Great Festivals In The World That You Won’T Want To Miss

Our world is so diverse and beautiful at the same time. Different cultures, people and traditions blend so well that it makes the Earth a better place for all of us. No matter where you go around the globe, everybody loves to celebrate. And when it comes to celebration, festivals offer something for everyone. Festivals are an expressive way to celebrate glorious heritage, culture, and traditions.They are meant to rejoice special moments and emotions in our lives with our loved ones.Festivals play an important role in bringing us close to our loved ones and keeping us connected to our heritage and background.

Festivals are of different types depending on the importance it serves- cultural festivals, national festivals, religious festivals, music festivals, and seasonal festivals. Be it any festival, you should not miss the celebrations. So, here is a list of famous festivals celebrated worldwide that you should definitely witness at least once in your lifetime.

1.CARNIVAL (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival is undoubtedly the world’s most flamboyant, breathtaking and electrifying celebration that attract nearly 5 million people every year. The first festivals at Rio date back to 1823. This gala event takes place every February or March, ending 40 days before Easter and commemorating the end of the hot Brazilian summer. The Carnival continues for 5 days. It is filled with colorful costumes, samba music, and giant parades.

2.LA TOMATINA (Buñol, Spain)

Amusement, dance, frolic and lots of tomatoes- this is the festival that you absolutely shouldn’t miss. La Tomatina is held on the last Wednesday of August every year. Thousands of people from all over the world come to witness “World’s biggest food fight”. Dating back to 1945, this festival isn’t tied to any ancient traditions. There are many theories about how this festival started. Some suggest that few locals began throwing fruits and vegetables on a musician- ever since then, the tomato-throwing festival has continued. Whatever might be the theory, La Tomatina is clearly where you will enjoy yourself to the fullest.

3.HOLI (India)

Holi, the festival of colors, is considered as the most revered and celebrated festivals of India. The great Indian festival lasts for a day and a night, which starts in the evening of Purnima or the Full Moon Day in the month of Falgun. It is celebrated between late February and mid- March. It is not only celebrated in India but also in other countries like Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. There are many legends associated with this festival. According to some Hindu mythology, this festival pays tribute to the Hindu god Vishnu and his follower Prahlada, and the defeat of the demon king Hiranyakashipu. Another legend suggests that this festival celebrates the great love of Radha for Lord Krishna. The celebration starts the night before Holi when the Holika bonfire takes place. People sing and dance around the bonfire. The next morning the carnival of colors begins. People throw colors on each other, children carry water guns and throw water-filled balloons on each other, and there is festivity all around.

4.HARBIN ICE AND SNOW FESTIVAL (Harbin, China)

Set in Heilongjiang Province in northern China, this annual festival runs from January 5- February 5. It is the world's biggest snow and ice festival and features plenty of spectacular installations and activities. Every year people build incredible things out of ice and snow, decorating them with lights and lasers.Other activities in the area during the festival include alpine skiing, touring ice lantern exhibitions in various local parks, and swimming in the river’s frigid waters.

5.DIA DE LOS MUERTOS (Mexico)

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a celebration of life and death. While the holiday originated in Mexico, it is celebrated all over Latin America with colorful calaveras (skulls) and calacas (skeletons). The festivities begin from October 31 and lasts through November 2. This festival marks its importance by the fact that it was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. On this festival family and friends gather to pray for and remember family members and friends who have died. People build private altars called ofrendas and honor the deceased by offering them sugar skulls, marigolds, their favorite food, and beverages and visit their graves with these gifts.

6.RUNNING OF THE BULLS (Pamplona, Spain)

We all must have heard of this festival. The Running of the Bulls is a part of the famous San Fermin festival that involves running in front of a small group of bulls that have been let loose on town's streets. It is held every year from 6-14 July. This festival begins at 8 a.m. when a rocket is set off indicating the runners that the corral gate is open. The second rocket signals that the bulls have been released. The third and fourth rockets are signals that the herd has entered the bullring and its corrals respectively, marking the end of the event.

7.BURNING MAN (Black Rock Desert, Nevada)

The Burning Man is an annual event that takes place in the western United States at Black Rock City. This festival was first held in 1986 in San Francisco as a small function when Larry Harvey and Jerry James assembled an 8 foot tall makeshift wooden figure and lit a fire on it. Ever since then, this event is held annually from the last Sunday of August to the first Monday of September. Thousands of people gather around to create art and express their individuality. It is a 24/7 party that you should definitely witness.

So, these were the few biggest and best festivals around the globe. Each has its own significance and traditions. It shows that even if we are different from each other, even if our cultures and traditions are different, we are still united because of these festivals. This is the essence of festivals. It brings us closer to people and helps us learn to respect and understand other’s traditions and cultures. So, make sure you too become a part of these world famous festivals and enjoy yourself to the fullest.