TAZAUNGMONE (The offering of ' Ma-tho-thin-gan'/
Tazaungmone Festival of Lights)
In ' Tazaungmone ' ( November ), Tazaunding'
Festival is held on the full moon day of Tazaungmone according to
the Myanmar calendar. Homes, buildings and streets are illuminated
and monks are provided with robes and various requisites at Kahtein
( ceremony of offering robe to monks). The offering of ' Ma-tho-thin-gan'
saffron-colored robes weaving ceremony is held on the eve of the
full moon day of 'Tazaungmone' in one night. On that day, young
women teams of weavers compete with one another to complete weaving
robes overnight. Crowds watch intensely as the'go signal is given
for the teams to start speed weaving at a stretch from evening
onwards till completion at dawn for offering to the great image of
Lord Buddha. The weaving of this special robe is still done the
traditional way as a demonstration and contest of weaving skill.
During the 'Kahtein' Festival some Myanmar young men usually send up
fire balloons.
