FESTIVALS 2019 Cambodia INTERNATIONAL LABOUR DAY 1 May 2019 Today labourers and the working class are celebrated around the world are honoured. In Cambodia the day is a public holiday. BIRTHDAY OF HIS MAJESTY KING NORODOM SIHAMONI 13 - 15 May 2019 The holiday was established to celebrate the birthday of HM King Norodom Sihamoni. To mark the holiday, the King makes offerings to monks and those less fortunate in society VISAK BOCHEA DAY 18 May 2019 Also known as Buddha Day, this holiday celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha. It is celebrated by visiting temples and shrines to meditate and think about Buddha. National Day of Remembrance 20 May 2019 The Day of Remembrance, formerly called the National Day of Hatred, which falls on May 20, is an annual event in Cambodia. It commemorates the Cambodian genocide of the Khmer Rouge regime that ruled the country between 1975 and 1979 ROYAL PLOWING DAY 22 May 2019 The Royal Ploughing Ceremony, or ‘Bon Chroat Preah Nongkoal’ in the Khmer language, is solemnly celebrated at the beginning of the sowing and planting season. Every year in May, this cultural ceremony takes place at the park in front of the National Museum. INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY 1 June 2019 International Children’s Day in classified as a public holiday in Cambodia, and the demographics of the country makes the holiday an important one. The population is the youngest in Southeast Asia, with 66 percent younger than 30 years old. | [email protected] | www.trailsofindochina.com FESTIVALS 2019 QUEEN NORODOM MONINEATH SIHANOUK’S BIRTHDAY 18 June 2019 The holiday was established to celebrate the birthday of HM King Norodom Sihamoni’s mother’s birthday | [email protected] | www.trailsofindochina.com FESTIVALS 2019 Indonesia JAKARTA FAIR 2019 May Jakarta Fair (PRJ) or Jakarta Fair is the largest annual exhibition in Indonesia. Although called “weekends”, it usually lasts for a whole month. ISEN MULANG CENTRAL KALIMANTAN May The festival will feature a wide range of art and cultural performances, games, and competitions, as well as the Central Kalimantan Tourism Beauty Pageant. JAILOLO FESTIVAL May Jailolo Bay Festival is a festival celebration of life and culture, held yearly by The Regency of West Halmahera. VESAK BOROBUDUR TEMPLE – CENTRAL JAVA 19 May During Waisak in Borobudur, the largest Buddhist monument in the world, the day will be grandly celebrated by thousands of monks and pilgrims. Centred at the three Buddhist temples is the ceremony of walking from Mendut to Pawon and ending at Borobudur. BAKAR TONGKANG FESTIVAL BAGAN SIAPI-API – SUMATRA June In the city of Bagansiapi-api, capital of Rokan Hilir Regency in the Riau province, the fateful decision of the first Chinese migrants to leave their homeland behind and settle in Riau on the island of Sumatra is annually commemorated through the festival called Bakar Tongkang, meaning Burning the (last) Ship on which they sailed in. | [email protected] | www.trailsofindochina.com FESTIVALS 2019 ASMAT CULTURAL FESTIVAL PAPUA June The main feature of the festival is obviously the signature wood carving art of the Asmat. The Asmat are known to have the capability and artistic nature of carving wood into fascinating artworks directly without drawing any sketches first. TENGANAN FESTIVAL BALI June Tenganan Festival or Pandan War Tradition in the village of Tenganan, East Bali, is an ancient tradition only owned by this well-kept old Balinese village in Karangasem regency, Bali. Also by locals referred to as mekare-kare and megeret pandanus. BALI ARTS FESTIVAL Mid June – Mid July Largest annual celebration of art and culture in Indonesia, with a full month (between June-July) of daily performances, arts exhibitions, dances, food and other cultural offerings.year, no less than 120 riders from 13 different teams participated in the race, and this year, the number is expected to increase. | [email protected] | www.trailsofindochina.com FESTIVALS 2019 Laos BOUN BANG FAI (ROCKET FESTIVAL) June 2019 With its origins in pre-Buddhist rain-invoking ceremonies, this festival now coincides with the Laos Visakha Puja celebrations. Parades, songs, dances and partying all lead to explosive, homemade bamboo rockets being blessed and fired into the skies to invite the rains. | [email protected] | www.trailsofindochina.com FESTIVALS 2019 Myanmar MAY DAY (LABOR DAY) 1 May 2019 May 1 is considered as the Labour Day by almost all the nations of the world. The workers of the world celebrate this as an annual holiday. This day is the result of a massive labor union movement; this day celebrates the social and economic achievements of workers. This day is also known as May Day. Not only these two names, May 1 has many other names like Worker’s day, National Unification Day, Day of Kazak people’s Unity, Eid el-Ommal, etc. FULL MOON DAY OF KASONG Bodhi Tree Watering Festival (Throughout