Festivals in Asia Continent

Let's Celebrate

Festivals in Asia Continent

Here are some of the best festivals and celebrations in Asia

    Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival

    1. When: January 5-February 25, 2025
    2. Where: Harbin, China
    3. Description: A winter wonderland featuring gigantic ice sculptures, illuminated ice lanterns, and a range of winter activities.
    4. Expert Tips: Visit during the opening ceremony for the best experience.
    5. Official Website: Harbin Ice Festival
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Dubai Shopping Festival

    1. When: January 10 - February 10, 2025
    2. Where: Dubai, UAE.
    3. Description: A month-long shopping extravaganza with discounts, entertainment, and cultural events.

    Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu)

    1. When: January 15, 2025
    2. Where: Assam, India
    3. Description: The harvest festival of Assam celebrated with traditional dance, feasting, and the building of Meji structures, followed by a bonfire.
    4. Expert Tips: Join the community celebrations in Majuli.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Makar Sankranti

    1. When: January 14, 2025
    2. Where: India
    3. Description: Celebrates the harvest season with kite flying, traditional sweets, and cultural events. It marks the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn.
    4. Expert Tips: Participate in the International Kite Festival in Gujarat.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)

    1. When: January 29, 2025
    2. Where: Across China and East Asia
    3. Description: Marks the beginning of the lunar new year. Festivities include dragon dances, fireworks, family reunions, and the giving of red envelopes (hongbao).
    4. Expert Tips: Experience the grand celebrations in Beijing or Hong Kong.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Billions

    Pingxi Lantern Festival

    1. When: February 11, 2025
    2. Where: Taiwan
    3. Description: Lanterns are released into the night sky, symbolizing good luck and sending wishes for the upcoming year.
    4. Expert Tips: Visit Pingxi for a magical display of lanterns.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Tens of thousands

    Thaipusam

    1. When: February 12, 2025
    2. Where: Malaysia, Singapore, and parts of South India
    3. Description: A Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Murugan, marked by devotees piercing their bodies with hooks and skewers as a form of penance.
    4. Expert Tips: Witness the vibrant procession at the Batu Caves in Malaysia.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Hundreds of thousands

    Kuwait Liberation Day

    1. When: February 25, 2025
    2. Where: Celebrated nationwide in Kuwait.
    3. Description: Marks the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1991.

    Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

    1. When: February-March 2025.
    2. Where: Dubai, UAE.
    3. Description: Celebrates literature with author sessions, panel discussions, and workshops.

    Eid al-Fitr

    1. When: March 30, 2025.
    2. Where: Across the Middle East, with significant events in cities like Cairo, Istanbul, and Dubai.
    3. Description: Marks the end of Ramadan with prayers, feasts, and social gatherings.

    Holi

    1. When: March 14, 2025
    2. Where: India and Nepal
    3. Description: The Festival of Colors signifies the victory of good over evil. Participants throw colored powders and water at each other, celebrating with music and dance.
    4. Expert Tips: Join the celebrations in Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Bali Spirit Festival

    1. When: March 23-30, 2025
    2. Where: Bali, Indonesia
    3. Description: A celebration of yoga, dance, and music, promoting well-being and community spirit.
    4. Expert Tips: Immerse yourself in yoga and healing arts workshops.
    5. Official Website: Bali Spirit Festival
    6. Estimated Participants: Thousands

    Nowruz

    1. When: March 20-21, 2025
    2. Where: Celebrated across the Middle East, especially in Iran
    3. Description: Persian New Year, marked by feasts, family gatherings, and symbolic rituals.

    Abu Dhabi Festival

    1. When: March-April 2025
    2. Where: Abu Dhabi, UAE.
    3. Description: Showcases performing arts, including music, dance, and theater.

    Red Sea International Film Festival

    1. When: March 2025
    2. Where: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
    3. Description: Highlights regional and international cinema with screenings, workshops, and awards.

    Songkran

    1. When: April 13-15, 2025
    2. Where: Thailand and parts of Southeast Asia
    3. Description: Thai New Year festival celebrated with water fights, parades, and religious ceremonies. Water symbolizes purification and the washing away of sins.
    4. Expert Tips: Head to Chiang Mai for the world's largest water fight.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Khmer New Year (Chaul Chnam Thmey)

    1. When: April 13-16, 2025
    2. Where: Cambodia
    3. Description: Celebrated with traditional dance, music, and water festivals. Locals clean and decorate their homes and visit pagodas.
    4. Expert Tips: Join the water festivities in Phnom Penh for a lively experience.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Songkran Water Festival

    1. When: April 13-15, 2025
    2. Where: Laos and parts of Thailand
    3. Description: Similar to the Thai Songkran festival, Laotians celebrate the New Year with water fights, religious ceremonies, and festive gatherings.
    4. Expert Tips: Enjoy the festive atmosphere in Luang Prabang.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Cherry Blossom Festivals

