Flames and fireworks as Myanmar fire balloon fest opens

Participants releasing a hot-air balloon attached with fireworks during the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival.

Brightly coloured balloons with hundreds of homemade fireworks woven into their frames are sent soaring into the night sky, showering down cascades of sparks onto adoring crowds in the annual Taunggyi fire balloon festival.

Participants releasing a hot-air balloon attached with small lanterns.

Participants dance as a hot-air balloon attached with small lanterns is prepared to be released during the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival.

People looking at a hot-air balloon during the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival at Taunggyi in Myanmar's northeastern Shan State

Wa ethnic women smiling during the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival.

Participants celebrating as fireworks explode after they released a hot-air balloon attached with fireworks during the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival.

Participants dancing during the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival at Taunggyi in Myanmar.

Participants releasing a hot-air balloon attached with fireworks during the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival at Taunggyi in Myanmar.

Wa ethnic women performing a traditional dance during the opening ceremony of the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival at Taunggyi in Myanmar's northeastern Shan State.

Participants dance during the opening ceremony of the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival at Taunggyi in Myanmar.

A hot-air balloon in the sky during the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival.

Lanterns in the sky during the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival.

Participants releasing a hot-air balloon attached with fireworks during the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival.

Firefighters at work after a fireworks-laden hot-air balloon ignited before the balloon was at a sufficient height during during the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival at Taunggyi in Myanmar's northeastern Shan State.

Participants releasing a hot-air balloon during the Tazaungdaing Lighting Festival.