Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Top 10 Bizarre Festivals of the World



executive summary by darmansjah
El Colacho
The town has observed the strange practice (called El Colacho) since 1620, and any onlookers who seem to be in need of a quick exorcism are pulled into the event, as well — so look normal, by God! And leave your babies with the sitter.
Men dressed as devils leap precariously over babies lying on a mattress in the street in the belief that the act will rid the infants of their original sin.

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Kanamara Matsuri
When talking about the weird, including jaguh Jepun. From about food, the festival until the temple, there is just strange. Have you ever imagined a temple-themed sex? This thread discusses the festival held under the theme.

There are two masturi (Japanese festival) is famous within Japan are carried out based on a theme related to the sex and Hounen Kanamara Matsuri Matsuri. Like most matsuri in Japan as a sponsored by Jinja (Shinto shrine) or Otera (Buddhist temples), two matsuri is also sponsored by local Jinja. The first Kanamara Matsuri held by Kanayama Jinja, while Hounen Matsuri held by Tagata Jinja in Aichi area near Nagoya.


Mikoshi phallus-shaped and ready to be carried paraded from Jinja

 
Kanamara Matsuri (か なまら 祭) are usually held on the first week in early April in the area of ​​Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Jepun. According to local legend based on the story of Kojiki Courant story Kagutsuchi the god of fire, a beautiful girl was possessed by evil demons that have been castrated two male bride on the wedding night by using a tooth devil. Satan's evil is eradicated by a blacksmith who, armed with iron bars phallus-shaped teeth are knocked out of the evil demons. The blacksmith weapon is what bodes well Kanayama Jinja Matsuri Kanamara themes that have been held since Edo era. According to Mr. Mouse, in the Edo period the PSK noisy Kanayama Jinja visit to ask for protection from venereal disease? as well as luck in business. This continued into the bustling community visit the temple especially to invoke fertility (procreation) until the birth of this unique tradition of matsuri.


Nowadays the festival is used as a year to raise funds to fight HIV and AIDS but of course as pelancungan entertainment with a mikoshi - 神 舆 (miniature representation that was draped around Jinja) is also the procession. On the day of matsuri (maybe on a weekday) a lot sold a variety of accessories and specialties matsuri. Typical Kanamara Matsuri? Hehehe .... matsuri typical stuff of course this one is the phallus and her partner. From the display, key chains up to the lollipop. Imagine not suck phallus-shaped lollipop candy? Crazy festival that might exist only within Japan.

Large phallic statues are paraded down the street during this Shinto fertility festival. Stands sell phallic-shaped souvenirs and carved foods.
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San Fermin


The festival of San Fermin or Sanfermines is celebrated in Pamplona the city of Spain. San Fermin festival is celebrated from 6th July to 14th July every year in Spain. The festival is started by setting off the pyrotechnic chupinazo. In the opening of the festival the song Pobri di Mi is sung. The most famous event of the festival is the running of the bulls. It is called encierro. In this event thousands of people run on the road before the bulls. These bulls hurt and injures the people with their horns. This event is celebrated on the 7th of July. Many other events are celebrated on the occasion of this festival. Many singers and folk stars sing on the roads. A lot of entertainments are presented on the roads.Young men and woman risk injury and worse as they daringly rush down the street a step ahead of raging bulls in Pamplona.


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Thaipusam

Mention Thaipusam and instantly my mind conjures up images of huge crowds of Hindu devotees at Batu Caves, colourful kavadis, body piercings, shaven heads, and people balancing milk pots, also known as the ‘palkudam’, on top of their heads, climbing the 272 steps up to the caves. 

The real meaning of Thaipusam is not a show of bravery by outdoing others by having the most body piercings or carrying the most attractive kavadi. It is instead a celebration to commemorate the victory of Lord Muruga over the demon army.

When I was much younger, I used to associate Thaipusam with Thailand, as they share the first syllable, ‘Thai’. How naive I was at that time. Through observations in the papers and the shared experiences of Hindu classmates in school, I slowly and gradually came to know more about the Thaipusam festival.

