From ice festivals in Harbin, China to Holi in India, make your next big holiday extra spesh with these regional recommendations from Lightfoot Travel
Visiting cultural sites, meeting locals and tasting exotic cuisines are all great ways to understand a country’s way of life. But if you’re looking to really get under a country’s skin, and delve deeper into the native lifestyle, attending a celebration or a festival is truly the way to go. Our friends at Lightfoot Travel have given us their favourite festivities and celebrations across Asia, and we say why not add even more excitement to your upcoming vacay by getting involved!
Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in China
15,000 people carve more than four million cubic feet of ice in preparation for China’s world-renowned Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, the world’s largest (and hands-down most spectacular) ice and snow festival. This is what we call a winter wonderland; thousands of creations are displayed throughout the city and light shows enhance the beauty of the sculptures by night. Towards the end of the festival, you’ll be allowed to smash the sculptures with ice picks – now that part really sounds like fun!
When: 05 January – 28 February 2016
Where: Harbin, China
Losar in Nepal
Fancy getting up close to the Dalai Lama? Then you don’t want to miss out on Losar in Kathmandu. Losar (Tibetan for ‘new year’) is one of Nepal’s most important celebrations and lasts 15 days. Crowds gather at Kathmandu’s ancient Boudhanath Stupa for a colourful event of singing, dancing and throwing barley flour, and, of course, to hear the Dalai Lama’s speech. Prayers, ceremonies and processions around the famed stupa are also part of the festivities, and be sure to catch the torch-lit dances that take place once night falls.
When: 8 February 2016
Where: Kathmandu, Nepal
Thingyan water festival in Myanmar
Been to Songkran too many times to count and looking for an alternative? Well, Thingyan in Myanmar is just what you need. Traditionally, people sprinkled scented water from silver bowls onto passers-by – a custom that is still prevalent in rural areas – but today, anything goes! Prepare yourself to be soaked to the bone – a welcome respite from the heat the country succumbs to during the period. Everyone is fair game – except monks and pregnant women!
When: 13 to 16 April 2016
Where: Thingyan, Myanmar
Nadaam in Mongolia
When a national event gets inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, you know it’s not one to miss. Nadaam is what can be described as Mongolia’s version of the Olympic Games. Nadaam (‘Games’ in Mongolian), also referred to as ‘Manly Games’, pits male contestants against one another in three disciplines: wrestling, archery and horse-back riding. Women also participate in these virile games, minus the wrestling. This show of strength dates back centuries – even pre-dating Genghis Khan who used Nadaam as a means for recruiting top talent for his army!
When: 11 – 13 July 2016
Where: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Holi festival in India
Where better to celebrate Holi than the place where Lord Krishna grew up? Though Holi is celebrated throughout India – though less so in the South – Mathura in Utter Pradesh takes the festivities very seriously; the celebration can last up to 16 days! Holi celebrates the triumph of good over evil and marks the end of the Indian winter – an uber colourful way to kick off the summer months.
When: India
Where: 24 March 2016
Esala Perahera in Sri Lanka
When one of Buddha’s teeth was stolen and smuggled into Sri Lanka over 1700 years ago, it was cause for celebration. Enter Esala Perahera: the 10-day long festival that honours this holy tooth. Watch as elephants decked in their finest garb walk the streets with decadently dressed dancers, moving in rhythm with the constant thumping of drums. You’ll instantly feel like you have been transported to a tribal gathering of epic proportions; have your breath taken away by the dizzying array of colours, fire eaters and awesome energy.
When: 8 to 18 August
Where: Kandy, Sri Lanka
Thimphu Tshechu in Bhutan
One of Bhutan’s biggest festivals, Thimphu Tshechu is a three-day celebration that attracts thousands of spectators. The festivities are preceded by days and nights of prayers and rituals which serve to invoke the gods. The celebration honours Padma Sambhawa, a saint who introduced Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayas. Clad in colourful attire, monks and lay monks perform cham dances that offer moral instruction; the atmosphere is vibrant and kaleidoscopic.
When: 11 – 13 October 2016
Where: Thimphu, Bhutan
Pushkar Camel Fair in India
Every year, the dusty town of Pushkar welcomes over 250,000 people and 50,000 animals over two weeks for one of the country’s most sensory overloaded festivals. Hosting a ton of entertainment including camel rides on the dunes, turban tying contests, tugs of war between locals and foreigners and parades of dancers. And let’s not forget the best moustache competition! There is no better place to capture the colour, culture, and spirituality that is abundant in India.
When: 8 – 14 November 2016
Where: Pushkar, India
The Whirling Dervishes in Turkey
The Sufi order of the Whirling Dervishes was established in 1273, following the death of Mevlana Calaledin Rumi, their spiritual leader (a Persian poet and philosopher). His disciples honour him every year during a 10-day festival during which, decked in white robes and tall hats, they whirl in circles in an effort to find inner peace and achieve divine harmony. The trance-like and elegant dances promise to take your breath away. Though most attend the festival to marvel at the Mevlevi Order’s whirling, you will also learn an incredible amount about modern Islam.
When: 17 December 2016
Where: Konya, Turkey
This article was brought to you by Lightfoot Travel, a Singapore-based luxury tour operator offering expert travel advice & inspiration, tailor-made itineraries & full booking services.
