The competing teams are playing traditional instruments and drums while brining their hot air balloon to the launching point to be eventually inflated by the fire of fuel-soaked "torches".<br />
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The fire balloons are made of paper, and designed by the participants. The candles, painting and even the fireworks are all made by hand. The making is quite an expensive affair, it often sums up to several thousand US Dollars. Parts of the funding is raised by the community and the rest by sponsorship from corporations.Together, the team is holding and rotating the balloon to show off the design. Some balloon makers focus on the design (painting or burmese script) whilst others adore them with candles called "Sein Na Pan". <br />
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Meantime, the crowd waits in astonishment for the firework to explode. Usually there is 50 kilo pack of<br />
firework ajusted to the hot air balloons. After around 50 meters of altitude the firework starts<br />
launching, pointing in all directions – even downwards.<br />
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Observing the hot air balloon rising high, over the full moon still shooting firework is a magical moment. And sometimes it turns into a deadly one... About a half-dozen deaths in the past few years along with dozens of injuries to be specific. Almost every year an accident takes place when a hot air balloon catches fire and drops<br />
away while the firework remains shooting mercilessly.