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Exotic, Colorful
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Explore can take you hundreds of colourful destinations and festivals. Visit Explore Tours, Request a Brochure or check their new Festival Holidays list. |
Exotic
and Colourful Heritage Festivals 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 to the
amazement and delight of visitors.
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 is Sept 1 - Sept 29 '08
Dates
are sometimes unconfirmed and occasionally
unreliable, so check before booking.
TBC [A] = to be confirmed [announced]
2008 Festival dates and information: Feb | March | April | May | June | July | August | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
January
2008
| January - February '08 | CHINA Harbin Ice and Snow Festival - includes illuminated ice sculptures and sports. Beware extreme cold! China Guide | China Pictures | China Map |
| 21 - 22 January 2008 | INDIA Bikaner Camel Festival at Bikaner, Rajasthan - much less touristy than February's Desert Festival, but in an equally gorgeous fortified desert town location. Endless colourful camel activities, including a beauty competition, but human fun stuff too - dancing, fireworks, music etc. India Travel | Rajasthan Pictures | India Map |
| 1 day early January 2008 | JAPAN Wakakusa Yamayaki, Nara.The traditional and spectacular burning of an entire hill, with attendant fireworks. Japan Guide | Japan Pictures | Japan Map |
| 3 days in mid January 2008 |
JAPAN Toka Ebisu nationwide, but especially Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka - a shrine oriented event with parades and lots of peculiar rituals. Japan Photos | Japan Map |
| 10-12 January 2008 | MALI Festival in the Desert, Essakane, near Timbuktu [Tombouctou]. A fantasy mix of traditional north African desert music, international players, camels, dance and sword play in stunning surroundings. Mali Travel Guide | Mali Pictures |
| 14 January 2008 |
INDIA International Kite Festival. A zillion kites and fights in the lovely but busy city of Jaipur, Rajastan, or Ahmedabad. India Guide | Rajasthan Pictures | India Map |
| 14 January 2008 |
INDIA Pongal [Harvest] Festival, Tamil Nadu state. India Travel | India Photos | India Map |
| 3rd weekend of January 2008 |
TURKEY Camel Wrestling at Selcuk near Ephesus - the camels wrestle, not humans/camels! Turkey Travel | Selcuk & Ephesus Pictures |
| 23 January 2008 | MALAYSIA Thaipusam at Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur - a huge, Hindu procession into the caves, with many penitents pierced by hooks, skewers through various body parts. Similarly in Singapore, same day. Malaysia Guide | Malaysia Pictures |
| 26
January [Same day every year] |
INDIA Republic Day in Delhi - pompous but splendid parade and festival. India Guide | India Pictures | India Map |
February
2008 n.b. For the several great European carnivals see European
Festivals
| 1 - 3 February '08 | THAILAND Flower Festival, Chiang Mai. A must for floraphiles, this interesting city is bedecked by thousands of flowers, including 1,000 species of orchid. Parades and sculptures too. Thailand Travel | Thailand Photos | Thailand Map |
| 1 - 17 February '08 |
CANADA Carnaval de Québec in Quebec City - a vigorous winter celebration with parades, themed parties, ice sculptures and, bien sûr, winter sports of every description in a pretty Francophile city. Canada Travel | Canada Pictures |
| 1
- 17 February '08 |
CANADA Winterlude Festival in Ottawa [Ontario], weekends only - features parades, dances, snow races, ice sculptures, sleigh rides and more, but especially skating on the 7km Rideau Canal. If skating is your thing, then this is your festival. Canada Guide | Canada Photos |
