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Can you imagine a world with only work and no play? 365 days without any celebration? It sure is a scary thought!
Since time immortal, festivals have been celebrated to infuse enthusiasm, togetherness, and belonging. Civilisations from across the world have coined unique festivities that entice people from different communities, geographical boundaries and social groups to come forward, get smitten by the infectious mood and experience larger than life entertainment.
A sneak peek at the top nine festivals across the globe will make you want to pack your bags and join the fun and frolic:
La Tomatina
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Squash and Pelt! This festival is purely celebrated for enjoyment and involves squashing and throwing tomatoes at each other.
- Where: Bunol, Spain
- When: Last Wednesday of August
- How to reach: By bus or train (38 Kms) from the city of Valencia
Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
- It is show time! Considered as one of the biggest carnivals in the world, this festival attracts a gathering of more than two million people. Euphoria descends on the streets as performers (mainly the Samba school) dress-up in elaborate costumes and party in the truest sense of the word.
- Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- When: March
- How to reach: Direct or connecting flights easily available
Holi
- What is Your Colour? Holi is best known as the 'festival of colours.' People celebrate this festival by applying powdered colour to each other. Splashing coloured water, playing with water balloons, and water guns adds more fun.
- Where: Any place in India
- When: March
- How to reach: Direct flights connect major cities of India to the world
Running of the Bulls
- Feet vs. Hooves! Running of the Bulls is a dangerous yet enthralling festival that involves running in front of a group of bulls, let loose in a small section of a town’s street. Almost 200-300 people are injured annually in the course of the run.
- Where: Saint Fermin in Pamplona, Spain
- When: July
- How to reach: Take any flight from Madrid or Barcelona for Pamplona
Boryeong Mud Festival
- All for the Glow! It is not every day that you frolic in mud and wash it off looking radiant and glowing. A South Korean cosmetic company, Boryeong introduced this festival as a marketing gimmick to promote its mineral enriched mud cosmetics. Participants at the festival enjoy fascinating mud activities like pools, skiing, and slides, while onlookers sway to the music of live bands. The festival ends in an amazing fireworks display.
- Where: Seoul, South Korea
- When: July
- How to reach there: Seoul is well connected by air and is a two-hour drive from almost all major cities in South Korea
Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival
- Step into an Ice World! Experience the brilliant work of larger than life ice and snow sculptures decorated with lights and lasers.
- Where: Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- When: Begins on 5th January and lasts a month
- How to reach: By flight, bus, or overnight train from Beijing
Carnival of Venice
- Taste of Fairyland! Distinctive masks, fairytale balls, elaborate costumes, street performances, and colourful boats on canals, summarise this Carnival.
- Where: Venice, Italy
- When: February to March
- How to reach: Book an air ticket to the Marco Polo Airport or travel by bus to the Santa Lucia Station. On arrival board a waterbus or a watertaxi for Venice
Taiwan Lantern Festival
- Blazing Dots in the Sky! This visually appealing festival is also known as the Yuan Xiao Festival. The event witnesses a beautiful sky filled with thousands of sky lanterns. Originally, the lanterns were released to ward of diseases and evil, and then as a signal to alert others that the town was safe.
- Where: Pingxi District, Taiwan
- When: Usually held in the month of February or March
- How to reach:An hour-long drive from Taipei
Oktoberfest
- Say Cheers! Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival that hosts the world's largest funfair. The annual attendees are estimated to be more than 6 million. On an average, 1.8 gallons of beer are consumed at the fest.
- Where: Munich, Bavaria, Germany
- When: Begins in late September to the first week of October
- How to reach there: Direct flight or by train (if you are in Germany)
From the colour of tomatoes to the colour of mud and from the taste of beer to the thrill of running fast, these festivals have knit people of different castes and races in one hue. Come witness these festivities to be a part of the celebration and see the world as one!
