Surprisingly Bizarre and Weird Festivals From Around the World

The Holi Festival, India

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The Holi Festival, also known as the Festival of Colors, is regarded as the most popular Hindu spring event held primarily in India, Guyana and Nepal. On the second day, which is locally called Dhulhendi, people celebrate this event by throwing colored powder and water at each other. This colored powder is claimed to have a medicinal effect as it is traditionally made of Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, Neem and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors. Despite of this reason, this colored powder is believed to cure viral fever and cold. The disease is said to be widespread due to the weather changes in India, particularly during the spring season.

La Tomatina, Spain

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Each year, in late August, over 30,000 tourists come to Bunyol for the La Tomatina festival, or the tomato-throwing festival. This event has been regarded as the world’s largest tomato fight and its rule of this event sometimes keeps the festival from becoming a more dangerous brawl. During this festival, throng of people pelt each other with over 250 lbs. of tomatoes in a time span of 60 minutes.

Festes de La Merce, Spain

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This is the largest festival held annually in Barcelona, Spain to honor La Merce. The event runs for 4 days around September 24, and over 500 activities which include parades, concerts, air shows, firework displays, swimming contest across the harbor and a 10-kilometer running are held in the heart of Barcelona during this festive season. The notable highlight of this festival is the mythical figures and giants of medieval Barcelona consisting of gegants (giant wooden figures operated by human) passing through the streets.

Cheese Rolling Festival, England

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This 200-year-old tradition of cheese-rolling is considered dangerous, though its name may sound benign. It is an annual event held on the last Monday in May at Cooper’s Hill, near Cheltenham and Gloucester in the Cotswolds region of England. Paddy McGuiness described this event as “the granddaddy of weird sports”. This event is getting its popularity though it is banned by the police, as more and more people coming from all across the world here either to compete or simply to watch.

The rule to this game is simple: a 7-pound wheel of double Gloucester cheese is first rolling from the top of the hill by the Master of Ceremonies, and racers race, tumble, and roll down the hill after the cheese. As the cheese can attain to its speed up to 70 mph (112 km/h), it is always rarely happens that someone manages to catch the cheese. The first person over the finishing line to the bottom of the hill wins the cheese.

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As the slope has a gradient of 1-in-2 in some areas, and 1-in-1 in others, plus its steepness and uneven surface, there are usually a number of injuries. Due to this reason, the first aid service provided by a volunteer rescue group who are always on hand at the bottom of the hill to carry down any casualties for those who do not make their ways to the bottom through gravity. Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling has been summarized as “20 young men chase a cheese off a cliff and tumble 200 yards to the bottom, where they are scraped up by paramedics and packed off to hospital”.

Durbar Festival, Nigeria, Africa

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The Durbar festival is celebrated annually at the end of Ramadan in Katsina and Kano, Nigeria. The event is particularly held in some cities of Nigeria at the culmination of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, which are two Muslim festivals. Its origin dated back hundred years ago when horses were used in the warfare in the northern part of the Emirate (state). At that time, each district, and even a town was ordered to contribute a regiment once or twice a year for a Durbar (military parade) for the Emir and his chief to defense each of the Emirate.

This event is first initiated by a prayer outside the town, and is followed by a parade with the Emir dressed in ceremonial robes on the flamboyantly decorated horses. This is later accompanied by muscle-bound wrestlers, music players, and lute players in headdresses who will be heading to the public square situated in front of the Emir’s palace.

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Each group takes their assigned roles before the Emir finally reaches the square with their magnificent and dazzling retinue. The horsemen then galloped about the square with their swords drawn, before passing few feet away from the Emir, during which they stopped abruptly to salute him with raised swords and pay homage. The joyous reigns into the night when the dancing, singing, drumming and small bands of Fulanis performing a spectacular show called shadi are held.