| 24 Jan - 18 February 2008 | PERU Virgen de la Candelaria in Puno, not a pretty city but with amazing surroundings such as Lake Titicaca aznd the Altiplano. This colourful, local event offers vigorous dancing, music, masks and insane fireworks. And Cuzco's not far by splendid train ride...Puno Pictures |
2, 3, 4,5 Feb; in Rio 31
Jan - 5 Feb; in Salvador, Brazil, 2008 |
BRAZIL Rio de Janeiro Carnival - it's wild spectacle for sure, but not in the street - it's in a huge stadium and thus not so involving; it's also expensive and caution is needed outside. So perhaps try carnivals in other cities which will be almost as wild but a lot more user friendly, touchy/feely - such as Salvador and Olinda in the north-east, both beautiful, lively and with good beaches nearby or even try Trinidad [island] see above [19-20th]. Brazil Travel | Rio de Janeiro Pictures |
| 4, 5 February '08 | TRINIDAD Carnival, [an island in the Caribbean] where the carnival is on the street and mad in the nicest possible way, though if you want a nice beach too you'll have to nip over to neighbouring Tobago. Caribbean Map |
| 5 - 11 February '08 | JAPAN Sapporo Snow Festival - a mass of superb, huge, imaginative ice sculptures in this pleasant Hokkaido town. Hot springs and hot saké take the edge off the cold! Japan Guide | Sapporo Festival Pictures | Japan Map |
| 6
February [Same days every year] |
INDIA Madurai Float Festival. Incredible temples and spectacular floats on the night of the full moon. India Travel | India Photos | India Map |
| 7
February '08 26 Jan '09 Feb 14 '10 |
VIETNAM Tet [New Year] Festival nationwide - for one week, the most important annual event of the country and a wild and noisy time is had by all. Vietnam Travel Guide | Vietnam Pictures |
| February or March | INDIA Goa Carnival. An Indo-Latin fusion of music, dance and wild revelry. India Guide | India Pictures | India Map |
| 7 February 2008 | CHINA New Year Parade, Hong Kong - nationwide but especially potent in Hong Kong, as psychedelia hits the 'scrapers and parades hit the streets...this is the best Chinese celebration, with dragons galore. Hong Kong Guide | China Map |
| 7 February 2008 | TIBET Losar [Tibetan New Year] nationwide. An extremely colourful occasion with stunning traditional costumes worn by monks and many fascinating rituals, though beware the altitude and cold. Tibet Pictures |
| 19 February 2008 | JAPAN Naked Festival [Hadaka Matsuri] in Inazawa, Aichi - a Shinto man strips off, is shaved completely then runs through the town while thousands of semi-naked men in loin cloths try to touch him. Butt, butt... Japan Travel | Japan Photos | Japan Map |
| 19 - 21 February '08 | INDIA Desert Festival, Jaisalmer, Rajastan - touristy but terrific location near the Disneyesque town of Jaisalmer, under a full moon. Dance, music, local contests and camels. Nearest airport is Jodhpur, 280kms away. Jaisalmer Photos | India Map |
| 21 February 2008 | CHINA Spring Lantern Festival, nationwide. Lanterns - some of strange design - are lit and carried all over China. China Travel | China Pictures | China Map |
| 22
February [Same day every year] |
EGYPT Abu Simbel - 2 days a year [also 22 October] when the light is just right in this incredible temple complex. Just you and 1,000 other tourists! Abu Simbel Photos |
| 25 Feb - 3 March '08 | INDIA Khajuraho Dance Festival, fine and fluid art among the staggeringly high porn temples. India Travel Guide | India Pictures | India Map |
| 31
Jan - 5 Feb '08 19 - 24 Feb '09 11-16 Feb '10 |
MEXICO Carnival, nationwide but especially Veracruz, Cozumel, Mazatlan and two towns near Mexico City - Huejotzingo and Tepoztlan - huge, wild party time with dance, music, masks, mock battles and parades. Mexico Guide | Mexico Photos |
| 1
- 14 March '08 |
