Pasola Jousting Festivals (Throughout February and March, Indonesia) is a showcase for competitive games played by the Western Sumbanese to celebrate the rice planting season. It involves throwing wooden spears at the opponent while riding a horse with two groups of men from different clans or tribes competing against each other.
Ramadan Month (17 Feb - 20 Mar, Indonesia) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, communal prayer, reflection, and community
During the Perfume Pagoda Festival (22 Feb - 16 May, Vietnam) thousands of pilgrims make the journey to the Perfume (Hương) Pagoda - Vietnam’s most revered Buddhist pilgrimage site. Travellers can visit Perfume Pagoda at any time of year, but the festival is a unique spectacle to witness.
Yen Tu Festival (26 Feb - 27 Apr, Vietnam) takes place at Yen Tu Mountain in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. This event begins on the 10th day of the first lunar month and lasts until the end of the third lunar month. Following the Lunar New Year celebrations, thousands of visitors flock to Yen Tu to pray for good fortune and health for their families, making it a significant spiritual pilgrimage in Vietnam.
Among the many different events held during Omizutori (1-14 Mar, Japan), Otaimatsu is the most famous and spectacular. Just after sunset each night, giant torches ranging in length from 6 to 8 meters are carried up to Nigatsudo's balcony and held over the crowd. The burning embers that shower down from the balcony are thought to bestow the onlookers with a safe year.
The Spring Lantern Festival (3 Mar, Hong Kong) falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month. Love likes to have the final word, and on the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations, couples spend time together on what’s informally known as ‘Chinese Valentine’s Day’, a title also awarded to the Seven Sisters Festival.
Locals traditionally wear white clothing for Melasti (16 Mar, Indonesia) that takes place 3 days before Nyepi. During the festival, Balinese Hindu people make offerings to the gods by placing items in water.
On the eve of Nyepi, Pengrupukan (18 Mar, Indonesia) sees a number of rituals performed in order to vanquish the negative elements and create a balance with God, mankind, and nature. It is a very different day from the day of silence which follows. Everyone takes to the streets, parading large puppets that have been meticulously made by hand before burning them to cleanse the spirits of evil.
Nyepi Day (19 Mar, Indonesia) in Bali is a festival for locals to celebrate the New Year. Nyepi Day is the quietest day on the island. From 6 o'clock in the morning, there is no activity or entertainment on the island. Not a single pedestrian is seen on the roads and tourists must stay in hotels and is why some people believe the festival is a time for complete relaxation and meditation.
At the end of Ramadan, Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa (21 Mar, Malaysia and Indonesia) celebrates with the morning prayers at mosques, followed by visits to family and friends, and enjoying traditional dishes at home.
Boun Khoun Khao or Khoun Lan (Rice Ceremony) (Date TBA, Laos) This festival honors the rice harvest and the spirit of the land through religious ceremonies, communal gatherings, and cultural displays.
The Tokyo Marathon (1 Mar, Japan) is one of Asia's revered marathons taking place in this eclectic capital and passing a multitude of iconic images.
The Grand Sumo Tournament (8-22 Mar, Japan) in Osaka provides the chance to catch the heavyweights in action at one of Japan's most prestigious sumo events.
The Hong Kong Sevens (17-19 Mar, Hong Kong) sees teams from the world’s top rugby nations compete in lightning-fast 15-minute matches in front of 40,000 spectators. And the action at Hong Kong Stadium is merely the epicenter of what morphs into a three-day carnival infecting the whole city. Join 40,000 spectators for one of the world's most electrifying rugby events.
The Phnom Penh International Film Festival (24-28 Mar, Cambodia) is an annual non-competitive festival held every year in Phnom Penh.
Art Basel (27-29 Mar, Hong Kong) has placed Hong Kong squarely in the center of Asia’s international art scene. The show provides an in-depth overview of the region’s diversity through both historical material and cutting-edge works by leading and emerging artists.
Hong Kong’s flourishing arts scene comes to fruition each March Hong Kong Arts Month (Throughout March, Hong Kong) with an inspirational spectrum of events. From opera to ballet, and art installations to seminars, there’s something to suit all tastes, whether you’re a connoisseur or simply a dabbler.
The World Thai Martial Arts Festival (12-18 Mar, Thailand) is an annual event held in Ayutthaya that celebrates Muay Thai and other martial arts. Key components include the World Wai Kru Muay Thai Ceremony, also includes a variety of competitions for professional and amateur Muay Thai, workshops, historical reenactments, and cultural elements like traditional tattooing and music.
