Afro-asian Festivals

JAPAN

*Taiko Drum Festival*

A music festival held in late July every year, a fest featuring the traditional Japanese wadaiko drum, at its heart.At this event, various groups from across the country gather in Matsumoto to entertain the audience with their dynamic performances, having the national treasure Matsumoto Castle as the backdrop.This festival is one of Japan's largest wadaiko drum festivals held, and offers people a great opportunity to listen to various groups of taiko drum players at once.It is a unique chance to enjoy top taiko drummers whose performances are generally quite expensive, at no cost!With the backdrop of Matsumoto Castle's silhouette in the twilight hovering over, whilst absorbing into your body the beat and the sounds of traditional musical instruments such as wadaiko and the shakuhachi, such an experience will become a defining moment etched into your memory of your stay in Matsumoto.
SOUTH KOREA

*Dano Spring Festival*

ano-je is a festival loaded with traditional symbolism, but also very accessible for non-native visitors. Throughout the celebration, tourists and Koreans alike can enjoy masked dramas, shamanic rituals, death-defying swinging (as in standing on a traditional swing and tryDing to go higher than everyone else) and a host of other traditional games and exhibitions. Perhaps the most popular and visible is Ssireum, traditional Korean wrestling which ends in the victor receiving a bull.
PHILIPPINES

*Panagbenga Festival *

(English: Flower Festival) is a month-long annual flower festival occurring in Baguio. The term is of Kankanaey origin, meaning "season of blooming".^[1] The festival, held during the month of February, was created as a tribute to the city's flowers and as a way to rise up from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake.^[2] The festival includes floats that are covered mostly with flowers not unlike those used in Pasadena's Rose Parade. The festival also includes street dancing, presented by dancers clad in flower-inspired costumes, that is inspired by the Bendian, an Ibaloi dance of celebration that came from the Cordillera region.

THAILAND

*Phi Ta Khon*

 is a tradition of the Dan Sai district of the Loei Province in Isan. It is better known as the ghost festival since it reflects the regions beliefs on ghosts and spirits. It occurs each year around June/July and is probably Thailand’s most colorful festival. Men dress up as spirits in bright colorful costumes and masks. Along with the costumes, there’s plenty of dancing and rejoicing.

INDIA

*Diwali*

 is a five day festival that honors the victory of good over evil and brightness over darkness. It celebrates Lord Ram and his wife Sita returning to their kingdom of Ayodhya, following Ram and monkey god Hanuman's defeat the demon King Ravana and rescue of Sita from his evil clutches. It's known as the "Festival of Lights" for all the fireworks, small clay lamps, and candles that are lit. The candlelight makes Diwali a very warm and atmospheric festival, and it's observed with much joy and happiness.

CHINA

*The Dragon Boat Festival*

 the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, has had a history of more than 2,000 years. It is usually in June in the Gregorian calendar.There are many legends about the evolution of the festival, the most popular of which is in commemoration of Qu Yuan (340-278 BC). Qu Yuan was minister of the State of Chu and one of China's earliest poets. In face of great pressure from the powerful Qin State, he advocated enriching the country and strengthening its military forces so as to fight against the Qin.

SAUDI ARABIA

*Jeddah Ghair*

JEDDAH: The Jeddah Summer Festival is due to be launched on Wednesday under the slogan “Fun, Prizes and Shopping,” and involves an array of events for Jeddah residents and visitors.
The famous Jeddah summer festival “Jeddah Ghair,” is being organized by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), in cooperation with the Jeddah Governorate, the Jeddah Municipality and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage. The festival will focus on shopping and entertainment and is one of the biggest tourism events of the year.

Reference:www.africaguide.com