Bagan Holds First Official Sky Lantern Festival

Bagan hosted its first official Sky Lantern Festival from 25 to 27 October, bringing families and devotees together beneath the city’s centuries-old temples.

The three-day event was organised by the military authorities’ tourism department, which released around 1,000 paper lanterns each evening above the UNESCO World Heritage site. The display was intended to attract visitors.

Religious observances and public celebrations

Devotees travelled from across the country to pray, make offerings and participate in the celebrations. Families also released paper lanterns over the ancient temples as part of the festival activities.

The event coincided with Thadingyut, also known as the Festival of Lights. Thadingyut marks the end of Buddhist Lent, a three-month period of religious observance during the rainy season.

Thadingyut is traditionally observed by lighting candles and lanterns. It is also associated with family reunions and honouring elders.

The festival commemorates the Buddha’s return from the celestial realm after teaching his mother, according to the source report.

Lanterns over Bagan

Bagan’s official festival combined these religious traditions with a tourism-focused programme centred on the nightly release of lanterns. The illuminated displays took place above the historic temple site during the celebrations.

The event marked the first time Bagan hosted an official Sky Lantern Festival.