    1. When: Late March to April
    2. Where: Japan, South Korea, and parts of China
    3. Description: Celebrates the blooming of cherry blossoms. Festivities include picnics, traditional performances, and illuminations under the blooming trees.
    4. Expert Tips: Attend the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Pahela Baishakh (Bengali New Year)

    1. When: April 14, 2025
    2. Where: Bangladesh and West Bengal, India
    3. Description: Celebrates the Bengali New Year with colorful processions, traditional music, dance, and delicious food.
    4. Expert Tips: Join the vibrant celebrations in Dhaka or Kolkata.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Dead Sea Ultra Marathon

    1. When: April 2025
    2. Where: Jordan
    3. Description: Trail running event offering stunning views around the Dead Sea area.

    Vesak (Buddha Purnima)

    1. When: May 12, 2025
    2. Where: Across Asia, with major celebrations in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Indonesia
    3. Description: Commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha with processions, prayer, and the decoration of temples.
    4. Expert Tips: Witness the grand celebrations in Borobudur, Indonesia.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Dragon Boat Festival

    1. When: May 31, 2025
    2. Where: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other East Asian countries
    3. Description: Traditional boat races are held to commemorate the death of the poet Qu Yuan. Participants also enjoy zongzi (sticky rice dumplings).
    4. Expert Tips: Watch the exhilarating races in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Fez Festival of World Sacred Music

    1. When: May 23 - June 1, 2025
    2. Where: Fez, Morocco
    3. Description: Showcases sacred music traditions from around the world in a historic setting.

    Yemeni Unity Day

    1. When: May 22, 2025
    2. Where: Celebrated nationwide in Yemen.
    3. Description: Commemorates the unification of North and South Yemen in 1990.

    Jerusalem Festival of Light

    1. When: June 2-12, 2025
    2. Where: Jerusalem, Israel
    3. Description: Illuminates the Old City with light installations, music, and art.

    Eid al-Adha

    1. When: June 7, 2025
    2. Where: Celebrated throughout the Middle East.
    3. Description: Also known as the "Festival of Sacrifice," it commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son.

    Jeddah Season

    1. When: June-July 2025
    2. Where: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
    3. Description: A multi-week festival featuring entertainment, sports, and cultural events.

    Naadam Festival

    1. When: July 11-15, 2025
    2. Where: Mongolia
    3. Description: The "Three Manly Games" of wrestling, horse racing, and archery, celebrating Mongolia's nomadic culture.
    4. Expert Tips: Attend the opening ceremony in Ulaanbaatar for a cultural extravaganza.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Thousands

    Kandy Esala Perahera

    1. When: July 11-21, 2025
    2. Where: Kandy, Sri Lanka
    3. Description: A grand procession featuring traditional dancers, fire eaters, and ornately decorated elephants, honoring the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha.
    4. Expert Tips: Secure a good viewing spot along the parade route.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Hundreds of thousands

    Gion Matsuri

    1. When: July 1-31, 2025
    2. Where: Kyoto, Japan
    3. Description: One of Japan's most famous festivals, featuring a grand procession of floats, traditional performances, and religious ceremonies.
    4. Expert Tips: Secure a spot along the parade route for the best view.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Hundreds of thousands

    Beiteddine Art Festival

    1. When: July-August 2025
    2. Where: Beiteddine, Lebanon
    3. Description: Features music, theater, and dance performances in a historic palace setting.

    Boryeong Mud Festival

    1. When: July 18-27, 2025
    2. Where: South Korea
    3. Description: Participants enjoy mud-based activities, including mud wrestling and mud slides, during this fun and quirky festival.
    4. Expert Tips: Bring old clothes and embrace the mess!
    5. Official Website: Boryeong Mud Festival
    6. Estimated Participants: Hundreds of thousands

    Jordan Festival

    1. When: July 2025
    2. Where: Amman, Jordan
    3. Description: A cultural celebration with music, dance, and art events.

    Aida Refugee Camp Festival

    1. When: July 2025
    2. Where: Bethlehem, West Bank
    3. Description: Showcases Palestinian culture through art, music, and theater.

    Egyptian National Day

    1. When: July 23, 2025
    2. Where: Celebrated nationwide in Egypt.
    3. Description: Commemorates the Egyptian Revolution of 1952.

    Ghost Festival (Hungry Ghost Festival)

    1. When: August 7, 2025
    2. Where: China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and parts of Southeast Asia
    3. Description: A traditional Chinese festival honoring ancestors, featuring elaborate rituals, burning of joss paper, and performances to appease wandering spirits.
    4. Expert Tips: Experience the cultural richness in Taiwan or Hong Kong.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Eilat Red Sea Jazz Festival

    1. When: August 2025
    2. Where: Eilat, Israel
    3. Description: Jazz festival attracting international and regional musicians.

