Myeik, November 13 

All Myeik Township Dhamma School Committee held 1st Tazaungdaing lighting festival in conjunction with hot air-balloon releasing festival on a grand scale at Maha Theiddizaya pagoda in the town of Myeik in Taninthayi region yesterday evening. 

At the Tazaungdaing lighting festival, monks, Dhamma school teachers, schoolchildren, guests and worshippers lighted candle lamps at the foot of the pagoda to offer candlelight to the Lord Buddha, praying for the well-being of all beings in the universe. Then, monks and devotees released 500 hot air-balloons into the sky. 

During the festival, fried rice and cold drinks were served to festival comers. A total of 2000 people enjoyed the festival, collectively singing a song depicting enjoyable lighting festival.—Khaing Htoo (Myeik) 
Translated by Aung Zaw Lin