As we all know, over 50% of the world’s folk live in the city. And it is not always the most colourful setting all around. Maybe it is a notable factor in why many nations hold joint and colourful carnivals.
There are holidays or festivals in almost every corner of the world where coloured light is an integral part of the celebration. Let’s read this blog and find out more about the most colourful festivals around the world.
Here is a list of 12 of the world’s most colourful festivals:
1. Holi, India
Holi is one of the famous and colourful festivals that needs no intro for Indians. Every year Indians mark Holi yearly between February and March. This Hindu festival is one of the most famous colourful carnivals around the globe. While it is celebrated across the world, the biggest Holi festival takes place in the streets of Sri Lanka, Nepal and India.
However, it marks the spring season’s start and heralds the win of good over evil. Thousands gather publicly to praise Krishna and Radha’s love by covering one another in coloured powder. No matter what age or gender, everyone enjoys playing with water and colours, which creates a sense of unity among them. Hence it is of the most colourful festivals around the world you should know. Read More: Holi 2023, the Color Festival in India.
2. Busan International Fireworks Festival, South Korea
From one end to the other of the view, the Gwangan Bridge stretches for 4.5 miles along the waterfront near the shore. In addition, people also wait side by side in trepidation. The show begins when the sky is Pitch Black.
Busan Fireworks Festival is one of the unique fireworks festivals in Asia. It occurs at the hiatus of Gwangan Bridge. Thousands of state-of-the-art fireworks and laser shows are displayed during the weeklong festival, which lures more than two million visitors. The entire bridge partakes in the display. In the dark sky and along the bridge, fireworks of different colours and shapes are often choreographed together to create intricate designs. Hence it is one of the most colourful festivals around the world.
3. Rio Carnival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In the world, there is no festival like Rio Carnival. It isn’t easy to think of Brazil as the capital city without thinking of Carnival. As Rio de Janeiro shows, Carnival is one of the most exciting and famous cultural festivals worldwide. It is based on ancient Greek revels feting Dionysus, the god of wine. But over time, Carnival was altered by the Romans to honour their gods.
Later on, the Catholic Church would create its change and have the festival marked just before the period of Lent. Its colourful costumes, pulsating music, magical float displays, and electrifying energy have earned Rio de Janeiro the title of Carnival capital of the world. Dance, sing, and let loose at one of the world’s best festivals with a samba school (a local samba club). Therefore, you must know about the most colourful festivals around the world.
4. Hanami, Japan
Candyfloss-coloured cherry blossoms rugs in Japan every spring. Hanami, or The Cherry Blossom Festival, is an old tradition in Japan. In this, the Japanese revere the blooms’ quick beauty with al fresco parties under the cherry blossom limbs in parks and gardens.
Every year dates depend on the cherry blossom seers, who forecast the exact arrival of the pretty floral display. Spring is the best time to visit Japan.
5. La Tomatina, Buñol, Spain
Buol is home to the top food fight festival, La Tomatina, which takes place every August. There are different riffs of the origin tale of La Tomatina. There were benign gags between children, attacks on an awful musician, and anger directed at city council members from townspeople. A lot of people attend these quirky festivals and friendly fights every year.
In the past, over 50000 attendees have visited this famous La Tomatina. But now participants at or below 20000 are allowed to get tickets. Over 100 tons of overripe tomatoes are squashed and thrown throughout the hour-long battle, which begins with water cannons firing. Therefore, you should visit these most colourful festivals around the world.
6. Chinese New Year
Many cities and towns across China and elsewhere celebrate Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. It marks the first day of the first month in the classic Chinese lunisolar calendar. And it typically marks a 15-day festival. The Chinese New Year, which marks the beginning of the year, should not be baffled with the Lantern Festival, a day celebrating the end of the festival. Rainbow-hued dragons dance on the streets, while homes are decorated with flowers, plants, and strings of red paper lanterns. Fireworks light up the night sky even in the evenings. It is rare to see a float with a similar style, colour, or theme in any of the marches.
Additionally, viewers are colourfully dressed, most in classic clothing, and eat a lot of exotic food. Early February or late January is the usual time for Chinese New Year celebrations. It is the top most colourful festival around the world, you must know.
7. Harbin International Ice Festival, China
A long slide inclines past towers coloured in various hues from the first floor of a multi-story castle. The slide is popular with kids and adults, and friends take pictures of them as they slide down. In this maze of ice buildings, it’s not even worth trying to find your way around. Some have clusters of colours, while others have a single hue spread throughout the walls. There is almost no way to define the result.
A whole locality was built of full-size ice buildings during the Harbin International Ice Festival. The style of some buildings is redolent of those found in fiction books, while others are based on existing structures. However, it is important to note that they are all made of large ice blocks and illumed by light displays. Small dioramas and sculptures add the finishing touch. A view from above or outside will give you the full effect.
8. Vivid Festival, Sydney, Australia
Sydney Harbor Bridge offers a superb view of the Opera House, whose projections always change. In the harbour, ferries are decorated with lights and high-rises are dotted along the coastline after it. Since its start in 2009, Vivid festival has showcased unique modern art pieces.
This festival’s central hub is the Opera House, which is the site of projections like the one over it. Depending on their nature, they may be fast, twitching games using geometrical forms or slow, fluid series. However, there are multimedia installations, light sculptures, and light displays all over the city.
9. Songkran Water Festival, Thailand
Every year in April, Thailand marks the classic new year called Songkran Water Festival all over the nation. It is one of Thailand’s most due holidays, but Chiang Mai’s take on Songkran is mythical.
A sprinkle of water has always embodied blessing, purging, and new starts for Thai people. Fresh takes on old-school beliefs feature people of all ages armed with super soakers or pails of water, soaking strangers and friends alike. Read Also: 10 Most Famous Festivals To See In Thailand.
The festival includes bubbles, acts by skilled dancers, religious parades, and other fun activities.
10. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, USA
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Is a balloon carnival held every year in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in October. This colourful festival is a nine-day event. And it is easy to see more than 500 hot air balloons dotting New Mexico’s skies. This festival is the forest of coloured, puffy balloons rising jointly at Fiesta Park.
It is a vista to view as the sun rises over them. It is the largest balloon festival of balloons in the world and enables you to click some of the most amazing pics. During the day, these colourful orbs move upward and downward, and at night they are lit by a bright flame.
11. Mardi Gras, New Orleans
Fat Tuesday is when southern Louisianans indulge in rich foods before Lent and parade through the streets for a week. Imagining crazy outfits, colourful floats, drinking, dancing, and festivity comes to mind.
It’s impossible to miss Mardi Gras in New Orleans, one of America’s most famous street parties. Hence, it is the most colourful festival in the world.
12. Patrick’s Day, Ireland
Saint Patrick’s Day is an Irish cultural and religious celebration held every year on March 17th in honour of Ireland’s patron saint. A revelry of all things Irish is also held on the day to mark the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.
There has been an entire festival devoted to St Patrick’s Day since 1996, complete with parades, fireworks, and general revelry. Join the festival to celebrate Irish origin and culture by watching classic Irish songs and dance skits, drinking beer, and wearing all green. Dublin’s St Patrick’s Day is a familiar favourite among the many street marches and celebrations around the city that are memorable and exciting.
The bottom line,
These festivals of light and colour will inject a glad dose of joy into your life. If you plan to visit any of these destinations, plan your trip around the months when these colour festivals are held. However, remember that some of these festivals have specific rules and laws. Therefore, it is best to do a deep study about the most colourful festival around the world before you go. As a result, you won’t end up being culturally crass.
Check More Festivals Celebrated in the World:
