So much in Asia depends on the calendar. In February in Beijing, more than 20 million people all set off fireworks to celebrate Chinese New Year. In Nagaland in India, tribes from all over the region meet to compete, dance, and celebrate. In Thailand, spectators look on as celebrants perform bizarre rituals at the Nine Emperor Gods Festival.
With an intimate and unique knowledge of Asian culture, Remote Lands knows the importance of experiencing culture the right way. Whether you want an up-close view of the Sing-Sing festival in the Asaro Valley of Papua New Guinea or a quiet walk through the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, Remote Lands can give travelers the best possible experience on their celebrations throughout Asia.
This exciting and colorful five-day event attracts kite enthusiasts from all over the world to Pasir Gudang recreational park to show off their craftsmanship and flying skills. Participants fly their elaborate and traditional kites, some of which drop candy over the spectators; there are competitions as well as workshops for youngsters.
One of the most spectacular Buddhist festivals in northern Vietnam, this epic three-month event in My Duc District is split into two parts: ceremonial rituals and entertaining activities. Expect monks giving blessings, alongside beautiful dances and flower shows. Pilgrims also take boat trips and go mountain climbing.
This three-day winter festival in India’s sandstone city of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, presents a wonderful opportunity for visitors to witness traditional local dancing, folk songs and music. Locals adorn themselves in special costumes, and camels are paraded and raced for entertainment.
A large cultural and heritage festival held in Janadriyah near Riyadh annually, the Janadriyah National Festival lasts for two weeks starting usually in late February. Revelers can expect activities such as camel racing, local music and dance performances, pavilions hosted by government branches and provinces, and displays of traditional crafts such as pottery, weaving, woodwork, metalwork, and leatherwork. This festival was first organized by the National Guard in 1985 and today is continued by the Ministry of Culture.
Held annually at the Jakarta International Exhibition Center, the three-day Java Jazz Festival is the largest of its kind. Latin, modern and the local Javanese flavor all join together to jam and celebrate with music enthusiasts. Over 1,500 musicians perform for over a hundred thousand people.
This week-long celebration is one of the few ethnic cultural festivals in the country. Held in Malaybalay, it commemorates the anniversary of the establishment of Bukidnon as a province and honors the culture of the tribal groups in the region. Traditional tribal costumes are worn and the people perform their native dances in the streets.
Singing, dancing and overall merriment are in store for those attending the Ko Gyi Kyaw Spirit Festival in Pakhan. Lasting eight days, the annual festival celebrates the happy spirit Ko Gyi Kyaw in his hometown in the Mandalay region. Worshippers, visitors and locals alike join in the festivities and traditional displays.
This exciting five-day festival takes place yearly at the ornate Sun Temple in Kornak, Odisha, India. Visitors will witness all kinds of jubilant dance and music, with musicians playing drums, cymbals and other traditional instruments, while dancers from all over the country perform traditional dances.
February 21st commemorates the lives sacrificed during the political movement in 1952 that advocated the recognition of the Bengali language as the official language of Bangladesh, which was then a dominion of Pakistan whose government imposed the state language of Urdu. To honor the martyrs, each year government officials and the public lay wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar in front of the Medical College and Hospital of Dhaka, the location where the movement took place.
The Taiwan Lantern Festival is celebrated around the first full moon of the lunar year, and is considered one of the most romantic dates in the festive calendar. Locals and visitors make handheld candles, set off firecrackers and release lanterns into the sky. A can’t-miss favorite is tangyuan (sticky rice dumplings) - the festival food.
