Coinciding with the full moon festival, visitors flock to Taunngyi from far and wide to celebrate on the night of the full moon. Balloons in the shapes of animals, including horse, ox, pig, owl and elephant are lit up and released into the night sky as an offering to the Gods and Nats, to ward off evil spirits.

Visitors come from around central Myanmar to this famous pagoda with its distinctive egg-shaped dome to pay homage to the 56-foot solid marble Buddha housed inside. Many travel in a caravan of traditional bullock carts and camp in the pagoda compound under the trees, and sell local crafts and fabrics from their villages.

Celebrated all over Myanmar, this festival marks the end of the rainy season. Women weave continuously for two consecutive nights on the platforms of pagodas to make new robes for the monks. On the full moon day, the Khahtein ceremony is held to present the monks with robes, shoes and bowls; donations are also made to the monasteries.