  or  even  airplanes.  Paper  lanterns  made  of  bamboo  are  becoming rare. 

Lantern  makers  earn  a  small profit by selling lanterns, because  the  lanterns’  water-proof papers are ordered from China. Lanterns are selling for between  K1,500  and  K  3,000  each, depending upon the size, design and cartoon patterns.

Hsan  Nyount  (Yenangyoung)  (Translated by Hay Mar)