    Onam

    1. When: August/September
    2. Where: Kerala, India
    3. Description: A harvest festival celebrated with traditional dance, elaborate feasts (Onam Sadya), and the famous boat race, Vallam Kali.
    4. Expert Tips: Attend the boat race in Alappuzha for a thrilling spectacle.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Mid-Autumn Festival

    1. When: September 17, 2024
    2. Where: China, Vietnam, Singapore, and other East Asian countries
    3. Description: Celebrated with family gatherings, mooncake feasts, and the illumination of lanterns to mark the harvest season.
    4. Expert Tips: Enjoy mooncakes and lantern displays in Hong Kong.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance

    1. When: September 16-18, 2024
    2. Where: Hong Kong
    3. Description: A mesmerizing dance featuring a dragon made of straw and incense sticks, accompanied by drummers and lion dancers.
    4. Expert Tips: Experience the authentic atmosphere in Tai Hang.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Tens of thousands

    Saudi National Day

    1. When: September 23, 2024
    2. Where: Kingdom-wide celebrations in Saudi Arabia.
    3. Description: Commemorates the renaming of the Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Dashain

    1. When: October 2-15, 2024
    2. Where: Nepal and parts of India
    3. Description: The longest and the most significant Hindu festival in Nepal, celebrating the victory of goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.
    4. Expert Tips: Join the festivities in Kathmandu for a cultural immersion.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Navratri

    1. When: October 3-11, 2024
    2. Where: India and parts of Nepal
    3. Description: A nine-night Hindu festival dedicated to the goddess Durga, featuring vibrant dance performances (Garba and Dandiya Raas) and religious rituals.
    4. Expert Tips: Join the energetic dance celebrations in Gujarat.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

    1. When: October 5-13, 2024
    2. Where: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA (replica held in Taoyuan, Taiwan)
    3. Description: While not in Asia, this festival features hundreds of hot air balloons, including many from Asian countries, creating a spectacular display.
    4. Expert Tips: Attend the early morning Mass Ascension for breathtaking views.
    5. Official Website: Balloon Fiesta
    6. Estimated Participants: Hundreds of thousands

    Tihar (Deepawali)

    1. When: October 28-November 1, 2024
    2. Where: Nepal and parts of India
    3. Description: A five-day Hindu festival celebrated with lights, flowers, and the worship of animals, including crows, dogs, and cows.
    4. Expert Tips: Experience the unique animal worship rituals in Kathmandu.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Cairo International Film Festival

    1. When: November 6-15, 2024
    2. Where: Cairo, Egypt.
    3. Description: One of the oldest film festivals in the Middle East, showcasing international and Arab films.

    Lebanese Independence Day

    1. When: November 22, 2024
    2. Where: Celebrated nationwide in Lebanon.
    3. Description: Commemorates Lebanon's independence from French mandate in 1943.

    Oman National Day

    1. When: November 18, 2024
    2. Where: Celebrated nationwide in Oman.
    3. Description: Marks the birthday of Sultan Qaboos and the country's independence.

    International Oud Festival

    1. When: November 2024
    2. Where: Jerusalem, Israel.
    3. Description: Showcases the oud, a traditional Middle Eastern instrument, through concerts and workshops.

    Loi Krathong

    1. When: November 15, 2024
    2. Where: Thailand and parts of Southeast Asia
    3. Description: Lanterns and decorated baskets are floated on rivers to honor the water spirits. The festival is also known for its beauty contests and fireworks.
    4. Expert Tips: Celebrate in Chiang Mai for a magical experience.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Diwali (Deepavali)

    1. When: November 1, 2024
    2. Where: Throughout India and South Asia
    3. Description: Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Celebrated with colorful decorations, fireworks, and the lighting of oil lamps.
    4. Expert Tips: Explore Varanasi, India, for a spiritual and traditional Diwali experience.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Millions

    Yi Peng Lantern Festival

    1. When: November
    2. Where: Chiang Mai, Thailand
    3. Description: Thousands of lanterns are released into the sky, creating a mesmerizing display of lights. It is celebrated in conjunction with Loi Krathong.
    4. Expert Tips: Participate in the lantern release for an unforgettable experience.
    5. Official Website: N/A
    6. Estimated Participants: Tens of thousands

    Qatar National Day

    1. When: December 18, 2024
    2. Where: Celebrated nationwide in Qatar.
    3. Description: Commemorates the unification of Qatar and the ascension of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani.

    Marrakech International Film Festival

    1. When: November-December 2024
    2. Where: Marrakech, Morocco.
    3. Description: Celebrates global cinema with premieres, tributes, and awards.

Ready to go to the festivals!

All the necessary information for your trip to the festivals around the world.

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