At the Tana Toraja Funeral Festival (Throughout July - mid Sep, Indonesia), fascinating and elaborate funeral rites are conducted to send the spirit of the dead to the afterworld and prevent misfortune for the deceased's family. Expect plenty of chanting and dancing which is performed to honour the deceased and bid farewell.
George Town Festival (15 Jul - 15Aug, Malaysia) in Penang is dedicated to celebrating and preserving local arts, culture, and heritage. It features artistic performances, including dance, music, theatre, photographer, and heritage exhibitions.
Nebuta Matsuri (2-7 Aug, Japan) is a large festival held in Aomori City with a parade of enormous lantern floats, flanked by large taiko drums, musicians, and dancers. The Nebuta Matsuri together with Akita's Kanto Matsuri and Sendai's Tanabata make up the Tohoku Sandai Matsuri (Three Great Festivals of the Tohoku Region).
The Kanto Matsuri (2-6 Aug, Japan), also known as "pole lantern festival", is held in Akita and is part of the Three Great Summer Festivals of Tohoku. The festival is noteworthy for the impressive skills displayed by the kanto performers, who balance long bamboo poles with beautifully lit paper lanterns attached to the ends of them. The Night Parades are the main highlight of the festival.
At the Sendai Tanabata Matsuri Festival (6-8 Aug, Japan) visitors can witness elegant decorations made from paper and bamboo. The main highlight of the festival is giant, vibrant streamers that parade the shopping district.
The Baliem Valley Festival (7-9 Aug, Indonesia) in Papua celebrates the rich heritage of the Dani Tribe. It features mock tribe battles between the Dani, Yali, and Lani as they send their best warriors to the arena, wearing traditional regalia. The festival is complemented by a Pig Feast, Earth cooking and traditional music and dance.
O-bon (13-15 Aug, Japan) is also known as the Festival of Souls when lanterns are hung in front of houses to guide the ancestors' spirits. Obon dances (bon odori) are performed, graves are visited, and food offerings are made at house altars.
Yamaga Lantern Festival (14-15 Aug, Japan) sees the city lit up by thousands of lanterns in a very scenic and beautiful festival. With a lively atmosphere, visitors can watch performers pass by in traditional 'yukata' as they dance gracefully to 'yoheho' music.
Boat Racing Festival in Luang Prabang (18 Aug, Laos) is a big day in the city of Luang Prabang’s calendar as boats from the different villages compete to win the honour of the fastest boat on the river.
Singapore Food Festival (Date TBA, Singapore) is a week-long festival that celebrates Singapore's multi-cultural heritage through delicious and diverse food from around the island.
The Seven Sisters Festival (29 Aug, Hong Kong) is informally known as ‘Chinese Valentine’s Day’ and has its origins in the two stars Altair and Vega. The festival is traditionally celebrated with needlework competitions, the burning of incense, and young women making offerings to the lovesick goddess weaver and her cowherd beau.
The Bidar Boat Race (17 Aug, Indonesia) is among the most awaited holidays and festivals in Indonesia and takes place in the Palembang region in south Sumatra when teams compete by racing large boats made from hardwood trees.
The Tomohon International Flower Festival (Date TBA, Indonesia) on the coast of North Sulawesi is a unique flower show that exhibits the most colourfully decorated parade floats brought over from various districts around the country for people to enjoy.
