Nay Pyi Taw November 4
The Maravijaya Buddha Image Tazaungdine lighting festival 2025, hot-air balloon releasing contest and Mathoe golden lotus weaving contest and awarding ceremony were held on a grand scale at the fountain square of the Maravijaya Buddha Park in Dekkhinathiri Township of Union Territory this evening.
The ceremony was attended by Acting President of the Re-public 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, Commission Vice Chairman Vice-Senior General Soe Win and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Commission member Prime Minister U Nyo Saw and his wife, Commission member Ex-ecutive Chief U Aung Lin Dway and his wife, Commission Secretary Joint Executive Chief General Ye Win Oo and his wife, commission members and their wives, Union-level dignitaries, Union ministers and their wives, delegation members led by Governor of Novosibirsk H.E. Mr. Andrey Aleksandrovich Travnikov of the Russian Federation which is currently in Myanmar during their goodwill visit, the Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command and officials, contests from Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, regions and states which participated in the hot-air balloon releasing contest and the Mathoe golden lotus robe weaving contest, crowds of pilgrims, monks and people.
First, the Senior General and his wife together with attendees to the ceremony arrived at the platform of the Maravijaya Buddha Image. They offered fireworks of paying homage to the Buddha image. The Senior General and his wife offered flowers, water and oil lights to the Image.
The Senior General and his wife lit the oil lamps together and went round the Image clock-wise. The Senior General and his wife beat the Saddhadhipati Bell and cordially greeted pilgrim people.
The Senior General and his wife together with the attendees went to the fountain square where they cordially greeted the delegation members led by Governor of Novosibirsk H.E. Mr. Andrey Aleksandrovich Travnikov of the Russian Federation.
Then, the Senior General, his wife and attendees watched releasing of a Seinnapan hot-air balloon and night hot-air balloons in competition.
During the preparations to release hot-air balloons and releasing the hot-air balloons, ethnic cultural troupes performed traditional dances, choral dances and songs.
The Senior General and his wife, the Governor of Novosibirsk of the Russian Federation and delegation members visited the stone inscription pagodas. The Senior General explained architectural building of the Maravijaya Buddha Image in accord with Myanmar traditions and customs and modern technologies.
Next, the hot-air balloon to mark the Russia-Myanmar friendly relations was released. The hot-air balloon was hung with the expression “NOVOSI-BIRSK”.
Following this, the prize-awarding ceremony was held. Commission members presented trophies, honorary cash awards, and commemorative certificates to the teams that won the best discipline awards in the Nyameegyi (Nyameekyi) and Seinnapan hot-air balloon launching competitions and the Mathoe golden lotus robe weaving competition, as well as the best team discipline award, the best visual appeal awards, the team award for the most reverently crafted robe, the best innovation awards, the team award for best costume, the best hot-air balloon ascent awards, the team award for best collaborative competition, the best hot-air balloon ascent record awards, and the team award for best seams and stitching.
Subsequently, the Commission Secretary Joint Execu-tive Chief awarded trophies, honorary cash awards, and commemorative certificates to the teams that won the awards for the most beautiful hot-air balloon designs in the Nyameegyi (Nyameekyi) and Seinnapan hot air balloon launching competitions, and the team award for the best fabric structure of the woven robe in the Mathoe golden lotus robe weaving competition. The Commission member and Executive Chief awarded the teams that won the best endurance time awards and the team award for best handling and operation of the loom in the Mathoe golden lotus robe weaving competition. The Commission member and Prime Minister awarded the teams that won the third prizes in the Nyameegyi, Seinnapan hot air balloon launching, and Mathoe golden lotus robe weaving competitions with trophies, honorary cash awards, and commemorative certificates.
After that, the Commission Vice Chairman presented trophies, honorary cash awards, and commemorative certificates to the team representing the Ministry of Home Affairs, which won the second prize in the Nyameegyi (Nyameekyi) hot-air balloon launching com-petition; the team representing the Ministry of Legal Affairs, which won the second prize in the Seinnapan hot air balloon launching competition; and the Manaw Land Loom Association team representing Kachin State, which won the second prize in the Mathoe golden lotus robe weaving competition.
Following this, the Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission presented trophies, honorary cash awards, and commemorative certificates to the team representing the Nay Pyi Taw Development Committee, which won the first prize in the Nyameegyi (Nyameekyi) hot-air balloon launching competition; the team representing the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, which won the first prize in the Seinnapan hot-air balloon launching competition; and the Amara Shwe Pyi Loom Association team re-presenting Mandalay Region, which won the first prize in the Mathoe golden lotus robe weaving competition.
After the prize-awarding ceremony, fireworks were set off and a farewell performance with a Lettee song was present-ed. Participating teams, along with traditional cultural troupes and guest delegates from the Novosibirsk Region of the Russian Federation, joyfully joined in the celebrations together. The ceremony was then successfully concluded.
Afterwards, the Senior General, along with his wife, cordially greeted the Governor and members of the delegation from the Novosibirsk Region, and those who came to attend the Light Festival at the Maravijaya Buddha Image.
It is learned that the Tazaungdine Light Festival was held from November 2 to 4 within the grounds of the Maravijaya Buddha Image in Dekkhinathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory. During the festival period, the event was bustling and vibrant, featuring chanting groups offering prayers on the platform of the Great Sacred Image, the offering of 9,000 oil lamps, the launching of fire-works and firecrackers, the launching of beautiful yameegyi and Seinnapan hot-air balloons, the weaving and offering of Mathoe golden lotus robes, the decorative illumination with LED lights within the Buddha Park compound, stalls selling local products, food and bever-ages, and consumer goods from Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), as well as stalls displaying and selling local traditional Myanmar snacks. State artists also presented performances featuring music and drama.
