Best cultural festivals of 2010

As many of us ring in the New Year today, there are plenty of excuses to keep on celebrating throughout 2010. While it’s hard to sum up the “best” festivals around the world (it’s all relative), here are a few of my picks for cultural festivals well worth checking out in the coming year, from Mongolia to Guatemala to Bhutan.

Keep in mind, if you’re planning to visit any of these countries during a major festival, it might be hard to find accommodations, so you may want to book in advance. Also, many festivals don’t take place on the same date each year (if they follow a lunar calendar, for example), so always confirm the actual dates ahead of time.

Semana Santa, Guatemala
March 24 – April 3, 2010

Holy Week is celebrated across Latin America, but one of the best places to experience it is in Antigua, Guatemala, where huge processions with floats, called andas, wind their way through the cobblestone streets over elaborate “carpets” made of brightly coloured sawdust, flowers and pine needles. The processions take place over nine days, including one on Good Friday where Roman soldiers march through the streets in the middle of the night and conduct a mock trial and sentencing of Christ.

Naadam Festival, Mongolia
July 11-12, 2010

Originally a competition to test the skills of Mongolian warriors from different tribes, this is now the biggest festival in Mongolia – a country where more people own horses than cars. There are three main sporting events, reminiscent of the days of Ghengis Khan: horse racing, wrestling and archery.

Tangbi Mani, Bhutan
Sept. 22-24, 2010
Jambay Lhakhang Drup: Oct. 22-26
Jakar Tshechu: Oct. 15-18
Nalakhar Tshechu: Nov. 21-23

There are a number of festivals that take place in Bhutan throughout the year; a tshechu, in particular, honours Guru Padmasambhava who brought Buddhism to Bhutan and the Himalayas. The highlight is watching religious dances performed by monks wearing ancient costumes and elaborate masks in the courtyards of the dzongs (a type of fortress architecture distinct to the Himalayas), which instructs onlookers in the ways of Buddhist Dharma.

Dipavali or Diwali, India, Nepal, Malaysia & Singapore
Nov. 5-9, 2010

This is known as the Festival of Lights; in Sanskrit, Dipavali means “row of lamps.” People light small clay lamps to signify the triumph of good over evil and celebrate one’s inner light. Festivities, which include setting off firecrackers and exchanging sweets, take place across India and Nepal over five days, regardless of caste or creed – it’s celebrated by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains alike.

Loy Krathong, Thailand
November, during the full moon

Held during the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar (which usually falls in October or November), this is the Thai version of the Festival of Lights. A krathong is a raft or basket traditionally made of banana leaves or tree bark; lighted candles and incense are placed inside, then floated on the nearest body of water to carry away bad luck. The festivities in Chiang Mai are particularly elaborate; here, the festival is referred to as Yi Peng. Book a table on an outdoor patio at a riverside restaurant, order a Mekong whiskey and watch hundreds of paper lanterns float away in the night sky.

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