Skies in Myanmar light up during hot air balloon festival

13 Nov 2016 12:38 PM IST

The explosive-laden balloons regularly crash to the ground.

Brightly coloured balloons with hundreds of homemade fireworks woven into their frames were sent soaring into the night sky (Photo: Instagram/AFP)
Some dangle from the bars as the ride hurtles toward the ground, while others swing between the bars upside down as the wheel turns (Photo: Instagram)
\"Before last year I had won every time. Even so I have never got less than third,\" said Thaw Thar Win, who led a group of balloon makers (Photo: AFP)
Visitors can also witness more death-defying feats on a human-powered ferris wheel at the festival's fairground (Photo: Instagram)
The huge crowds, lack of safety precautions and homemade fireworks have proved deadly in the past (Photo: AFP)
Visitors from around the world flock to see the extraordinary explosions of light and colour, which police predicted would draw up to 50,000 visitors a day this year (Photo: AFP)
While the tradition is rooted in Buddhism, the hot air balloon contest itself was started by British colonialists in the late 19th century (Photo: AFP)
The November celebration has become a highlight of the annual Tazaungdaing festival of light that marks the end of Myanmar's rainy season (Photo: AFP)

Brightly coloured balloons with hundreds of homemade fireworks woven into their frames were sent soaring into the night sky (Photo: Instagram/AFP)

The explosive-laden balloons regularly crash to the ground.