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.
Boun Hor Khao Salak (2 Sep, Laos) is a full moon festival involving the presentation of offerings to local monks. Offerings include daily necessities such as books, pens, sugar, coffee and cigarettes.
The Hungry Ghost Festival (5 Sep, Hong Kong) is one of several traditional festivals to worship ancestors, with highlights including Chinese operas. Special ceremonies are performed to avoid the wrath of the ghosts such as putting the family’s ancestral tablets on a table, burning incense, and preparing food three times that day to feed the hungry ghosts.
Pagerwesi (23 Sep, Indonesia) celebrates Sang Yang (the creator of the universe) with grand ceremonies island wide. Pagerwesi is celebrated every 210 days based on the Balinese lunar calendar and can be interpreted as ‘iron fence’. It is a day when man should fortify the space around himself to fend off evil spirits – the continuous battle between good and evil.
On Pchum Ben, known as Ancestor's Day (21-23 Sep, Cambodia), many Khmer families will head back to their home provinces and spend time with their families. Food offerings are presented at pagodas to give thanks to their ancestors.
The Grand Sumo Tournament (14-28 Sep, Japan) in Kokugikan provides the chance to catch the heavyweights in action at one of Japan's most prestigious sumo events.
The Vietnam Mountain Marathon (Date TBA, Vietnam) is held in the mountain range of Hoang Lien National Park and its remote valleys near Sapa. This two-day event includes multiple distances and courses that span often closed territory as they include local villages, rice terraces, bamboo bridges, and even local water buffalo.
