Festivals & Events

Historically performed to bid departing soldiers farewell, this is one of the most popular festivals in Lombok. Dancers perform to two massive drums playing traditional, cultural songs.

This festival celebrates the culture, traditions and craftsmanship of the Murut people. There are exhibitions and displays about their many sub-ethnic groups including dance and music performances and hut-building demonstrations. Visitors from all over Malaysia flock to Tenom to enjoy the festivities and buy beautiful Murut crafts.

Colorful dragonboats race through the ancient waterways during Teluk Kendari festival in April, in the old city of Kendari. Festival-goers take to the streets to party all night long and enjoy traditional handicrafts, food and performances on the highlight of Kendari’s social calendar.

At Khau Vai Love Market festival you won’t find anything on sale. This unique one-day event is an opportunity for long lost lovers to meet, offering a sanctuary for couples that couldn't marry, due to being from different tribes. Monks also give their blessings to the once broken-hearted lovers at this happy yet poignant festival.

This fun three-day nationwide holiday in Cambodia celebrates the end of the harvest season and is a chance for farmers to relax before the rainy season comes. Cambodians celebrate by visiting temples and friends, playing games and preparing grand offerings to spirits to ensure good luck for the coming year.

This three-day national holiday is one of the most popular in the Laotian calendar. Families clean their houses and youngsters pour water over the hands of their elders to ask for blessings. There are huge water fights in the streets to symbolize the cleansing of the soul for the new year and people visit temples to make merit.

April 7 is the Feast of the Annunciation in the calendar of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and officially recognized as Mother’s Day, on which children are expected to give presents to one's own mother, particularly a gift of flowers. A less common tradition is the gift of a budding twig. Though women’s day is in March, April 7 is considered an opportunity to celebrate the unique beauty of all women. 

Known as Nawavarsha in Nepalese, Nepal’s New Year usually falls around the second week of April. It is celebrated with picnics, parties, and other forms of socializing, and musicians perform throughout the country, and locals carry chariots of Hindu gods through the streets. The biggest party takes place in the Kathmandu valley.

During the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year period, when the heat is at its worst, many of Colombo’s residents head to the hills for a break. This tradition, stretching back to the British colonial times, is comprised of two fun-filled weeks of sport, car rallies, flower exhibitions, music and parties that go on well into the night.

Called Eid Al-Fitr in the Arab world, the celebration of Orozo-Ait in Kyrgyzstan marks the end of Ramadan, a month-long Islamic religious ceremony involving fasting. On the day of Orozo-Ait, the fast is over, resulting a congregational prayer and celebrations around the country - and a lot of tasty food.