Do you want to witness firsthand ancient cultural traditions or just looking for an excuse to travel? Here are four festivals that will enlighten you spiritually, musically, and physically and give you a reason to travel to some of the most unique destinations for an experience of a lifetime.
The Holi Festival
For those who aren’t afraid to get a little messy, the Holi festival is the perfect mix of fun and culture. Holi is a spring festival, based off of the ancient Hindu tradition where people celebrate the triumph of good over evil. The celebration begins on Holi Eve, with a lighting of a bonfire. Shortly after, colored powder is thrown into the air, in a symbol of spreading cheer and joy across members of all social groups. What better reason to rejoice then celebrating the goodness in the world and getting covered in rainbow colored powder? The Holi festival takes place in India in early March, and is celebrated from people all around the world.
The Lantern Festival
The Lantern festival is an ancient Chinese New Year tradition, that takes place on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunisolar calendar. It started from the Chinese belief that celestial spirits could be seen flying about in the light of the first full moon of the lunar calendar. To aid them in the search for the spirits, the ancient people used torches, which gave way to lanterns of every shape, light and color. On the night of the festival, people of Chinese and Vietnamese origin descend on temples and free thousands of lanterns into the air. This magnificent sight to see, symbolizes letting go of your past self, and starting the new year fresh, similar to the American tradition of a New Year’s resolution.
The Winter light Festival
The Winter light Festival in Kuwana City, Japan, uses up to 7 million LED lights to power up the Nabana No Sato botanical gardens in order to celebrate winter in a unique and elegant style. This is one of the most incredible light shows that will mesmerize anyone. Not only is the festival a spectacular sight on the eyes, it is also eco friendly. The batteries that power the millions of lights strewn across the garden are charged with solar panels. So the show is easy on the eyes, as well as the earth.
The Electric Forest Music Festival
This festival has been around since 2008, making it less traditional than other festivals, but still a memorable one. It takes place in Rothbury, Michigan and could be described as the modern day Woodstock, with a burst of electricity. The Electric Forest Music festival brings a surreal wilderness experience using light displays strewn throughout the forest, in conjunction with great jam bands, and electronic music. The festival also celebrates bringing strength into the community, as it is supported each year by locals.
For those looking to create memorable trips, these festivals are a sure way to learn about new cultures, hear music from different genres, and create on overall unforgettable experience.