Abstract

• Hot Air Balloon Festival (Mee Pone Pyan festival)is celebrated in Taunggyi, Southern Shan State, as the state festival for not only local people but also Tourists. It was established as a religious ritual for paying homage to the Buddha. However, as times changed economic and development factors arose that led to the expansion of the ritual to that of a festival. The main themes were not changed for the festival, but the making and launching process of hot air balloons festival. Contributed greatly to communal value and social integration, previously the making and launching hot air balloon were represented as the highlight of cultural activity as well as the social activity of community. The aim of this study is to show how the communal values and social integration gradually developed and changed in the process of the celebrating hot air balloons festival. These items were explored by applying the qualitative research methodology especially using participant observation, key informant interview and focus group discussion. Data were analyzed and created by descriptive study design. By doing this research, it can be explored that although the festival encourage promotion of individual identity, it also has a positive impact of changing communal values and social integration.