JAPAN Omizutori Festival - at the Todaiji temple in Nara - 1,200 year old ceremonies, especially spectacular on the last night, full of huge, blazing torches and noise-making monks. Japan Travel | Nara Pictures | Japan Map |
| early March | JAPAN Lantern and Flower Festival in Kyoto - A perfect arrangement of flowers and massed lanterns, including a 4.6 km path between shrines and temples. Lit lanterns from 6pm - 9.30pm. Dance and other arts too. Japan Guide | Kyoto Pictures | Japan Map |
| 15-19 '08 [Same date every year] |
SPAIN Las Fallas in Valencia - a wild and explosive [literally] carnival/fiesta combination that will blow your socks off, locals spend 5 days partying with parades, pageants and moderate fireworks then, on the last night, they turn off all the city lights and set fire to hundreds of massive statues stuffed with fireworks around the city. Kaboom. Spain Guide |
16 - 23 March 2008 |
MEXICO Semana Santa [Easter Week] nationwide but esp. Chiapas - state processions, costumes, fireworks, music, dance and some weird rituals. Mexico Travel | Mexico Photos |
| 21 March 2008 | PHILIPPINES Crucifixion in San Fernando. Locals play out Christ's agony, all dressed up, beaten by whips and some finally nailed - for real - to crosses. Asia Map |
| 22
March 2008 Nepal, [Khatmandu] and India, [esp. Jaipur] |
NEPAL & INDIA Holi [Festival of Colour]. The ultimate in colourful festivals, everyone throwing coloured water or paint over everyone else, including you. It's a kaleidoscopic madhouse. Nepal Travel | Khatmandu Pictures | India Travel | India Pictures |
| 19-23 March 2008 |
MEXICO Cumbre Tajin in Veracruz. A unique mind, body and soul celebration in the spiritually correct Tajin park. A mass of alternative therapies as well as art, music, dance and adventure sports [eh?]. Mexico Guide | Mexico Photos | Tajin website |
| 20
March 2008 [same date every year] |
MEXICO Kukulcan Snake God in Chichen Itza [Yucatan] - see the snake appear in this spectacular pyramid complex, plus varied entertainments. Couple of days before and after too. Mexico Travel | Chichen Itza Photos |
25
- 31 March |
JAPAN Cherry Blossom Time especially in Tokyo's Ueno park or Aoyama cemetery - all over Japan pink and white cherry trees herald springtime and just about every Japanese person, including - or especially - office workers, gets totally blotto on beer and saké under the trees. Japan Travel | Japan Pictures | Japan Map |
| 6 April 2008 |
JAPAN Kanamara Penis Festival in Kawasaki, near Tokyo. An hilarious, good-feeling event loaded with music, double-entendres, huge portable dongs and little willy lollies. Japan Travel | Kanamara Festival Pictures |
| During April |
MALI Mask Festival in Dogon Country. Spooky and crude animist event in spectacular, surreal surroundings. Mali Travel Guide | Mali Pictures |
8 - 13 April 2008 |
SPAIN La Feria de Abril [April Fair] in Seville - Seville's best party with traditional dress, parades, dancing and boisterous parties in a spectacular environment. Seville Travel Guide | Seville Pictures |
| 13
- 15 April [Same date every year] |
THAILAND Songkran [New Year Water Festival] nationwide - especially lively in Chiang Mai. Four days of parades, fancy dress and water being thrown everywhere, including over tourists. Thailand Guide | Thailand Pictures | Thailand Map |
| 13
- 15 April 2008 [Same date every year] |
CHINA Water Splashing Festival in Jinghong, beautiful Yunnan province. Much dragon boat racing, fireworks, dancing and throwing water over everyone, but everyone. China Guide | China Photos | China Map |
14
- 15 April 2008 |
JAPAN Takayama Spring Festival in pleasant Takayama, near Nagoya - A dozen ancient, elaborate floats get dragged around the old town; with traditional music andf costumes. Japan Travel Guide | Takayama Festival Pictures |
| Mid
April - mid May 2008 |
