Festivals and Theatrical Forms of Asia

What are some festivals celebrated in the Asian region?

Holi, the festival of colors

India, 13 March

The festival of Holi marks the beginning of spring and the triumph of good over evil in
Hindu mythology. It is the time to end conflicts, to revive love and a good reason for
Hindus all over the country and abroad to celebrate in a mass party that stars with the
burning of the demon Holika and continues with rituals (puja), family visits, delicious
food, sometimes bhang and, above all, large vibrant street gatherings where nobody
can escape clouds of rainbow-colored powder and water thrown at each other, a
tradition believed to have been started by Lord Krishna, who loved to play pranks as a
young boy. The festival is celebrated across India, but the best-known hubs are
probably the temple towns of Mathura and Vrindavan, not far away from the capital.

Tips: It may seem obvious, but it’s always worth reminding to wear clothes that you will
happily discard and protecting mouth and eyes from the powder. Also, watching out for
large crowds as the local party mood may get a bit overwhelming for foreign visitors.

2 Nowruz, the Persian new year

Iran, 21-24 March

Nowruz (new day in Farsi) is the Persian new year, celebrated in Iran and other parts
of the Middle East, following an over 7000 years old tradition that marks the end of
winter and the coming of fertile spring. Nowruz celebrations are full of symbolisms,
including the setting of a traditional Haftseen table with ingredients and objects
containing all the good wishes for the coming year, or Fireworks Wednesday, reminder
of the festivity’s Zoroastrian past. The celebration mood is added by the joy with which
Iranians take on the road to welcome the season outdoors, with picnics and camping.
Visiting Iran during Nowruz can add a radically new dimension to the journey and even
if one risks being stuck in traffic for long hours, there will be plenty of opportunities to
enjoy the trip with the always friendly and extremely hospitable Iranians.

Tips: It’s more than recommendable to book accommodation well in advance, as

Iranians themselves travel during these dates and hotels can get full pretty quick. Even
if in a celebration mood, social rules in Iran are pretty strict, and travellers should
observe dressing, drinking and other restrictions for their own safety and enjoyment.

3 Mevlana Festival (Mevlâna Anma Törenleri)

Turkey, 10-17 December

The festival of the swirling dervishes commemorates the death of the 13th century Sufi
poet Rumi, known as Mevlana to his followers. Every 17th of December in the
Anatolian city of Konya, the Mevlevi brotherhood worships the saint on the date known
as his “wedding night” with Allah. With their long robes and tall hats, the dervishes whirl
receiving the blessings of heaven and bringing them down to earth in a ceremony of
dance and spiritual performance. More than a million people attend yearly this ten day
festival of devotion, listed amongst UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible
Heritage of Humanity and one of the very good reasons to travel to Central Anatolia
even in the cold winter time.

Prices: 50TL (20$ approx.)

Tips: There are plenty of activities and celebrations during the festival days. It is
important to book tickets and accommodation well in advance.

4 Songkran Water Festival

Thailand, 13-15 April

Songkran is the New Year celebration in Thailand and many South East Asian
countries. With traditional Buddhist roots, it is the time of the year when Thais honour
their families and elders, onto whose palms young people pour fragrant water during
Rod Nam Dum Hua ritual on the first day of Songkran. It is also the time of spring-
cleaning and it is believed that splashing water symbolically cleans the misfortunes of
the year gone by. Traditionally Thais would pour a bowl over family members, but as
the festive spirit took over the celebration, buckets and hoses were brought into the
party that has grown into the largest water fight known. This is a nationwide party but
Chiang Mai is one of the most popular hubs amongst travellers to enjoy this water fest.

Tips: Comfortable clothes and anything you do not mind getting wet are the best dress
code for this water party, but it is recommended to wear non-slippery shoes to enjoy
the street party.
5 Naadam Festival
Mongolia, 11-13 July

Naadam Festival is the Mongolian celebration of its nomadic culture and a reminder of
the country’s independence in 1921. With its origin in the wedding and hunting
celebrations of the Mongol Army, it has now become an extraordinary display of sports
and tradition. The Naadam Stadium holds an elaborate Opening Ceremony followed by
two days of horse racing, wrestling and archery competitions and performance, while a
whole folkloric festival unfolds in its surroundings with crafts, music, food and locals in
a party mood, all good reasons to visit Ulaanbaatar on a journey across the Mongolian
desert and steppe.

Price: 10 – 25$

Tips: You are likely to spend long hours under the sun, appropriate clothing and
protection is more than recommended.

6 Winter light festival

Japan, (November – March)

Winter illuminations are a growing event in different cities of Japan, but probably one of
the most famous takes place in the Nabano No Sato Park in Kunawa, home to
extensive cherry trees and flower gardens that feature over the winter months an
elegant installation of over seven million LED lights creating formidable shapes and
designs. Every year the decoration revolves around a particular theme and has
previously featured the well- known tunnel of light or a beautiful illuminated version of
Mout Fuji amongst other impressive displays. This long-term festival is a spectacle that
will surely add magic to any winter journey to Japan.

The park is open throughout the year, but the winter illuminations run from mid-
November to mid-March.

