Due to take place on the 25th of February 2013, Thailand’s Maka Bucha Festival is an annual religious festival of truly grand proportions. Marked on the full moon of the third lunar month this auspicious religious event commemorates the birth of the Buddhist order of monks and is also known as Sangha Day in other Buddhist nations across Asia. A red letter day in the Buddhist calendar the yearly festival celebrates the founding of the Buddhist monastic order collectively known as the Sangha and the hallowed day on which it was established. Religious scripture dates the event nine months following the enlightenment of Lord Buddha when a record 1250 monks gathered in one location to spontaneously chant a sermon in his lordship’s honour. This is …

Held at the Qurum Natural Park in Oman scheduled for the 7th of February, the Oman food festival is a much- awaited event that takes place this February 2013. The festival runs in association with chefs and students of the Oman Tourism College, and it allows visitors to the fair to enjoy the best of authentic Oman cuisine. This year’s food festival will be held on the 7th of February. Provided you like trying something different, if you are a complete foodie, or even if you are just interested in trying out local cuisine you are sure to love the experience of the food festival, as locals and tourists bounce about the festivities. Dishes such as the traditional Shua; a preparation of meat cooked underground, …

A harvest festival that has its origins in South India, Thai Pongal is a thanksgiving festival held in honour of the Sun God Surya. Occurring every year from January 13th to the 15th, the timing of Thai Pongal is calculated according to astronomic events. The festival coincides with the movement of the Sun to Makaram or Capricorn. During this auspicious celebration, houses are decorated with banana and mango leaves while intricate and coulourful patterns called ‘Kolams’ decorate the floor. Boiling of milk and its spilling over is a significant tradition during the Tamil Thai Pongal. It represents abundance and prosperity that will be plentiful in the household. While the milk spills over people shout ‘Pongalo Pongal’ and watching the milk spill over is thought to …

Sri Lanka is well known for holidays centred on sun, sand and the sea, but when on this diverse island there is much more to see and experience, as its culture is rich and exciting. Much of the country’s culture and longstanding traditions find their roots in Buddhism, and it is because of this religion, followed by a majority of locals, that the full moon is a sacred event in the country. Each full moon marks important events in the Buddhist calendar, and this is especially true in Sri Lanka. Duruthu Poya, which falls in January represents Lord Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka which took place more than 2,500 years ago, and since 1927 it has been annually celebrated with a colourful ‘perahera’ that …

Phuket is known for its idyllic beaches with soft sands, azure ocean waters that are perfect for water sports, exotic culture steeped in history and thrilling nightlife that let you party the night away; an island paradise does not get any better than this! A visit to this enchanting island would not be complete however, without sampling the delectable delicacies that are on offer which let you experience rich and distinct flavours. Those wanting to combine sampling local cuisine with some culture can visit when one of the local food festivals are taking place. The most popular of such events is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival that usually takes place in October. Spanning for a period of around nine days, this unique and colourful festival is …

Thanksgiving is a holiday for all communities residing in America and Canada. This state holiday is celebrated on the 4th Thursday every November and is known for its many festivities. In Canada thanksgiving is celebrated on the 2nd Monday of every October. This customary day is dedicated for friends and families to get together in harmony and celebrate a special feast. This meal habitually comprises of cranberry sauce, turkey, potatoes, pumpkin pie, stuffing, gravy and also vegetables. It is a day of giving thanks for what you have received during the year and for the family and friends in your life. Beverly Hills is such a city in the United States that celebrates this holiday in a very joyous and grand style. There are many …