Festivals around the world you've never heard of but should experience once
Each October, the Nam River in Jinju is transformed into a glowing wonderland during the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival. Originally held to honor the souls lost in a 16th-century battle, this lantern festival now invites visitors to float messages of peace and hope down the river in thousands of handmade lanterns.When: OctoberWhere: Jinju, South KoreaWhy Go: Picture-perfect visuals and deep emotional resonance.2. Boryeong Mud Festival – South KoreaIt may sound messy, and it is, but that's the charm. Held every July on Daecheon Beach, this gloriously mucky event attracts thrill-seekers who flock to mud wrestling pits, slides, obstacle courses, and live K-pop concerts, all in the name of fun and skincare (yes, the mud is mineral-rich).When: JulyWhere: Boryeong, South KoreaWhy Go: Equal parts chaotic, therapeutic, and Instagrammable.advertisement3. Surva Festival – BulgariaIn the small town of Pernik, Bulgaria, ancient pagan rituals come alive during the Surva Festival. Locals don fur costumes and eerie masks as they perform dances to scare away evil spirits and welcome a prosperous new year. It's as haunting as it is mesmerising.When: Late JanuaryWhere: Pernik, BulgariaWhy Go: A portal into Europe's pagan past and raw cultural storytelling.4. Monkey Buffet Festival – ThailandYes, it's exactly what it sounds like. In Lopburi, Thailand, thousands of monkeys are honored with a lavish vegetarian buffet spread laid out on temple grounds. This bizarre-yet-charming event celebrates the animals that draw tourists year-round and are seen as spiritual guardians.When: Last Sunday of NovemberWhere: Lopburi, ThailandWhy Go: Surreal and joyfully chaotic, with monkeys stealing the show.5. Inti Raymi – PeruDating back to the Inca Empire, Inti Raymi is the Festival of the Sun celebrated in Cusco with dramatic reenactments, traditional music, colorful parades, and ancient rituals that honor Inti, the sun god. It's a deeply spiritual and theatrical celebration.When: June 24Where: Cusco, PeruWhy Go: Step back in time and witness living history in the Andes.6. Fete de l'Escalade – SwitzerlandGeneva's quiet streets explode with medieval pageantry during this December festival, commemorating a 1602 victory over invaders. Locals don period costumes, pour molten chocolate 'cauldrons,' and march with torches through the Old Town.advertisementWhen: Mid-DecemberWhere: Geneva, SwitzerlandWhy Go: A blend of history, chocolate, and Swiss spirit.7. Hadaka Matsuri – JapanOne of Japan's wildest festivals, the Hadaka Matsuri sees thousands of men wearing only loincloths scrambling to catch sacred sticks thrown by priests. It's a spiritual test of endurance and a bid for good fortune.When: FebruaryWhere: Okayama, JapanWhy Go: A raw and intense cultural spectacle unlike any other.8. Gion Matsuri – JapanWhile this is well-known in Japan, Gion Matsuri often slips under the radar for international travelers. This month-long Kyoto festival features massive wooden floats, ancient rituals, and street food galore, a UNESCO-recognised living tradition.When: JulyWhere: Kyoto, JapanWhy Go: Japan's most elaborate festival that somehow still feels local.9. Up Helly Aa – ScotlandMove over Viking cosplay, this is the real deal. In Shetland, fiery processions and full Viking regalia honor Norse heritage during this epic fire festival. The climax? The burning of a giant Viking longship.When: Last Tuesday in JanuaryWhere: Lerwick, Shetland Islands, ScotlandWhy Go: A dramatic blend of fire, folklore, and fierce community pride.advertisement10. Cheung Chau Bun Festival – Hong KongThis quirky Taoist festival features tower-climbing contests on bamboo structures covered in buns, parades with giant papier-mache deities, and martial arts performances. It's whimsical, spiritual, and completely unforgettable.When: May (aligned with Buddha's birthday)Where: Cheung Chau Island, Hong KongWhy Go: A photogenic oddity with spiritual roots and carnival energy.
