April May June
jaPan
APr 1
KANAMARA
MATSURI
The Festival of
the Steel Phallus
at a local penis-
venerating shrine
sOuTh kOrea
mAy (TBC)
GANGNEUNG
DANOJE
A shamanistic ritual
which pays tribute
to the mountain
deity with folk songs
and masked dramas
Thailand
APr
13–15
SONGKRAN
The Thai New Year’s
festival, known for
its vibrant water
throwing tradition
malaysia
JUN
1–2
GAWAI DAYAK
A religious and
social event for the
Dayak people in
Sarawak
china
APR 30–
MAY 2
SISTERS’ MEAL
FESTIVAL
Asia’s oldest
Valentine’s Day, held
on the 15th day of the
third lunar month
PakisTan
MAY
12–16
CHILAM JOSHI
Celebrated by the
Kalash people, with
men and women
meeting at traditional
dances
china
JUN
16–18
DRAGON BOAT
FESTIVAL
The Duanwu Festival
holds dragon boat
racing, which dates
back some 2,500 years
muslim cOunTries
JUN
14–15
EID AL-FITR/HARI
RAYA PUASA
The festival marking
the end of the fasting
month of Ramadan
Thailand
JUN (TBC)
PHI TA KHON
FESTIVAL
The Ghost Festival,
held on the first
weekend after the
sixth full moon
nePal
APR
9–16
BISKET JATRA
FESTIVAL
Marks the ancient
solar Nava Barsha
(New Year) at the
Bhairab temple
indOnesia
APR 18
OMED-OMEDAN
“The Kissing Ritual”
held by young
people in Bali for
over 100 years
laOs
MAY
4–8
BOUN BANG FAI
ROCKET FESTIVAL
A rocket-launching
competition for the
rain gods practised
by ethnic Lao people
indOnesia
MAY 30–
JUN 9
GALUNGAN AND
KUNINGAN
Celebrating the victory
of good over evil,
the ancestral spirits
return to visit Bali
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