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.
Celebrating victory over Nazi Germany, Armenia also recognizes the liberation of Shushi and the establishment of the Artsakh army on May 9. An official public holiday, the event is accompanied by military events, parades, and memorializes fallen soldiers, and fireworks are held in the evening. Other former soviet regions also celebrate May 9 as Victory and Peace Day.
May 9th marks a day of commemoration, victory and respect for the people of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz people across the nation pay tribute veterans and to the victory of the Soviet Union over Germany in WWII. The veterans are the main guests on this day, which includes performances, a parade and an evening firework show.
A nationalist holiday celebrating the 1945 surrender of Nazi Germany. Vake Park in Tbilisi is the central celebration site for Victory Day, with flowers laid at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier. It is a day dedicated to remembering veterans and is celebrated with concerts, ceremonies, and cultural events. Victory Day is celebrated in a number of countries in the region on this date.
Celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha Siddharta Gautama, the Waisak one-day festival serves as a central meeting point for Buddhists worldwide. A momentous Buddhist holiday, the celebration begins with a procession from the Mendut Temple to the Pawon Temple and finishes at the Borobudur Temple in Yogyakarta.
This important day in the Buddhist calendar is celebrated by devotees throughout Malaysia. It commemorates Gautama Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing over. People visit the temple and make offerings, burn incense and pour water over statues of Buddha to symbolize cleansing. Candlelit processions take place in the evening.
The 5th Melanesian Festival invites cultural groups from across the South Pacific to visit Papua New Guinea and participate in this vibrant two-week cultural and art exhibition. Port Moresby hosts the major events, with Kokopo, Alotau, Wewak and Mt. Hagen also joining in the fun with a series of performances and shows.
A month filled with performances, handicraft exhibitions, cultural displays and other activities comes to tropical Bali during June and July. Bringing the best of Indonesia’s art scene, Bali’s Arts Festival encourages locals and tourists to enjoy Balinese culture together.
This two-day festival is celebrated by the Bisaya people of Sarawak and attracts visitors from all over. The Bisaya honor their buffalos with a carnival featuring dance and music performances, traditional food and handmade crafts. The highlight is an exciting bareback buffalo race between teams from Limbang, Sabah and Brunei.
During Dragon Boat Festival, local teams race against each other in their fiercely decorated dragon boats with some of the biggest and most competitive in Stanley. Spectators can expect pounding drums and roaring crowds, alongside cold beers and live music on site.
This popular, colorful one-day festival is followed by two public holidays, and is celebrated throughout China. Sticky dumplings and wine are traditionally shared among friends, and people flock to the river banks to watch exciting dragon boat races. There are also market fairs with games, music and dancing.