MEXICO Feria de San Marcos in Aguascalientes [the North] - large and long established celebration of Mexican music and machismo, with rodeos, bull fights, folk dancing, parades, mariachi and mucho more. Mexico Guide | Mexico Photos |
| 5
May [same day every year] |
MEXICO Cinco de Mayo in Puebla, just north of Mexico City - the glorious battle of Puelbla [ 1862] is celebrated with mock military dress, parades and mock battles in the main square of lovely Puebla. Mexico Guide | Mexico Pictures |
| 10-11
May 2008 TBC [2nd weekend of May every year] |
THAILAND Rocket Festival [Bung Fai] in Yasothon [NE Thai]. Crazed rocket builders compete - with total disregard for safety - for the highest flier. Thailand Travel | Thailand Pictures | Thailand Map |
| 12 May 2008 | INDONESIA Waisak Festival at Borobudur temple, the world's largest Buddhist structure. A quiet but stunningly spiritual event with acres of saffron-robed monks praying under the full moon at the incredible Borobudur. Borobudur Pictures |
| 12
May 2008 2 May 2009 |
CHINA Bun Festival on Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong. Yes, real, edible buns treated with enormous pomp in this fishing island, huge bun towers, bun parades and something to eat too. Hong Kong Guide | China Pictures | China Map |
13 May 2008 |
INDIA Thrissur Pooram in Thrissur, Kerala. A day of fireworks, raucous music and fantastically decorated elephants continues way into the night during this, the biggest festival in Kerala. India Travel Guide | India Photos | India Map |
| 17-18 May 2008 | JAPAN Sennin Gyoretsu in Nikko - a massive parade of samurai-dressed folk and dancers around a supremely beautiful shrine in a gorgeous country town of hot springs and waterfalls. Japan Travel | Japan Photos | Japan Map |
| 16-18
May 2008 [from 3rd Fri of every May] |
JAPAN Sanja Matsuri in Tokyo - crowded processions of elaborate mini-shrines are vigorously carried around the streets near Tokyo's venerable Asakusa shrine, well fuelled by saké and beer. Japan Guide | Japan Pictures | Japan Map |
| June
- November 2008 |
MADAGASCAR Famadihana 'turning the bones' - reburying the dead ceremonies, interesting but independent travel required. Madagascar Travel Guide | Madagascar Pictures |
6 - 14 June '08 |
MOROCCO Festival of Sacred Music in Fez [Fes] - a huge variety of weird sounds from around the world, Sufi chants though Egyptian odes to whirling dervishes, but not excluding musicians from developed countries. Morocco Travel Guide | Morocco Pictures |
| 8 June 2008 | CHINA Dragon Boat Festival [Tuen Ng] around Hong Kong's islands and rivers, but also some other Chinese towns/cities. Spectacularly decorated boats loaded with rowers and drums race. Hong Kong Guide | China Pictures | China Map |
| mid
June - mid July one month long 2008 |
INDONESIA Bali Arts Festival, a celebration of Balinese traditional arts, particularly dance, music and wood carving, on a fascinating island... Indonesia Travel | Bali Photos |
| One
week but esp. the last day, 24 June [Same days every year] |
PERU Inti Raymi in Cusco. A traditional Inca sun worship occasion colourfully performed in front of the wonderful Sacsuhuayman fort, above the lovely town of Cuzco. Peru Travel | Peru Photos |
| 24
- 30 June [Same days every year] |
TURKEY Kirkpinar Oiled Wrestling Festival in Edirne - 1,000 oily fat boys get a good slapping. Turkey Guide | Turkey Photos |
|
3 - 9 July [Santiago] July - August [Havana] TBC |
CUBA Fiesta del Fuego [Carnival]. Santiago - a gorgeous town with ever lively people goes bananas for a week. Havana - tatty and fascinating does the same for longer but only at weekends. Cubans are noted for their natural music and dance ability, not to mention rum- though HOT! Cuba Guide | Cuba Photos |
| 6
- 14 July 2008 |
