As monsoon subsides, leaves falling off the trees mark the arrival of autumn or fall, a time for celebration across cultures and around the world. October is the month of thanksgiving, harvests and light.
Here are some of the popular autumn festivals around the world.
Oktoberfest: Germany (cancelled due to the pandemic)
It is the world’s largest beer festival and travelling funfair. Oktoberfest is an 18 days folk festival which happens in Munich, Germany. More than 6 million people from around the world attend the event which encompasses parades, exotic food and music.
The tradition began in 1810 with the wedding celebration of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Theresa of Saxony- Hildburghausen, after which it became an annual celebration. Over the years following the First World War, Oktoberfest was replaced by smaller autumn celebrations. However, since the beginning of 1950s, the current traditional procedure, the Mayor tapping the first barrel of beer to commemorate the celebration began
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta: New Mexico (3rd – 11th October)
Every year, pilots, participants and spectators from all across the globe come to the world’s largest ballooning festival where each morning at the break of dawn, more than 500 hot air balloons take flight into the skies of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The festival takes place for 9 days in early October.
The fiesta began in 1972 as the highlight of the 50th birthday celebration of 770 KOB Radio with a humble amount of only 13 balloons and the numbers have grown ever since. The fest also includes filmmaking contests, balloon races and afterglow fireworks. The explosion of rainbow colours, creativity and awe-inspiring designs is what makes it the world’s most photographed event.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival: Thailand (17th- 25th October)
Also known as the ‘Nine Emperor Gods Festival’, it is a 9-day celebration beginning on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. In this colourful festival, participants abide by a strict set of rules which includes abstaining from using or consuming animal products, sex and alcohol. The purpose of this religious practice is to display devotion to their beliefs for their gods and ancestors to obtain good health and peace of mind.
The event, however, is not for the faint-hearted as it includes piercing of body parts, walking on nails or across hot coal and other bustling activities.
Dussehra: India (25th October)
Also known as Dasara or Dashing, Dussehra is a festival celebrated by the people of Hindu faith for various reasons across India. The celebration mark’s the end of Durga Puja or Ramlila. It signifies the victory of good over evil.
In some parts of India, it is a remembrance of goddess Durga’s victory over demon Mahishasura. While in others, it remembers Lord Rama’s victory over the evil Ravan, hence saving Sita. Ramlila is re-enacted every year wherein people celebrate the burning of towering effigies of Ravan with fireworks, marking evils destruction. There are community gathering, recitation of scriptures, puja, fasting and immersion of Durga. The epic Mahabharata is also commemorated during Dussehra, marking the victory of the Pandavas over the evil Kuru warriors.
Halloween
Halloween signifies the first day of Allhallowtide, the time dedicated to remembering the dead. The holiday is traditionally celebrated all over the world and is originated from the ancient Celtic Harvest Festival. Each year, it is celebrated on the 31st of October.
The celebration includes trick-or-treating, costume parties, bonfires, playing pranks on each other, visiting haunted attractions, going to churches and lighting candles on the grave of the dead remain popular. It is one of the most popular and fun holidays around the world.
-by Zenith Kazmi
Author’s bio
Zenith is a Major in English literature . A versatile personality who loves reading as well as writing. A poet and a writer who describes herself as a dreamer and an ambivert. The love for quotes and poetry made her start her own IG page @scribblers_zenith