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Time of India
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- Time of India
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Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Degree Finance Data Science Data Science PGDM Project Management MCA Technology Management others Design Thinking Healthcare Digital Marketing Product Management CXO Leadership healthcare Cybersecurity Artificial Intelligence Operations Management Others Public Policy MBA Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making Strategic Leadership and Transformation Global Business Acumen Comprehensive Business Expertise Duration: 2 Years University of Western Australia UWA Global MBA Starts on Jun 28, 2024 Get Details For discerning fans, it's not just about the music — it's about accessing the unforgettable with ease and exclusivity. These are experiences that you can't always put a price on. Mic check 'We've seen an uptick in concerts and music festivals — nearly a 3x increase over the past five years,' says Dipali Sikand, founder of Club Concierge . 'Earlier, live events were an occasional indulgence. 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News18
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Are hologram concerts rewriting the rules of musical shows?
Hologram concerts are gaining popularity. Sidhu Moose Wala's hologram tour excites fans. Tupac's digital avatar performed at Coachella in 2012. These concerts recreate iconic performers using advanced technology. Some artists like Prince opposed the idea. Others like Sharon Osbourne support reviving legends. Concerns exist about missing the spontaneity of live shows. Dolly Parton also expressed concerns about technology and soul. When Sidhu Moose Wala 's hologram world tour was announced recently, it was only natural for fans to be excited at the thought of being able to see their beloved singer back on stage, albeit as a digital projection. This is not the first time that something like this has happened. In 2012, Tupac Shakur, aka 2PAC's digital avatar was seen performing at Coachella, nearly two decades after his death. Nitin Kumar Pal, a Delhi-based indie filmmaker and a fan of Sidhu, adds, 'Sidhu was a big fan of Tupac, and this mirrors his body of work and legacy beautifully. 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'There are moments of spontaneity, even imperfections, that make a live performance feel real and relatable. That element would be missing with a hologram performance since it will be pre-programmed. While people may attend such shows out of love and respect for the artist, it's important to keep them short and impactful.' Whether seen as tribute or as tech trickery, hologram concerts are forcing us to rethink memory, mourning, and music. The most demonic thing imaginable: Prince Singer Prince expresses disapproval with Hologram concerts While many prominent names such as Sharon Osbourne (the late Ozzy Osbourne's wife), Nas, and Dr Dre have praised the use of AI and technology to revive legendary artists, the late singer Prince once called the tech 'demonic.' In an old interview, he is heard saying, 'That's the most demonic thing imaginable. Everything is as it is, and it should be. If I was meant to jam with Duke Ellington, we would have lived in the same age. That whole virtual reality thing... it really is demonic. And I am not a demon. Also, what they did with that Beatles song Free As a Bird, manipulating John Lennon's voice to have him singing from across the grave... that'll never happen to me. To prevent that kind of thing from happening is another reason why I want artistic control.' Despite his disapproval, there were plans to bring the singer back to life via a hologram during a Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2018. However, the plan was dropped when Prince's longtime partner Shiela E. expressed her concerns about it. Artistes who were 'revived' with holograms ABBA Tupac Whitney Houston Amy Winehouse Michael Jackson Roy Orbinson Frank Zappa Elvis Presley A full-length hologram concert might not be sustainable in India. As a concept, it's fascinating, but I don't think it can become a regular or long-term replacement for live performances Singer Shibani Kashyap talks about the trend of Hologram concerts -Shibani Kashyap, singer I think I've left a great body of work behind. I have to decide how much of that high-tech stuff I want to be involved with because I don't want to leave my soul here on this earth. I think with some of this stuff I'll be grounded here forever Singer Dolly Parton expresses disapproval with hologram concerts -Dolly Parton, singer, at a press conference to promote her album in 2023
