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.
Duruthu Perahera is an important day for Sri Lankan Buddhism, as it is said that this was when the Buddha made a visit to the island country. Head to Colombo for the best taste of celebrations, where you’ll find locals performing rituals at Buddhist temples alongside lively parades in the streets creating a carnival atmosphere.
Eid Al Fitr is one of the most important religious festivals in the Islamic calendar and is widely observed in Qatar. Marking the end of Ramadan, the whole country comes alive and locals head out to celebrate with friends and family. Firework displays and festivities are held at Katara Cultural Village, while lights, banners, displays, and musical performances occur in various locations including the seafront, malls, and major souks. Travelers should note that almost all businesses close during this time though the festive mood and the chance to see locals in their best traditional clothing make it a special time to visit.
The Black Nazarene is a life-sized statue of Christ carrying the cross. On January 9th, Catholics flock to Manila to see it carried by barefoot men around the city to depict the stations of the cross. The people line the street to watch the procession and hope for the chance to touch the statue, believed to be miraculous.
On the eve of every full moon, the quaint town of Hoi An switches off its lights. However, this doesn’t mean it plunges into darkness. Instead, the town is lit up by candles, and glowing lanterns are released into the sky. Popular amongst both tourists and locals, the spiritual atmosphere really makes for an unforgettable experience.
One of the biggest annual festivals in India’s Gujarat, this event takes place on one of India’s most important harvest days. Also known as Uttarayan, kite flyers from all over the world come here to compete, and thousands of kites blanket the sky during the two-day festival. There is even a famous 24-hour kite market to peruse!
One noteworthy festival of the remote H’mong ethnic group is Gau Tao or San Sai Festival, which roughly translates to ‘walking on the mountain’. This is a chance for all the villagers to dress up, showing off their best clothes and new costumes over the course of three days. Elsewhere, you'll see games, singing and traditional ceremonies.
The Miao People of Yunnan celebrate this annual one-day festival in honor of their ancestors. They dress in traditional costume and plant a flower tree on a mountain. Classical music, dancing, and lion dancing are accompanied by a bullfight. There are games and competitions with prizes and a local market of food and crafts.
The hill tribes of Kachin State celebrate the Manaw festival every January. Also known as the Kachin New Year, the festival celebrates battle victories and tribe reunions of the past year. Spiritual dances create a colorful display as everyone in town joins in the fun in the little town of Kachin.
Known as the largest peaceful gathering in the world, this mass Hindu pilgrimage involves worshippers bathing in the country's most revered and significant rivers. Taking place in a 12-year cycle at four different locations (Prayag, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain), this event presents a unique opportunity to witness some of India’s oldest and most sacred rituals.
This is a popular four-day festival celebrated by the Miao ethnic minority of Guizhou. The Lusheng reed pipe dates back to the Tang dynasty and, as a symbol of Miao history, is played throughout the festival at ceremonies and performances of traditional dances. There are horse races on the third day and bullfighting on the fourth.
