6 must-see festivals in India and abroad

Holi, or the Festival of Colours, is a must-see festival in India, with a little bit of caution for personal safety, especially for women in the public places. (Photo: Aashish R Gautam via Unsplash)

Attending festivals while travelling offers an immersive experience into local culture through food, music, and traditions. For this reason, we have compiled six must-see festivals in India and abroad.

Holi, India

Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, is a colourful celebration, which marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. To celebrate Holi, people throw coloured powder and water at each other, as a symbol of spreading luck and joy.

Carnival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a renowned festival, which takes place before Lent. The celebration features exciting parades, including beautifully decorated floats and samba dancers in vibrant costumes.

Durga Puja, India

Durga Puja is a ten-day festival that commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasura. Large pandals are erected to house the idols of Durga, and the celebration ends with the immersion of the idols in rivers or seas.

La Tomatina, Buñol, Spain

La Tomatina is a distinctive festival held in the village of Buñol, Spain. Every year on the last Wednesday of August, people throw tomatoes at each other in a gigantic food fight.

Diwali, India 

The festival of lights in India, Diwali signifies the victory of good over evil. In the days leading up to Diwali, homes across India are decorated with diyas, firecrackers are lit, deserts are exchanged, and gambling is a well-loved tradition.

Songkran, Thailand

Songkran, or Thai New Year, is a water festival celebrated annually in mid-April. The celebration signifies cleansing and renewal, and people typically pour water over Buddha statues and on each other as a way of doing away with bad luck.