An Insight by ezee Visa: Top Cultural Festivals to Experience in Asia

The festival is the celebration of the victory of light over darkness and good over evil during the two days. Now each Indian region celebrates this festival in its most typical way, yet rest assured, the things that will stay are family gatherings, sweets, and lights in great amount.

The reasons why you must go through the Diwali experience

• Cities like Jaipur and Varanasi turn into glowing spectacles
• The hospitality during Diwali is unmatched-many families welcome guests warmly
• Traditional foods, from sweet gulab jamuns to spicy samosas, are everywhere

Some advice: Do not wear the black color, and try to wear bright colors so you will be able to blend in with the celebrations.

3. Harbin Ice and Snow Festival - China’s Frozen Wonderland

The event is the largest snow and ice festival globally and it is an amazing event that can hardly be expressed in words. Try to envisage a magical world of enormous ice castles, the sculptures painted with different colors, and snow art that even makes you feel like you are walking through a dream.

Today it is not a local festival only; it is a well-known global spectacle, which brings artists and visitors from everywhere.

What makes it special:

• Ice buildings tall enough to walk through (and even slide down!)
• Nighttime illuminations make everything look surreal
• Activities like ice skating, snow tubing, and even winter swimming for the brave

Bundle up- it’s freezing, but absolutely worth it.

4. Gion Matsuri – Kyoto’s Timeless Tradition

The Gion Matsuri festival is a name that is known to every person who is into the festival game. It is celebrated in Kyoto through the whole of July. A parade called Yamaboko Junko is considered the famous thing during the Gion Matsuri Festival in Japan. During the Yamaboko Junko parade, huge wooden floats, which are beautifully decorated, are pulled through the streets at a slow pace.

These floats are made by hand and can be really tall. The people pulling them wear traditional Japanese clothes, and the whole thing looks very grand and traditional.

Festival standouts:

• Intricate wooden floats decorated with tapestries and lanterns
• Yukata-clad locals and food stalls everywhere
• A rare look at Kyoto’s traditional neighborhoods in full swing

Book your room well in advance - this festival is a real crowd puller!

5. Thaipusam - Devotion in Motion (Malaysia & Singapore)

Usually around late January or early February, Tamil communities in places like Malaysia and Singapore gather for one of the most intense festivals you’ll ever witness-Thaipusam. It’s not your average celebration. Devotees make promises and carry kavadis- decorated offerings- to honor Lord Murugan. Some go through serious physical challenges as part of their vows. It’s raw, emotional, and deeply spiritual.

Near Kuala Lumpur, there is a place called Batu Caves, and here you can see this picture very clearly, as thousands of people trample up the stairs, some with pierced cheeks and some with hooks in their skin, all of these acts are their ways to give their devotion and to ask for forgiveness.

Things you’ll remember:

• Intense spiritual energy and massive crowds
• Body piercings and elaborate kavadis as offerings
• Chanting, drumming, and prayers from morning to night

Even if you're just observing, it's a deeply moving experience.

6. Naadam Festival - Mongolia’s Nomadic Spirit

Mongolia’s biggest annual celebration, Naadam, starts every July. It is based on three traditional sports: horse racing, wrestling, and archery-each of them is associated with Mongolia’s nomadic period.

While the most extravagant events are scheduled to be held in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, there are many smaller festivities to attend to enjoy all around Mongolia. It is a great chance to enjoy the vast Mongolian steppe and, simultaneously, to be aware of its ancient traditions.

Festival features:

• Young riders (some as young as five) racing bareback over long distances
• Wrestlers in traditional garb performing ancient rituals before matches
• Archery competitions with hand-crafted bows

Bonus: If you’re into adventure travel, Naadam pairs perfectly with a rural Mongolian road trip.

7. Perahera - Sri Lanka’s Grand Procession

Every August in Kandy, Sri Lanka, the streets come alive with Esala Perahera- a festival held to honor the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. It’s one of the oldest and most visually striking religious processions in all of Asia.

What you’ll see? Dancers in bold, traditional outfits, drummers keeping a wild rhythm, fire-lit processions, and elephants dressed head to toe in vibrant, embroidered robes. The energy is something else.

Highlights to catch:

• Over 10 nights of ceremonies, each growing more elaborate
• Majestic elephants carrying symbolic relics
• Traditional Kandyan dancing and percussion performances

The climax of the whole festival is a big finale, which is a gathering of tens of thousands of various people, and this happens each night as the energy grows.

One Last Thing Before You Book That Flight

If you're thinking of planning your travels around any of these festivals, timing is everything- but so is your visa. Countries like India, China, Thailand, and Japan get flooded with visa applications around major festivals, so the earlier you start the process, the better.

ezee Visa is always at your service to make your travel arrangements simple and hassle-free. If you are planning a short trip to Thailand for the Songkran festival or a longer trip for exploring and experiencing Mongolia’s Naadam festival, we can assist you in obtaining the necessary visa with no complications and no need for guesswork.

Is your next journey going to be more than just sightseeing? Get in touch with the ezee Visa team today and we will assist you in planning the best time for your trip- with the right papers at the right time.