It was from my Indian friends that I learnt that the Thaipusam festival is named as such because it is observed on the Pusam star in the Tamil calendar month of ‘Thai’, which falls either on January or February each year. I was relieved that I didn’t reveal my foolishness in front of them, because then I would definitely be the laughing stock of my class.

My Hindu friends in school also used to have a strict vegetarian diet for 48 days before performing their vows to cleanse themselves. I honestly salute their efforts. If I were them, I would never have gotten past the first week itself!

The rituals that take place on Thaipusam day itself are complex and show the faithfulness of the devotees to perform their vows. They also have to endure a huge crowd while balancing the milk pot or kavadis, and yet they still made it all the way to the top of Batu Caves.

This year on the 30th of January, the spotlight was once again on the masses of devotees at Batu Caves. About 1 million devotees and tourists thronged the Sri Subramaniyar Swami Temple in Batu Caves, despite the hot and humid weather to fulfil their vows. Some Tamil Hindu devotees immolate themselves by piercing their cheeks, tongues, backs with skewers or hooks. Not for the squeamish.



La Tomatina


It's the world's biggest and messiest food fight. Locals and tourists enthusiastically hurl truckloads of ripe tomatoes at each other.
August sees at least 20,000 people on the streets of Buñol, in Spain, to participate in a giant tomato fight, 'La Tomatina'.

The hour-long pelting session attracts enthusiastic participants from around the world.

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Burning Man

It's a festival in the desert where self-expression rules. The highlight is the burning down of the iconic wooden male statue on the final night.
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Hodaka Matsuri
Thousands of  men wearing nothing but minimalist white loin cloths congregate in public during this centuries-old Shinto ceremony. Loincloth clad festival goers gather at Konomiya Shrine during Hadaka Matsuri or Naked Festival on February 10, 2006 in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The festival began at the end of Edo Period (1603-1867). There is one man who is fully naked among the thousands at the center and by touching him, it is believed that it brings good lack and happiness. 

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Roswell UFO
Welcome one and all to the Roswell UFO Festival in Roswell, New Mexico. Roswell has long been famous for its extraterrestrial connections. The Roswell UFO Festival attracts around 50,000 revelers each year to this remote desert town, doubling their population for the four day festival. There are also UFO workshops and symposiums, pet costume contests, parades, concerts, fireworks (it is 4th of July after all), and a vast variety of other entertainment. Then stroll the crowds, grab a bite to eat at one of the alien themed restaurants, and have an out of this world time. The Roswell UFO Festival is tame enough for families with kids but exciting enough for a group of college buddies looking for a unique get together vacation. People who believe that the Air Force hid info about a crashed UFO now gather here to share extraterrestrial stories and conspiracy theories
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Boryeong

 Visitors coat themselves in the local therapeutic mud. The scene of a hoard of "mud people" having fun is hilarious.
Participants enjoy the huge mud slide, compete in the mud wrestling contest and enjoy many other activities like escaping mud prison as well the ultimate, a mud bath. 
Some of the final weekend participants are foreign tourists, and especially American GIs, but most of the participants during the week are Koreans, attracted by clever marketing by the town. The town fathers and mothers discovered that the mud is more lucrative as a tourist attraction than using the muddy fields for agriculture.
The economy generated from the festival supports the many hotels and restaurants along the waterway and several blocks inland. There is also a great deal to see and do in the vicinity and a free tourist bus takes visitors to local sites, including an impressive coal mine and a famous Buddhist shrine.The festival is a free for all in a mud covered city from July 11-19.

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Monkey Buffet
The Monkey Buffet Festival is held annually in Thailand. Every year, approximately 2,000 monkeys are invited to eat fruits and vegetables during an annual feast held in honor of gods. A round platter measuring about 10 meters (33 feet) in diameter is covered with fresh fruits and vegetables. Monkeys aggressively devour them.

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