Festivals in the world 202-logo Abduraxmonova Komila

Festivals in the world

202-logo Abduraxmonova Komila

Holi, India

Holi is a religious spring festival, mainly celebrated by Hindus. Bonfires are lit on the eve of the festival, also known as Holika Dahan (burning of little Holi), in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of God Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion. The celebrations can last up to 16 days, with Hindus throwing coloured powder and water at each other in the street.

Obon Festival, Japan

• The Obon Festival lasts for three days across Japan, usually in August. It is a Buddhist festival to commemorate one's ancestors and is celebrated through Bon Odori dances and a giant bonfire lit in the hills of Kyoto. The festival is also known as the "festival of lanterns", as one of the customs during this time is to send paper lanterns floating along the river to symbolise the souls of those departed returning to their graves in peace.

Cannes Film Festival – Cannes, France – May

• Whether you adore the wonderfully charismatic glamour of the film industry and its celebrities or you are enthralled by the creativity and storytelling of filmmaking, you’ll want to make the trip to Cannes at least once. Perhaps the most important film festival on the circuit, at its heart, Cannes is about mining for new talent and providing a showcase for it. But of course, its procession of polished and gilt stars provides a certain air of prestige, too. The inaugural festival was held in 1946, which helps to further imbue it with an authoritative air, as does its French Riviera locale. Get along to absorb some brilliant cinematic works and perhaps rub shoulders with a few A-listers while you’re at it.

Snow & Ice Festival — Harbin, China — January – February

• Harbin is transformed into a winter wonderland with seismic ice sculptures across the city, adorned with lights and lasers, drawing thousands of artists and art-enthusiasts alike. And if that’s not enough to tickle your fancy, there’s also the Ice Lantern Art Fair, dog sledding to watch and our favourite, “winter swimming watching”.

Shark Taronalari

• Shark Taronalari is Uzbekistan’s international world music festival. First held in 1997 in Samarkand, the festival has attracted a growing number of performers and participants through the years. It usually takes place every summer. Folk singers who practice traditional musical genres such as uran khai (throat singing) and makom (sacred classical, melodic Uzbek music) come to the festival to perform alongside musicians from Europe and Asia.

Carnevale — Venice, Italy

The annual Carnevale is how Venice celebrates before the privations of Lent. While Rio de Janeiro’s version of the celebration is much more famous, Italy more than holds its own.