Every June, more than 200,000 revellers descend on a field in Somerset, flowers in hair, wellies on feet and tents in tow. There’s mud, there’s body paint, there’s tie-dye and, of course, some music too. You guessed it – Glastonbury Festival. Catching up on the post-festival footage got us thinking about festivals in general. They do, after all, take you straight to the heart of a place, be it through music, culture, history, food or myriad other forms. So after much debate (there's a lot of festivals out there), we've compiled a list of what we believe are the best festivals around the world. Revel away...
- Pasola, Indonesia
- Las Fallas, Spain
- Timkat Festival, Ethiopia
- Day of the Dead, Mexico
- Lake of Stars Festival, Malawi
- Rajasthan International Folk Festival, India
Pasola, Indonesia
Sea worms, spear-wielding horsemen and ritual battles are all components of this festival on Indonesia's Sumba Island (needless to say, it's very much a spectator's sport). The timing is determined by the arrival of a certain type of seaworm in the ocean. What follows is a tournament of men galloping around on horses, while throwing spears at each other to draw blood as a sacrifice to the spirits, in return for a good harvest.
Las Fallas, Spain
Valencia is a city that knows how to party, and the pièce de résistance is Las Fallas, a bonkers festival (even by Spanish standards). On the first day of spring in March, giant papier mâché effigies of politicians and celebrities are paraded through the streets before being set alight, with an impressive firework display concluding the pyromaniac proceedings. The party goes on all night, and as you pass through each barrio, you’ll find local street parties around every corner, each bigger and better than the last, and often with open invites to visitors.
Timkat Festival, Ethiopia
Taking place in January, the Festival of Timkat in Ethiopia is a wonderfully vibrant and joyous festival typified by religious processions, music and dancing. The festival is held in the northern region of Gondar, famed for its medieval castles and palaces. Timkat is a fascinating insight into one of our planet's most culturally rich and diverse nations - not to be missed for any culture vultures out there.
Day of the Dead, Mexico
Although the Day of the Dead is celebrated across Mexico, its epicentre is in the country's culinary capital, Oaxaca. Families honour their deceased ancestors with a blend of indigenous and European Catholic traditions, with images of skulls and bones prevalent. The Day of the Dead is seen as so culturally important that it's even been named on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Lake of Stars Festival, Malawi
Lake of Stars is a three-day music festival held on the shores of the beautiful Lake Malawi. Set up by a British student in 2003, the festival attracts revellers from across Europe and Africa and aims to generate exposure for Malawi as a destination. There are plenty of great spots for chilling out after, including Danforth Lodge and Kaya Mawa, or head out on safari in Liwonde National Park. Growing year on year, this could be the next Glastonbury...
Rajasthan International Folk Festival, India
In October, RIFF descends on Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur for four nights, and features an eclectic mix of singers, dancers, instrumentalists, storytellers and artisans, with performances by master musicians from local communities. The festival is timed to match the brightest full moon of the year, so you can enjoy the music and dance the night away under the moonlight.
