| For
good weather and festivals, early August:
Papua
New Guinea [Trobriand Islands], Yam Harvest Festival, July/Aug,
1 day. PNG Pictures
Indonesia,
Bali] Galungan. Probably 2-12th August but check it. This spectacular
10 day event takes place over the whole island, and involves endless
music, dance, decoration and offerings to visiting gods. The last
day is the most important. Bali
Pictures
Madagascar,
Famadihana 'turning of the bones' [reburying the dead] ceremonies
June -November.
Madagascar Pictures.
Tunisia,
Carthage International Festival [music and dance], in Carthage's
ancient sites, Tunis, July-Aug. Tunisia
Pictures
Vanuatu
[Tanna Island], Nekowiar Festival [traditional Toka Dance], Aug/Sep/Oct,
a few days
Bolivia [Copacabana], Fiesta of the Virgin of Copacabana [colorful
procession], 5-7 Aug For
good weather and festivals, late
August:
Papua
New Guinea [Mt.Hagen], Hagen Show [gathering of the clans],
mid Aug, 3 days. PNG
Pictures.
Brazil [Fortaleza and coastal Ceará], Iemanjá [festival of
the goddess of the sea], Aug 15, 1 day.
Brazil
Pictures
Spain,
Bunol, Valencia, La Tomatina - a huge and incredibly messy public
fight with 25 tons of tomatoes; you can participate. 28 Aug, one
day. Spain
Pictures
Ghana
[Accra], Homowo [Hunger Hooting Festival for the Harvest celebration?!],
end Aug-early Sep, 2 weeks
Swaziland
[Lobamba], Umhalanga [traditional ceremony with Reed dance], late
Aug- early Sep, 1 week
Or go for
festivals only, not the weather! i.e. this is not the best season:
India [Nationwide, esp. Jodhpur], Naag Panchami [snakes & charmers]
July/Aug, 2 weeks.
[Pahalgam], Amarnath Yatra [Pilgrimage to a sacred mountain cave,
4 day trek in July/Aug.
Tarnetar Mela [tribal fair], Aug/Sep, 3 days.
[Alappuzha & Kerala] Onam Harvest Festival [Nehru Cup Snakebort
Race], Aug/Sep, 10 days. India
Pictures
Sri
Lanka [Kandy], Kandy Esala Perahera [Buddhist festival, dancers,
decorated elephants +] 15 days in July/Aug
China [Guizhou Province], Guizhou Tribal Festivals. China
Photos
Japan [Nationwide], O Bon [Buddhist Festival], 15-16 Aug, a few days.
[Aomori & Hirosaki], Nebuta Matsuri [traditional procession]
1-7 Aug,
[Sendai & Nationwide]Tanabata Matsuri [Star Festival] 6-8 Aug.
Japan
Photos
Taiwan
[Nationwide], Hungry Ghost Festival, Aug/Sep, 1 month
Indonesia [Ruteng, Flores Island], Caci Whip Duels [spiritual fighting], 17th
[Tanatoraja Region, Sulawesi Island], Toraja
Funerals, Aug/Sep, a few days each. Sulawesi
Pictures
Vietnam [Nationwide], Trung Nguyen [feast for hungry ghosts], full moon
day in Aug/Sep. Vietnam
Photos
Mexico [Huamantla],
Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Aug 15. Mexico
Photos
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