Myanmar Fireworks Festival
Tens of thousands of people have been killed since the military grabbed power in a 2021 coup, sparking a civil war.
“Frankly speaking, we felt happier in the past,” said one festival goer. That kind of feeling is the best.
The annual Tazaungdaing hot air balloon festival in Taunggyi, northern Shan State, provided a rare opportunity for escapism.
- Goat, hippo and duck-shaped hot air balloons floated in clear blue skies.
- Crowds cheered as the contraptions float into the darkening sky.
- Referees judged the magnificence of their aerial explosions.
Author's summary: Myanmar fireworks festival brings rare joy amidst war.