SPAIN Los Sanfermines [Bull Running] in Pamplona - don't be bored, be gored! Six bulls are released into the streets every morning of this 7 day Basque rite-of-manhood party. You too can battle the big horns. Sanfermin. |
| 1 day early July | US Redneck Games in East Dublin, Georgia. Tongue-in-cheek competitions such as the Mud Pit Belly-Flop, Hubcap Hurl, Dumpster Dive. It will be hot and dirty! USA Travel Guide |
| 4 - 13 July '08 |
CANADA Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta - a 10 day world-class rodeo riot, a wild yet comradely festival enjoyed by the whole of 'Cowtown'. Events include Chuck Wagon racing, rodeos, a spectacular parade, country music performances and free pancake breakfasts! Canada Travel | Canada Photos |
11
- 15 July '08 |
MOROCCO Folklore Festival in Marrakech - a week of strange and exotic music mixing it with more contemporary sounds in a very strange and exotic location, Marrakesh's El Badi Palace. Hot to trot. Morocco Travel Guide | Marrakech Pictures |
| 16
July 2008 24 June 2009 |
INDIA Rath Yatra [Chariot Festival], Puri, home of Krishna. A juggernaut [literally] of a festival in the ancient holy city of Puri in Orissa state. Pilgrims pull 15m high chariots across the city. India Guide | India Pictures | India Map |
| 14
- 17 July '08 [Same days every year but 17th is the big one] |
JAPAN Giyon Matsuri in Kyoto - a citywide celebration with lots of street action, but the big day is July 17 with the Yamaboko Parade, a procession of monstrous but delicately decorated Hoko [two-story houses on wheels]. Japan Travel | Japan Pictures | Japan Map |
| mid-late July | MEXICO La Guelaguetza in Oaxaca - a lively and traditional folk dance, music, and costume festival in a pretty town. Mexico Travel Guide | Oaxaca Pictures |
| 24
- 25 July [Same date every year] |
JAPAN Tenjin Matsuri [Boat Festival] in Osaka - no, not a boat show. This event involves processions, costumes and hundreds of decorated boats with lights, a million spectators with torches and fireworks. Woah! Nirvana for pyromaniacs. Japan Guide | Photos | Japan Map |
27
July '08 |
JAPAN Sumida River Fireworks in Tokyo. Seriously big display, lasts for an hour. Get there early, you will not be alone [Then again, in Japan you never are...]. Japan Travel | Pictures | Japan Map |
| August
to October but esp. September |
INDONESIA Funeral Ceremonies at Tanatoraja in south central Sulawesi, special invites needed [not hard to get by travel agents] but these massive, peculiar events are fascinating - new villages built, effigies carried, dancing and eating in very picturesque environments. Indonesia Travel | Toraja Pictures |
| 10
- 11 August [Same days every year] |
TIBET Horse Racing Festival in Nakchu. A relaxed and kaleidoscopic Tibetan event with large numbers of Tibetans displaying extreme horsemanship, but also enjoying folk songs and dance. Based in a brilliant tent town next to Nakchu. Beware - few hotels, high altitude. China Travel Guide | Tibet Pictures |
| 4 days in mid August | JAPAN O-Bon Festival [Festival of the Dead] nationwide - precise date depends on local council. Festival of the Dead, paper lanterns on water, candle ceremonies, lots of kimonos in the streets, dancing etc. Japan Travel Guide | Japan Pictures | Japan Map |
| mid August TBA | INDIA Naag Panchami [Hindu Snake Festival] nationwide but best in Jodhpur. India Guide | India Pictures | India Map |
| 16
- 17 August 2008 [similar is the Goroka Cultural Show 13 - 14 September] |
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Mt Hagen Cultural Show - a gathering of PNG's clans, touristy but with sensational outfits [birds of paradise feathers, human hair, cat skins...], especially after a trip into the highlands to see the truly bizarre lifestyles. Hair schools for growing wigs, trench warfare, shell/pig/feather currency etc.. Hagen Pictures | 'Hair Today' [Article] |
