World Festivals You’ve Never Heard of But Should Attend

The best way to make a trip exciting is to plan it around a specific festival. This will allow you to get a first-hand experience of the local way of living, the cuisine and history of your destination. The next time you plan a trip, keep these completely unique, must-visit festivals in mind:

Hokkai Heso Matsuri is one of the most unique celebrations in the world. The entire festival is centred around belly buttons! It is held in Furano, the geographical centre of Hokkaido.
To celebrate this festival, locals wear elaborate and colourful costumes and paint faces on their stomachs in a way that their belly button appears like the mouth. This is accompanied by a belly-button-themed dance that you will find anywhere else in the world. If you are looking for an offbeat festival, Hokkai Heso Matsuri is one of the best choices.

Jaffa Race is a heartwarming festival that takes place at Baldwin Street in Dunedin, which is the steepest street in the world. This race involves people buying red marble-like Jaffa candies, which they roll from the top of the road.
The money raised in this festival is donated to a number of local charities. IF you are looking for a festival full of whimsy and want to be a part of a good cause, head to the Jaffa Race, which happens in New Zealand every year.

El Colacho, or the Baby Jumping Festival, is an ancient Spanish festival that is believed to cleanse newborn children and protect them from evil spirits. To celebrate this day, men dress as devils and leap over children who lie down on mattresses.
This festival first began in 1620 and is the chance for you to witness a ritual that has persisted for centuries. It is a way of respecting the local traditions and seeking goodwill for future generations.

Every November, Lopburi, a city north of Bangkok, celebrates the monkeys that reside in their region to honour Lord Hanuman. They hold an elaborate feast for wild macaque monkeys with piles of colourful fruits and vegetables stacked on top of each other.
There are barely any sights in the world that match this festival. If you are a lover of animals and all things unique, the Lopburi Monkey Festival is a must-visit. You will never get to see the monkeys freely dance, roam around and have grand food fights.

The Lazarim Carnival in Portugal is a celebration of local traditions and an age-old craft. It features large wooden Celtic masks worn by dancers called ‘caretos.’ It is held in the Lazarim town in the north of Portugal.
These masks are believed to represent devilish spirits that are warded off by drum parades. The celebration also involves a traditional Portuguese feast and storytelling by caretos artists. IF you are keen to know the ancient folklore and history of Portugal, the Lazarim Carnival is the perfect place for you to visit.

You don’t need to travel a long way to witness a memorable festival. India’s very own Sula Festival, which is held in Nashik in Maharashtra, is a celebration of music from all over the world.
Sula Festival features Indian rock, blues, and folk acts and takes place at some of India’s most picturesque and finest vineyards. If you are someone with fine taste, you can also enjoy the range of wine blends at this festival every spring.

The African Zuri Festival is a lively celebration that brings together diverse traditions from Africa and gives you the best of music, dance, cuisine, fashion, art, history, comedy, sculpture, and handicrafts. It is a symbol of pan-African diversity and unity.
The recent editions of the festival have taken place in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. It attracts tourists from all over the world to witness a celebration go the history and traditions of this diverse continent.

Starting in Okayama, this incredible festival has thousands of men in minimal clothing, competing with each other in the cold month of February for good fortune. The men compete to win paper talismans known as shingi that guarantee good luck.
Hadaka Matsuri is a unique test of endurance and a festive display of devotion. It attracts thrill-seekers and culture enthusiasts who are fascinated by this 500-year history.