Tips: The park is open 9am – 9pm. It is a popular destination, so one should get ready
to share the space with large crowds. Remember it is winter and outdoors so wrap up
in warm clothes to enjoy the evening.

7 Boryeong Mud Festival

South Korea, (estimated 14-23 July)

This festival was actually born out of a marketing campaign to promote the cosmetic
properties of the mineral-rich mud found in the area Boryeong and brought for this
occasion to Daecheon beach, dating back to 1998. The event took on its own path,
promoted partly by word of mouth and greatly by the unique photos of muddy
participants, turning it into an international event filled with activities, from mud races
and wrestling to photography contests or, for the laid-back visitors, beauty mud
therapies, soap making workshops or massage. The party atmosphere is fuelled up by
giant inflatable slides, a performance platform and pop music soundtrack with
musicians and attendants from all around the world gathering to splash and smear
grey mud all over themselves.

Tips: Even though the festival venue is a day-trip away from Seoul, it is worth staying
overnight to not miss any of the fun.

8 Rainforest World Music Festival

Borneo, 14-16 July

A special event for all music lovers, and especially for world music fans, this festival
brings together top musicians and performers on a stage set right in the midst of the
Borneo jungle. The program includes international and indigenous artists, as well as a
whole program of events, workshops, food and crafts gathered in a traditional village
setting. Music, nature and good vibes are the best reasons to set one’s travelling steps
towards Sarawak.

Tickets: 110 – 153Rm. (25 – 35$)

Tips: Bringing your own mats or hammocks to the festival is a good idea that will add
up to the relaxed atmosphere. And Saraqwak is a special place, worth spending a little
extra time soaking into its nature, culture and history.

9 Chinese New Year in Singapore

Singapore, (27 January – 2 February)

The Chinese New Year is celebrated all over the world, in every place with large
Chinese population but Singapore is rated amongst the most joyful and spectacular,
with a mix of old and new traditions, sounds and flavours. The main festive hubs are
the River with giant handcrafted lanterns, performances and spectacular fireworks and
the Chingay Parade, the largest street and float parade in Asia, with dragons, lion
walkers, jugglers and acrobats that one may imagine the best Chinese New Year
needs to have. The streets are filled with a party mood, magic shows and joy from
locals and visitors from all over the world, and for the best festive food and traditional
temple rituals one can always head to Chinatown.

Tips: Red is the colour of the party, wear some for good fortune. If visiting a local
home, a pair of mandarins is an appropriate gift to bring.

10 Harbin’s Ice & Snow Sculpture Festival

China, (5 January – 5 February)

Zhaolin Park is annually transformed into a fairy-tale land of mythical figures, amazing
buildings, monuments and giant structures sculpted on ice and snow with chainsaw
and picks in temperatures of -20ºC, as the city of Harbin receives the cold Siberian
winds. The origins of the festival are traced back to a traditional ice lantern show that
took place for the first time in 1963. Nowadays the celebration has grown into an
international show and competition with millions of attendants that turns into a magical
spectacle at night when the interior of the sculptures is illuminated in bright colours.
The two main exhibition hubs are Sun Island and Ice and Snow World, but during the
time of the festival the whole city is bustling in activity.

Tickets: 150 – 300 Yuan (25 – 50$)

What are the characteristics of the Thai Lantern Festival

1. Chiang Mai is the place to be for Loi Krathong (loy kra-tong).

Although the Lantern Festival is celebrated everywhere in Thailand, Chiang Mai will
have the best (and most famous) views of thousands of lanterns being released into
the sky all at once. Pro tip: start your Teach English in Thailand program in Chiang
Mai on November 4th to celebrate in the best city for view like this!

2. Loy Krathong (ลอยกระทง) means “floating basket.”

These are hand made, with the bases typically made of a slice of the trunk of a banana
tree or a loaf of bread and ornately decorated with banana leaves, flowers, and
incense sticks. You can buy one for around 100 baht or you can make your own!

3. It symbolizes new beginnings and good luck.

When you release your lantern or krathong into a river or into the sky, you are
supposed to wish all your problems and bad luck away with it as it is a symbol of new
beginnings. The festival has also become popular with couples, wishing for a happy life
or marriage together and releasing their krathong at the same time.

4. Krathongs often include offerings.

Many Thai people will also include coins in their krathongs as an offering to the water
spirits and Buddha. But it is known that some people will dive into the river after the
celebrations to steal these coins.

5. It’s always celebrated under the full moon.

Loi Krathong takes place on the first full moon in the month of November, this year
being on November 13th. Celebrations will begin at sundown on the day of the full
moon.

What is the Japan Kodo Taiko Drum Festival?

The taiko: a traditional Japanese drum with limitless rhythmic

possibilities. Kodo's mission is to explore these possibilities, and in the
process forge new directions for a vibrant living art-form. In Japanese, the
word “Kodo” holds a double meaning.

What is the Modern Taiko Ensemble?

The UCR Taiko Ensemble

Taiko means 'large drum' in Japanese. It is used to refer to the

relatively modern tradition of drumming known as kumi-daiko, or 'group
drumming', which brings together rural traditions of festival drumming,
Buddhist ritual drumming, and the martial arts.

Ma.Margarita Mariflor D. Miguel

8-LUKE