Hadaka Matsuri – Japan
Every February, on what is somehow arranged to be the coldest day of the year, this Shinto festival, called “Hadaka Matsuri,” causes the local men to drink large amounts of sake to purify their bodies and please the Gods. Once they have stripped off their clothing and adhered their fundoshiloin cloth, they keep warm by jumping up and down and chanting “Washoi!” which means, according to the drunk man who was standing next to me, “Wondafuru!”
Monkey Buffet Festival – Lopburi Province, Thailand
DATE: 27th November 2011
Time: 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Lopburi is one of the provinces of the central region and home to several prominent artefacts and pre-historic monuments. Major architectural landmarks located within the provincial city area include the shrine of Lord Shiva or Prang Khaek, Narai Ratchaniwet Palace, San Phra Kan, Phra Prang Sam Yot and Wat Phra Si Mahathat. Another significant symbol of Lop Buri city are the monkeys. To its residents, the primates are descendants of Hanuman who, according to the epic Ramayana made Lop Buri his kingdom. These mischievous monkeys have taken over many attractions, especially San Phra Kan and Phra Prang Sam Yot. Accordingly, a grand feast held annually for them on the last Sunday of November is one of the most talked about events in the country.
Parade of the God of Medicine – Taiwan
The festival of the God of Medicine essentially involves a procession which is one of its kinds in the whole of the island of Taiwan. The procession that honors the God of medicine usually stretch to about three kilometers and is decorated with flowers, legendary figures, statues of the God of medicine and hoards of acrobats. This parade or procession is touted to be one of the largest if not the largest in the whole island of Taiwan.
Holi Festival – India
The colorful festival of Holi is celebrated on Phalgun Purnima which comes in February end or early March. Holi festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of ‘good’ over ‘bad’. The colorful festival bridges the social gap and renew sweet relationships. On this day, people hug and wish each other ‘Happy Holi’.
Konaki Sumo – Japan
Konaki („crying“) Sumo or Nakizumo (“sumo of tears”) is more than 400 years old tradition organized in some Japanese temples. Konaki Sumo organized every April in the Sensoji Temple in Tokyo includes almost 100 babies.
Other locations with Konaki Sumo contests are Ikiko shrine in Kanuma-ski, Tochigi (contest in September); Yamajioji temple in Shimotsu-cho, Wakayama (contest in October); and at Saikyoji temple, Hirado (contest in February).
Phuket Vegetarian Festival – Phuket, Thailand
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It is believed that the vegetarian festival and its accompanying sacred rituals bestow good fortune upon those who religiously observe this rite. During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Sacred rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines and temples and aesthetic displays such as walking barefooted over hot coals and ascending ladders with bladed rungs are performed by entranced devotees known as “Ma Song”.
Boryeong Mud Festival – South Korea
As the hot weather approaches, both local residents and foreigners visited the city of Boryeong, a town around 200 km south of Seoul, South Korea, to enjoy the summer heat at the annually held Boryeong Mud Festival. The Boryeong Mud Festival is an annual festival which takes place over a period of around two weeks in July. The first Mud Festival was staged in 1998 and, by 2007, the festival attracted 2.2 million visitors to Boryeong.
Songkran Festival – Thailand
Songkran (Song Kran) is an important holiday for Thai people, the large majority of whom are practicing Buddhists. It is a time to reunite with their families, make merits in temples, visit and show their respect to older folks and perhaps above all, it is a time to get soaked up and cooled down in the Songkran €˜Water Fight´ that takes place on just about every street in this country during this hottest month of the year.
Festival of the Hungry Ghosts – China
China has a rich background of myths, folklore, superstitions, festivals and celebrations.
On the Chinese or Lunar 7th month, the Hungry Ghost Festival is one where literally all hell breaks lose as the gates of hell will open to let out the ‘hungry ghosts’ to earth. Find out what needs to done to appease them!
Kanamara Matsuri – Kawasaki, Japan
Kanamara Matsuri is a Shinto Festival of the Steel Phallus that takes place each Spring in origins of this festival stem from an innkeepers daughter who had the misfortune of having a demon with sharp teeth fall in love with her. As demons are wont to do, the little bastard decided to take up residency in her vagina, and then wield his sharp teeth against the innkeeper’s daughter’s male companions. Enter Hero Blacksmith who crafted a fine steel phallus, which broke the poor demon’s teeth.
