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.
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.
Visitors and locals sink their teeth into different sticky rice delicacies with various toppings at the Maha Muni Pagoda Festival in Mandalay. Lasting two days, the festival celebrates the revered Maha Muni Buddha Image covered in thick gold. Bonfires decorate the festival grounds during the cold month of February.
An elaborate pagoda serves as the pinnacle of the largest Pagoda festival in a small town on the border of Shan and Kaya in Myanmar. Four days are filled with sprawling markets selling everything from candles, grilled whole pigs and illegal motorbikes. Visitors also enjoy cultural dance performances.
Occupying the northwest corner of Myanmar, the Naga people are a small culture living in the hilly country. A traditional Naga New Year Festival is a rare cultural treat, where gifts are exchanged, and traditional music and dance are performed for local and international entertainment.
This eight-day livestock fair, taking place in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is the second-largest fair in India, involving 70,000 bullocks, camels and horses. The event also includes sports and games, such as tug-of-war, camel races and cock fights. A large bazaar presents a wonderful opportunity for picking up unique souvenirs.
