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Holi Festival: A burst of color welcomes the Indian spring.
March is the ideal time for travelers to immerse themselves in the vibrant and colorful Holi festival in India. Considered one of the wildest spring festivals on the planet, it offers an unforgettable experience for those brave enough to participate in the dazzling powder "battle." The Holi festival usually takes place on March 8th each year.
The festival will take place on the full moon day according to the Hindu Phalgun calendar (usually in February or March of the Gregorian calendar).
Instead of dressing up in your finest clothes, prepare yourself to join the frenzied street dances. People will throw handfuls of colorful powder at each other as a blessing, welcoming spring and the victory of good over evil.
All the colors used throughout the festival carry their own meanings in Indian culture. Green symbolizes purity, red represents renewal, and orange signifies happiness and fulfillment. Combining these three colors in the Holi festival conveys positive and auspicious meanings.
The appearance of this colorful festival also marks the end of winter and the beginning of a vibrant spring.
However, visitors should note a few important points. Some of the artificial dyes used in the festival may cause skin or respiratory irritation. Therefore, those with skin or respiratory problems should exercise caution when participating.
Songkran: The lively water festival welcoming the Thai New Year.
Songkran, the Thai New Year festival, has long been known as the world's largest "water fight." The festival originates from the tradition of splashing water on each other as a blessing for the new year. Buddha statues are brought out in processions to welcome the new year and are then washed by devotees as a way of seeking merit. The Songkran water festival is held annually from April 13th to 15th.
During this festival, people splash water on each other and on elders to show respect and wish each other good fortune.
However, nowadays, Songkran has transformed into a large-scale, lively water-throwing festival. People use buckets, water guns, and even water hoses to splash each other. Tourists visiting Thailand during this time are almost certain to get soaked.
Songkran is a colorful and lively festival that attracts tourists from all over the world. However, if you don't like getting wet or want to protect your luggage, consider staying away from the main streets during the festival.
Songkran is a distinctive feature of tourism in Thailand.
Hanami: The Cherry Blossom Festival - A Quintessence of Japanese Culture
Spring in Japan is always eagerly awaited by tourists because it's the time when the Hanami Festival – the cherry blossom festival – takes place. Hanami is a unique traditional custom that reflects the essence of Japanese culture and their love of nature. The Hanami Festival (花見), or cherry blossom festival, doesn't have a fixed date but depends on when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in each locality.
Cherry blossoms (sakura) bloom from mid-March to May, depending on the region and climate. The delicate, vibrant beauty of cherry blossoms adds to the radiant scenery of Japanese spring.
Japan boasts over 50 different varieties of cherry blossoms, and during the blooming season, the vibrant pink, white, and red blossoms blanket the landscape, creating an incredibly romantic scene.
Hanami is a time for Japanese people to gather and picnic under the cherry blossoms. Parks and gardens become lively with fun activities, food, and flower viewing. Many offices also organize picnics and parties for their employees in parks to foster team spirit.
Cherry blossoms have a short lifespan, blooming for only about 1-2 weeks. Therefore, the Japanese view cherry blossoms as a symbol of fleeting and fragile life. Watching the cherry blossoms bloom is also a way for them to cherish the present moment and reflect on life.
Have a picnic under the cherry blossom trees.
The Hanami festival often coincides with Golden Week – Japan's biggest holiday. Therefore, it's a peak tourist season, attracting visitors from all over the world. The large crowds can lead to traffic congestion and overcrowding at popular cherry blossom viewing spots.
Thailand Kite Festival: A Sky of Colors
March is the perfect time for visitors to immerse themselves in the vibrant and colorful atmosphere of the Thai Kite Festival. The festival is held to preserve the long-standing kite-flying tradition of the local people, while also attracting tourists from all over the world.
The idea for the kite festival originated from the fact that every March in Thailand, a period of hot winds blows.
Throughout March and April, the skies of Thailand are ablaze with colorful kites of various shapes and sizes. Kite artisans showcase their skillful techniques, creating impressive displays. Tourists can also participate in kite flying, immersing themselves in the joyful and vibrant atmosphere of the festival.
The festival always attracts many visitors from all over the world, especially those who have enjoyed flying kites since childhood.
The kite festival is not just a simple recreational activity, but also a place to preserve the traditional cultural values of Thailand. It is an opportunity for local people to express their pride in their cultural heritage, while also introducing this unique beauty to international tourists.
