U Tin Tun displays a fire balloon at his shop in Latha township. Pic: Hein Latt Aung

SALES of fire balloons and paper lanterns are on the rise ahead of one of the most delightful events on the Buddhist calendar – the festival of light that begins on the eve of the full moon day of Thadingyut, which this year falls on October 26.

“We started selling fire balloons and lanterns in late August and sales have stabilised after being flat for a few weeks,” said Daw San San Myint, who has a roadside stall in Yangon’s downtown Latha township.

Most balloons launched into the sky during the three-day festival, which marks the end of Buddhist Lent and the start of the month of Thadingyut, are small hot-air balloons.

Bigger and more elaborate models are named after Taunggyi, the town in Shan State famous for hosting a festival that includes a competition for huge balloons in the shape of animals and mythical creatures.

Among the Taunggyi fire balloons on sale this year are shwe-hintha (resembling a Brahminy duck), shwe-youn-min (golden rabbit king), pho-laplae (full moon) and shwe-zei-gywt (golden owl).

The number of Taunggyi-style balloons on the market this year has doubled to about 10 and one of the most popular new designs is kankaungthaw-nga (lucky fish), said U Nyi Nyi, a wholesaler who runs the December Store on Shwedagon Pagoda Road.

All fire balloons are made domestically, said U Nyi Nyi who has been selling them for more than 15 years. Most balloons and lanterns are made in Mawlamyine but they are also produced in Yangon’s South Okkalapa township, he said, adding that Yangon, Mandalay and Taunggyi are the best-selling markets.

The cost of ordinary fire balloons at U Nyi Nyi’s shop ranges from K500 to K600 but Taunggyi-style models cost between K1700 and K1800.

Cheaper models are also available, and U Tin Tun, who runs a shop on 24th Street, sells ordinary fire balloons for between K165 and K290, and Taunggyi balloons for K450.

U Tin Tun’s shop, in common with many in and near Theingyi market in Latha township, is also well-stocked with the colourful paper lanterns that adorn houses during the festival.

He is selling Myanmar-made lanterns for between K35 and K350, while those imported from China, many of which are battery operated, range from K850 to K3000.

Myanmar-made lanterns are available in a range of designs, including la-chan (half moon), kha-yay-pwint (star flower) and sin-chay-yar (elephant’s footprint), which cost between K200 to K280, said U Tin Tun.