Destabilizing by its size, disorienting by its culture, Asia attracts many travelers in search of authenticity. In order to discover this continent at its best and to immerse oneself in its customs, participating in the different festivities that are organized is essential! It is often difficult to choose, as each day offers its share of festivals or popular celebrations... Petit Futé has selected the ten best events in Asia, not to be missed under any circumstances!
N°10 - Seoul Lotus Lantern Festival, a traditional birthday celebration
Every year in May, the Lotus Lantern Festival celebrates Buddha's birthday in South Korea. For a month, paper lanterns decorate the streets and temples. They symbolize Buddha, in all his wisdom, and above all the light he brought to the world. On his birthday, a grand parade is held in the city. Koreans dress in traditional garb - the hanbok, meals and tea are served to all visitors in the temples, and performances take place all over Seoul. The festival will take place from May 10 to 12, 2024.
N°9 - Monkey festival in Lopburi, the holy land of primates
In Thailand, Lopburi is known to shelter some rather particular inhabitants... Indeed, free-roaming monkeys have taken up residence everywhere in the city for the greatest happiness of the tourists! From the historical sites to the electric wires, these monkeys jump in every corner. Every year, the inhabitants pay homage to the descendants of the monkey-god Hanuman during a sacred ritual which takes place on the last Sunday of November. Gargantuan feast and festive atmosphere guaranteed!
N°8 - Jaisalmer Desert Festival, Rajasthani culture and heritage
Nicknamed the Golden City, Jaisalmer stands at the gateway to India's Thar Desert. This sumptuous walled city hosts the annual Desert Festival. On the program: horses, elephants and dromedaries decked out like princes, nomadic musicians, a turban-rolling competition and even a contest for the most beautiful moustache! A true immersion in Indian culture! The next Jaisalmer Desert Festival will take place from February 8 to 10, 2024.
N°7 - Party and slush at the Boryeong Mud Festival
There's no spiritual or cultural significance to this South Korean festival, which is nothing more than a gathering of grown-up children who have all come to get as dirty as possible... while purifying themselves! The therapeutic virtues of mud are well known. For two weeks, a wide range of often zany activities are organized, including mud skiing, wrestling contests and slides of all kinds, before the festival ends with a fireworks display... of mud, of course! In 2023, the festival took place from July 21 to August 6, so come to Boryeong at the end of July 2024!
N°6 - Enchantment and magic at the Kuwana Winter Lights Festival
Every year, to welcome winter, the Nabana No Sato Botanical Garden in Kuwana, Japan, is decked out in its finest finery! In total, more than 7 million LED bulbs illuminate its pathways in an elegant and stunning way. All the bulbs' batteries are recharged during the day thanks to solar panels... A wonderful and environmentally friendly show, too!
N°5 - Naadam, Mongolian national holiday
It is a real institution! Mongolians celebrate the revolution of 1921 in a festive and warm atmosphere. From July 11 to 13, the biggest festivities take place in Ulaanbaatar, the capital. Popular competitions of wrestling, horse races and archery are organized. The opening show is splendid: monks, folk dancers and athletes parade under the applause of the public!
N°4- Chinese New Year in Beijing, at the heart of tradition
The first day of the new moon, the "Spring Festival" is celebrated by Chinese communities the world over. Dragon parades, folk parades and incense fill the streets. Red, the color of happiness in China, is featured in lanterns, lanterns and costumes. It's certainly one of Asia's best-known festivals. Celebrating Chinese New Year in Beijing is an incomparable experience. The skies over the Chinese capital are lit up with a thousand lights, and the spectacle of the traditional dancers at the Temple of Heaven is unforgettable! This year's Chinese New Year will take place on February 10, 2024.
N°3 - Romanticism at Taiwan's Pingxi Lantern Festival
In ancient China, people believed they could see spirits in the sky thanks to the light of the first full moon of the year... Derived from this belief, Taiwan 's Pingxi festival is one of the most splendid celestial lantern releases in Asia. Loaded with greetings of all kinds, these lanterns invade the sky to herald in the New Year. The festival takes place every year, starting on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, in late February or early March. In 2024, the Lantern Festival will take place on February 24!
N°2 - Songkran or the Water Festival, the Thai New Year
Songkran is one of the country's most important festivals. It marks the beginning of the year according to the lunar calendar, and is therefore the Buddhist New Year. The authentic ceremonial was limited to bathing the hands of the elders. Today, in the streets of Thailand's towns and villages, everyone engages in gigantic water fights, to erase all traces of the past year! What's more, Songkran takes place in mid-April, during the hottest period of the year, so it's the perfect time to cool off! The next Songkran will take place from April 13 to 15, 2024.
N°1 - Holi, the Indian festival of a thousand colors
Celebrated throughout India, from north to south, Holi celebrates the arrival of spring. For the occasion, participants, dressed in white, throw colored pigments at each other in a joyous and cheerful atmosphere! The city is soon transformed into a veritable rainbow, but beware: all these colors have a meaning: green for harmony, red for joy and love, orange for optimism and blue for vitality! This event is celebrated during the full moon of Phâlguna, in February or March. The next celebration will be on March 25, 2024!
