Exotic World Festivals
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Check out these brilliant festival tours in places like Peru Inti Raymi, Argentina Tango, Bolivia's Oruro and more! |
World Festivals (exotic, colourful heritage events) are wild, lively events in superb, exotic locations that usually include a variety of activities but mostly focus on local people in local dress doing traditionally loco things.
These events are usually crowded, noisy and require lots of walking.
Festivals in Asian and Islamic countries are often based on either moon cycles or a different calendar so dates can change dramatically year by year. Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, (dates depend on full moon so can differ by one day depending on location. 9 July-7 August 2013. There's always a lively feast day, Idd al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan.
Events Calendar Dates are sometimes unconfirmed and occasionally unreliable, so check before booking. TBA/C = To Be Announced/Confirmed
This page publishes only January festivals and event dates. Click below for other months.
2012-2013
World Festival dates and information:
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
January
2013
2 - 7 January |
COLOMBIA, Pasto, Black and Whites' Carnival (Carnaval de Negros y Blancos) - a manic and messy tradition marking slave culture; dating back to 1912 this is one of South America's oldest and most vivid celebrations. People go crazy painting themselves black one day and white the next, with a Grand Parade somewhere down the line.
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1 January to 23 February |
SOUTH AFRICA, Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, Kaapse Klopse - a brilliant collection of parades and parties harking back to slave days, with singing, dancing, colourful costumes and competitions.
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5 January - mid February and beyond Chinese New Year. |
CHINA, Harbin Ice Festival & Chinese New Year - including magnificent, monstrous illuminated ice sculptures and icy sports. Beware extreme cold, averaging -16C and possibly down to -38C! China Map | Harbin Festival Pictures | Harbin Festival Video
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4th Saturday in January |
JAPAN, Yamayaki (Grass Burning on Mt. Wakakusayama), Nara. An annual New Year tradition with spectacular burning of an entire hill and attendant fireworks. Nara Pictures, Japan Map
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9 - 11 January |
JAPAN, Toka Ebisu nationwide, but especially Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka - a shrine oriented event with parades and lots of peculiar rituals.
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During January |
MALI, Mask Festival in Tireli, Dogon Country, with local masked antelope dancers. Spooky and crude animist event in spectacular, surreal surroundings. Mali Travel Guide
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29 January |
SCOTLAND, Up Helly Aa - 'Europe's largest fire festival', a spectacular community tradition celebrating their rich Viking heritage, annually held in Lerwick, Shetland. Costume marches, torchlight parades, burning a viking boat and the parties go on and on long after the last flames fade away. Scotland Guide, Islands Pictures
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9 January |
PHILIPPINES, Manila, Quiapo, Black Nazarene - a 400 year-old Catholic procession with a black life-sized wooden statue of Jesus Christ, held annually since the 17th century and dedicated to Padre Jesus Nazareno de Quiapo, Father Jesus Nazarene of Quiapo.
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10 January (annually) |
BENIN, Voodoo Festival in seaside town of Ouidah, located 42 km west of Cotonou city - a spiritual gathering at a beach to honour slave ancestors, with colourful costumes, chanting, dancing, drinking gin and religious ceremonies.
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14 - 20 January (ends 3rd Sunday) |
PHILIPPINES, Ati-Atihan Festival, Aklan, Kalibo, Panay Island - a 2 week-long vivid religious carnival/feast annually held since 13th century in honour of the Santo Niño (Baby Jesus). If you missed the event try Dinagyang in Iloilo City a week later.
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14 January every year |
INDIA, International Kite Festival. A zillion kites and fights in the lovely but busy cities of Jaipur or Ahmedabad, Rajasthan state.
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15 January
(same day until 2015) |
INDIA, Pongal Festival (Tamil Festival), a 4 day harvest celebration in Tamil Nadu, a southern state of India. This thanks-giving feast is one of the most important and popular Hindu Festival. It is also the month of weddings.
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19 January |
ETHIOPIA, Timkat Festival (Epiphany), an Orthodox Christian festival to celebrate the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, with strange rituals and psychedelic processions. Takes place throughout the country, but the greatest is Fasilidas’ Bath in Gonder, the former capital.
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| 3rd weekend of January |
TURKEY, Camel Wrestling Championship - this medieval tradition takes place in Selcuk town near the ancient city of Ephesus, with 1,200 camels and thousands of spectators. The camels wrestle, not humans vs. camels! Turkey Travel Guide, Selcuk & Ephesus Pictures
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26 - 27 January |
INDIA, Bikaner Camel Festival at Bikaner, Rajasthan - much less touristy than February's Desert Festival, but in an equally gorgeous fortified desert town location with colourful camel activities - including a beauty competition - but human fun stuff too, dancing, fireworks, music etc. India Travel Guide
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26 January |
INDIA, Madurai Float Festival - originated in the 17th century held in Madurai, the oldest city in Tamil Nadu on the first night of the full moon. Incredible temples and spectacular floats, worshippers dressed in red and yellow dance around and spray coloured water on the crowds.
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26 - 29 January |
INDIA, Republic Day (26th) celebration in Delhi - a pompous but splendid parade with marching soldiers and bands, traditional dancers, floats from different states.
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27 January, 6, 10, 15, 17, 18, 25 February |
INDIA, Allahabad, Maha Kumbh Mela, - the ultimate heap of Hindu pilgrimage with worshippers gathering at the Holy Ganges river for an auspicious bath. It is not only the biggest religious assembly but also recorded as the the largest human gathering in 2001 with 40 million people. India Travel Guide
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27 January
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MALAYSIA, Thaipusam (also known as Murugan Festival), photo at top, a celebration of the birth of god Murugan, to the Batu Caves from Kuala Lumpur over 8 hours - a massive and bizarre Hindu procession into the caves, with many penitents pierced by hooks and skewers through various body parts. Similarly in Singapore on the same day but no major piercings allowed there. Malaysia Travel Guide, Batu Caves photos and more information
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This page publishes only January festivals and event dates. Click below for other months.
2012-2013
World Festival dates and information:
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