the country) 18th May 2019 The Bodhi Tree Watering Festival is held in May. Dates for Buddhist festivals in Myanmar are chosen using an ancient lunar calendar, which uses the phases of the moon to determine auspicious times for religious ceremonies and events. Gautama Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment sitting in the shade underneath a Bodhi tree in Northern India some 2,500 years ago according to Buddhist tradition. As the Buddhist religion spread throughout Asia, sapling were cut from the original Bodhi tree and planted on the grounds of monasteries across the globe as living holy relics. This ancient festival revolves around throngs of pilgrims pouring water on the roots of Bodhi trees in numerous temples in a merit-making ritual that’s believed to date back to Gautama Buddha’s lifetime. At the peak of the summer heat, thousands of pilgrims across Myanmar gather in the numerous Buddhist temples that dot the landscape for the Bodhi Tre Watering Festival. During the festival, Buddhists will water the roots of Bodhi trees in temples in a merit-making ritual. Pilgrims will form long processions in the tree and splash a few ounces of water on the tree to celebrate Gautama Buddha’s enlightenment | [email protected] | www.trailsofindochina.com FESTIVALS 2019 Thailand LABOUR DAY 1 May 2019 International Labour Day is also celebrated as a national holiday. Some businesses may be closed. ROYAL PLOUGHING CEREMONY DAY 13 May 2019 Royal Ploughing Ceremony Day, also called “Farmer’s Day”, is a government holiday to mark the start of the rice growing season. The actual date is calculated based on astrological observations and announced by the Bureau of the Royal Household. The ceremony is held at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang, the open field and public square in front of Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace. Government offices will be closed. VISAKHA BUCHA DAY 19 – 20 May 2019 The nationwide festival of Visakha Bucha Day is held to pay tribute to the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha. The day is celebrated on the fourteenth or fifteenth day of the fourth month in the lunar calendar; therefore, the actual date differs from year to year. In Thailand, people will congregate around the Buddhist temples to pray and give thanks to the deity. Monks dressed in their saffron robes will lead sermons and services throughout the day, with candlelit processions often taking place once night has fallen. All government offices and many businesses will be closed. Sale of alcohol is banned on religious holidays. | [email protected] | www.trailsofindochina.com FESTIVALS 2019 Vietnam HUE FESTIVAL 27 April to 2 May 2019 The annual festival is held to celebrate the historical milestones and culture of the Thua Hien Hue province. NHA TRANG SEA FESTIVAL 11 – 14 May 2019 Nha Trang Sea Festival takes place biennially for a week in June. It is one of the greatest festivals in Nha Trang during the year. The first festival was held in 2003 when Nha Trang Beach was proclaimed as a member of the most beautiful Bays in the World Club. Nha Trang beaches are always the interesting and attractive spot to tourists at home and over the world. The festival purposes to honor natural beauty of Nha Trang as well as promote Vietnam’s tourism industry. There are many activities including various sport’s contests, fair and workshops of traditional Vietnamese art objects, seafood based cooking contest. Particularly, more than thousands artists and students participate in street’s show based on the unique culture of Nha Trang region and Khanh Hoa province GIONG FESTIVAL (PHU DONG, GIA LAM, HANOI) 12 – 13 May 2019 Annual festival to be organized to memorize back to the national legendary hero Thanh Giong. Carrying palanquin ceremony, typical traditional dress, national flags. THE BA CHUA XU TEMPLE FESTIVAL (Chau Doc) 27 – 31 May 2019 The Ba Chua Xu Temple Festival in Chau Doc takes place every year on Sam Mountain. The ceremony, also called the Via Ba ceremony, attracts a great number of visitors who participate in the many folkloric activities. They also take this opportunity to travel around and to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of An Giang. Ba Chua Xu Temple Festival is rich in the national identity and the southern colours, goddess of wealth for a prosperous life. Experience the worship of the local people toward their ancestors and the spirits of the region. Witness many traditional cultural activities are organized, including unicorn dance, dance with dishes and cups. | [email protected] | www.trailsofindochina.com FESTIVALS 2019 BA DEN MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL (TAY NINH) 7 June 2019 There are two festivals annually: Spring Festival from the 15th to the 18th day of the first lunar month and Via Ba Festival lasting from the 5th to the 6th day of the fifth lunar month.