Mysore Dasara is a popular event in Karnataka State, South India, a world famous festival lasting all through 10 days. The city of Mysore will look at its best during the festival, with all the major roads in the city, heritage buildings, palaces, historical monuments, ancient temples and shops illuminated. Here the Dasara is an elaborate affair and attract a large audience including both local and foreign tourists.

According to the legends, Dasara is celebrated as a victory of Goddess Chamundeswari over the demon Mahishasura. The 10th day of the festival – the most auspicious day of the Dasara – is Vijayadashami, which is symbolically celebrated as the victory of good over evil. This final event of the festival usually falls in the month of September or October.

This historical festival started during the period of Vijayanagar Kingdom in 15th century. Later, the Mysore Wodeyars carried over the tradition of Vijayanagara rulers. After the fall of Tipu Sulthan, the Wodeyars shifted to Mysore and continued the tradition. The Dasara festivities are held at the Mysore Palace, Jaganmohan Palace, Kalamandira and the Town hall. Renowned artists in classical music, dance and folk perform during this festival. Apart from cultural events, sports and wrestling events are also there to entertain the viewers. However, the main attractions of Dasara are the colourful procession of Goddess Chamundeshwari on the decorated royal elephant, torchlight parade and the exotic fireworks at Bannimantap and exhibition.

Dasara (Navaratri) starts on the first day of Ashwija month, and it ends with the world famous Jambu Savari on the last day. Colourful tableaux, folk dancers, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession. Dolls are also arranged in the houses in an artistic way, and illuminated.

On Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession is held on the streets of Mysore city. The main attraction of this procession is the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari which is placed on a golden mantapa on the top of a decorated elephant. Colourful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession which starts from the Mysore Palace and culminates at a place called Bannimantap where the banni tree is worshipped. The Dasara festivities would culminate on the night of Vijayadashami with an event held in the grounds at Bannimantap called as Panjina Kavayatthu (torch-light parade).

Another major attraction during the festival is the Dasara exhibition which is held in the exhibition grounds opposite to the Mysore Palace. This exhibition starts during Dasara and goes on till December. Various stalls which sell items like clothes, plastic items, kitchenware, cosmetics and eatables are set up and they attract a significant number of people. A play area containing attractions like Ferris wheel is also present to provide entertainment to the people. Various Governmental agencies setup stalls to signify the achievements and projects that they have undertaken.

Just as the rest of the world moves forward into the online digital world, there are still various classical traditions from centuries past that retains their popularity with the new younger generation of people. Even as some of these traditions are bizarre and unusual, they have continued to grow in infamy. With its colorful local cultures and numerous differing locales, the region of Asia is filled with such festivities that makes you go “Huh?” Here are some of them to keep you amused and piqued with curiosity.

Kanamara Matsuri

Often mistaken for a big, gigantic bachelor party or the Japanese equivalent of a grand Playboy bash, Kanamara Matsuri (or the Festival of the Steel Phallus) is a colorful festive event which sees various replica of the male gender’s “equipment” strewn about in various color and shape. Originating from the Edo period of the 1600, this annual Fertility Festival was initially organized by geisha escorts during the period, in the hope that they will be protected from various STDs. The Kanamara Matsuri is centred around a local penis-venerating shrine believed to grant divine protection not only against STDs, but also in business and the clan’s prosperity, marriage and family harmony. Now, this Shinto gathering is a full-fledged tourist attraction that helps various related social initiative. Only in Japan would such a festival can be made available to all the public, and even to children!

Bau Nyale

The full moon shone brightly up on the dark nightscape of Lombok’s beautiful southern coast. It was February, the month of love and romance, and a throng of locals were on the beach, looking out for… worms? Locally referred to as “nyale”, this colorful worms are only seen during the month of February to March, whose appearance are celebrated by the locals as they are believed to be a transformation of Princess Mandalika. The local legend goes that a beloved local princess was famed for her beauty throughout the land, with numerous suitors competing for her attention and love. Over time, the competition grasdfew fierce and distasteful, and the princess, not wanting to start a war between the locals, decided to sacrifice herself and threw herself into the sea. Every year, the locals celebrates the appearance of the colorful worms with various events such as traditional war games, musicals and a stage rendition of the story of Princess Mandalika.

Holi Festival

This popular Hindu spring festival, observed in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and other Hindu countries, is also known as The Festival of Color. The festivities can last up to sixteen days, with the main day, Holi, celebrated by people applying (or sometimes throwing) colored water or powder at each other. The Holi festival is a celebration of good over bad, and also of various Hindu legends. Culturally, the Holi is a festival that brings all fabric of society together, and strengthen the community, not an easy feat in a secular India where caste and race plays a large part in social dynamics. Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month, usually in the later part of February or March.

Boryeong Mud Festival

The Boryeong’s Mud Festival on Daecheon Beach brings out the child in everyone. During this summer event, festival goers apply mud packs to their entire body, believing the mud from Boryeong to contain important minerals which reduce wrinkles and remove excess oils from the skin. Aside from the mass mud bathing, there are also mud body painting contests, a mud beauty contest, mud massages and even a mud sculpture contest. Those not so into mud can simply gawk at the scene while enjoying your usual beach activities on the white sand of Daecheon Beach.

About the Author. Nikolas Tjhin. A graphic and web designer in its previous incarnation, Nik’s journeyman career has seen him do work for various creative studios in Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Singapore and Jakarta. Now, he’s settled down for the time being and focusing his efforts as the editor of an Asia travel zine, Unearthing Asia.

About the Author. Nikolas Tjhin. A graphic and web designer in its previous incarnation, Nik’s journeyman career has seen him do work for various creative studios in Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Singapore and Jakarta. Now, he’s settled down for the time being and focusing his efforts on Unearthing Asia.