| 25 - 27 August '08 | MOROCCO Imilchil Engagement Festival - 3 days of Berber instant marriages, a marital mind bender in the Atlas Mountains, with no shortage of exotic music and traditional costumes. Morocco Travel | Morocco Photos |
| 25 Aug - 1 Sept [Labor Day] '08 |
USA Burning Man Black Rock Desert near Reno, Nevada - a week of unique, liberal and artistic madness, culminating in the torching of many structures. Expensive and organisation will be required, but this could be a life changing experience. Burning Man Pictures and Information | SW USA Photos | SW USA Map |
| 27
August 2008 |
SPAIN La Tomatina at Buñol town in Valencia - a huge and incredibly messy public fight with 25 tons of tomatoes, one day. You can participate, in fact you should if you take the trouble to go there. Spain Travel Guide | Spain Pictures |
| 10 days in Sept TBA 2008 |
MEXICO International Mariachi and Charreria Festival in Guadalajara [Jalisco state] - flashy trousers, fat guitars and gritos galore in this celebration of Mexican music. 'Ayyy!' Mexico Guide |
| 12 Sept 2008 | INDIA Onam Festival in Kerala, with boat racing, outrageous outfits, processions, dancing, music - the usual mad Indian jamboree.. India Travel | India Photos | India Map |
| August
to October but esp. September |
INDONESIA Funeral Ceremonies at Tanatoraja in south central Sulawesi, special invites needed [not hard to get by travel agents] but these massive, peculiar events are fascinating - new villages built, effigies carried, dancing and eating in very picturesque environments. Toraja Pictures |
| 13
- 14 Sept 2008 [similar is the Hagen Cultural Show 16 - 17 August] |
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Goroka Show - a gathering of PNG's clans, touristy but with sensational outfits [birds of paradise feathers, human hair, cat skins...], especially after a trip into the highlands to see the truly bizarre lifestyles. Hair schools for growing wigs, trench warfare, shell/pig/feather currency etc.. Hagen Pictures | 'Hair Today' [Article] |
| 2
- 10 October [Same days every year] |
NEPAL Dasain mainly Khatmandu, but also Bhaktapur, Patan for 10 days. The last few days will be the best. A very lively, blood-letting [mostly sheep], dancing, kite flying festival. Khatmandu Pictures |
| 6 October 2008 TBC | THAILAND Buffalo Races in Chonburi, near Pattaya. All sorts of different water buffalo contests, including fancy dress. Thailand Travel | Thailand Photos | Thailand Map |
| 9
- 10 October [Same days every year] |
JAPAN Autumn Festival in Takayama [nearish to Nagoya]. Processions, floats, costumes, singing, dancing, kimonos, too much saké, too many people...Japan Travel | Japan Photos | Japan Map |
| 6-9 October 2008 | INDIA Dussehra, nationwide but Mumbai probably best. An important Hindu festival notable mainly for public battles between giant paper monsters filled with fireworks. Not for those of a nervous disposition...India Pictures | India Map |
9 -10 October |
JAPAN Takayama Autumn Festival in pleasant Takayama, near Nagoya - A dozen ancient, elaborate floats get dragged around the old town; with traditional music andf costumes. Japan Travel Guide | Takayama Festival Pictures |
| 18
- 28 October [Same days every year] |
PERU Procession of the Lord of Miracles in Lima. Celebrating Jesus Christ, aka Señor de los Milagros, the whole of Lima turns out to sing, dance, pray, wear purple clothes and watch parades. Peru Pictures |
| October 2008 TBA | THAILAND Vegetarian [!] Festival in Phuket and Trang. Innocuous name... actually most of the event involves men piercing themselves with metal rods, strolling over red-hot coals and other mutilational activities. Thailand Travel | Thailand Photos | Thailand Map |
