Courtesy of Viory.Video
Enormous balloons printed with vivid patterns—wayang characters, Indonesian flags, cartoon mascots, and bold geometric motifs—laid flat on the dew-damp grass in Wonosobo, Central Java, Indonesia, on Sunday.
Footage shows teams of handlers, usually local men who have prepared for weeks, spreading each bundle carefully, checking for tears and untangling the ropes that keep the giants tethered to the ground.
When the signal came, the first burner tilted skyward and roared. A jet of propane flame shot into the mouth of the balloon, causing the fabric to stir, twitching like a waking creature. The handlers pulled the mouth open while the blast of hot air forced the envelope to rise, inch by inch, from a crumpled heap to a swelling dome.
Within minutes, the first balloon lifted upright, followed by dozens more amid cheers from the crowd.
“It feels truly magical. Usually, I only see this on social media, but seeing it in person, it is far more magnificent,” said visitor Apri.
Event Chairperson Hasan Fadholi stated, “As the balloons take flight, we ensure that the tethers are securely anchored to the ground, preventing them from drifting uncontrollably into the wild.”
The largest balloons stood seven or eight storeys tall, looming over the cheering crowd as they swayed gently in the mountain breeze.
The festival transformed the highland skyline into a vibrant gallery of colour, celebrating Eid al-Fitr as Muslims observe the end of fasting from dawn to sunset during Ramadan which concluded on March 19.
Residents and ‘mudik’ travellers gathered across 23 village locations to witness the launch of dozens of massive, hand-painted balloons.
Article and Video Courtesy of Viory.Video