| 22
October [Same days every year] |
EGYPT Abu Simbel - 2 days a year when the light is just right in this incredible temple complex. Just you and 1,000 other tourists! 22 February also. Egypt Guide | Abu Simbel Photos |
| 31
October - 2 Nov 2008 |
MEXICO Dias de los Muertos [Days of the Dead] mainly in the states of Michoacan [esp. Patzcuaro] and Oaxaca [Oaxaca town is a great base] - lots of different ceremonies to link the dead with the living, plus sand sculptures, fancy dress, decorated altars, sugar skulls etc. Visit cemetaries late night Nov 1-2 to see the candles, flowers, music, family parties. In Oaxaca the more spacious new cemetery is livelier than the old one. Oh how we laughed. Days of the Dead Photos |
| 1 - 2 November 2008 | MEXICO Dias de los Muertos [Days of the Dead] see above. |
| 2
November [Same date every year] |
ECUADOR All Soul's Day - one of the country's most colourful religious festivals, with flowers and offerings to ancestors. Everything closes! Ecuador Travel Guide |
| 11-13 November 2008 | CAMBODIA Bonn Om Touk [Water Festival] - the country's biggest festival. Locals go bananas celebrating a natural phenomenon - the reversing of the current of Tonle Sap River - with wild, decorated boat races and fireworks. Nationwide but Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are best. Cambodia Travel | Cambodia Photos |
| 10 - 18 November 2008 TBC | THAILAND Surin Elephant Roundup in Surin, including elephant football, tug-of-war, and psychedelic parades.Thai Travel | Thai Photos | Thailand Map |
| 7 - 13 November 2008 | INDIA Pushkar Camel Fair in Pushkar, Rajasthan - a zillion camels gather to race, put on fancy kit, change owners, take tourists for pathetic rides and generally liven up this quiet little lakeside town beside the Thar desert. Singing, dancing and exotic foodstuffs too, for two-legged animals. India Pictures | Rajasthan Pictures | India Map |
| 30
November 2008 TBC [last Sunday in Nov.] |
THAILAND Banquet for Monkeys in Khmer ruins near Lop Buri [central Thailand] - one day with 600 monkeys sitting down to lunch. Thai Pictures | Thailand Map |
| Through December [every year] | MALI Crossing of the Cattle at Diafarabé - an ancient tradition celebrating, you've guessed it, desert herds crossing the river. Lively and fascinating. Mali Travel Guide | Mali Pictures |
| 2 - 3 December 2008 | JAPAN Chichibu Night Festival [Yomatsuri] in Chichibu, a small town not far from Tokyo. In one of Japan's most impressive night parties teams of costumed men drag six massive, illuminated floats around the town's narrow streets while kids perform dances and dramas on board, all backed by drums, flutes, fireworks and fuelled by barrels of saké. Crowded of course, but the crowds are fun and friendly. Japan Travel Guide | Japan Pictures | Japan Map |
| 10
- 17 December [Same dates every year] |
TURKEY Whirling Dervishes Festival, Konya - awesome spinning dance to honour a Sufi saint, Mevlana. Attended by up to a million people. Turkey Travel Guide | Turkey Pictures |
| mid December TBA | BRAZIL Christmas Festival in Salvador - a pretty, warm city loaded with decorations, music, parades, shows and kid's stuff. Brazil Travel |
| end of December TBA | TUNISIA Sahara Festival in Douz - camel racing and other colourful desert events, as well as varied music and merrymaking. Warm? Not at night! Tunisia Travel Guide | Tunisia Pictures |
| 31 December | BRAZIL New Year in Rio de Janeiro - Like Edinburgh, this is one of THE places to be at this time. Various curious seaside rituals dedicated to Iemanja - Goddess of the Sea and Carnal Pleasure - during the day, then wild parties on the beaches accompanied by samba bands at night...Brazil Photos |
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