Top 10 Biggest Festivals in the World

Festivals are events that remind us of something extraordinary that has happened in the past, and to keep that legacy, we celebrate the day. It can be cultural, religious, or social. They also reflect the variety and abundance of human traditions, and each is unique in its way, showcasing the tradition, art, and identity of a community or region.

Here, We will explore the 10 biggest festivals in the world, highlighting how amazing and important they are.

List of Top 10 Biggest (Most Croweded) Festivals in the World

Carnival, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

A great show of uncontrollable joy, feathers, and samba- a Brazilian style of music and dance considered a key part of Brazilian identity. Rio Carnival is unmatched when it comes to race of festival celebration, the number of uniquely designed costumes, rocky and palpitating samba rhythms, and most energetic parades compel the city to dance and sing continually for 5 days.

Origin: It was brought to Brazil by a Portuguese colonizer and known as ‘Entrudo”. According to carnival history, the first Rio Carnival ball was held before the 19th century, or somewhere around 1840, as the participants performed the waltz and polka. Interestingly enough, the samba- was not introduced until 1917.

Diwali, India

Known as the festival of light usually comes in October or November, Diwali is India’s most celebrated and exciting festival, people love to light candles and diyas in their houses as a sign of victory over darkness, wear new clothes, share sweets, and hug each other as it is also considered as festival of togetherness and unity. It is said that from space India looks different on this day, all covered in lights.

Origin: On this day Prince Rama came back to Ayodhya with his wife Sita and Brother Laxman after the exile of fourteen years, which was set by his stepmother Kekaye. During the exile, Sita was Kidnapped by Ravana (king of Lanka), later Rama killed Ravana to get her beloved back. This story says Dharma always wins, that is why people light candles and diyas in their homes and take it as a symbol of victory over darkness.

Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany

Lift a big mug of tasty beer and join the largest party in the world! Munich's Oktoberfest celebrates everything German – traditional clothing, fun music, food stalls, and other cultural activities For 16 days, there are lively party rooms and colorful parades in a fun-filled event with lots of happy people and plenty of great beer. It usually starts on the Saturday after 15 September and ends on the first Sunday of October.

Origin: It originated in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghaushen. Sparked a citywide party with food and horse races. This happy event grew into the famous festival we see today.

Mardi Gas, New Orleans, USA

Enjoy the fun in New Orleans' famous Mardi Gras! Look forward to bright and unique costumes, exciting parades, lively jazz music, and a joyful atmosphere all around. Grab beads thrown from fancy floats, dance to brass bands, and treat yourself to the city's special as you join in the happy celebration of life and good luck.

Origin: It originated in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghaushen. Sparked a citywide party with food and horse races. This happy event grew into the famous festival we see today.

Holi, India

Enjoy the fun and colorful mess of Holi, a spring festival in India. The streets fill with colorful powders as happy people splash colors on each other to celebrate good winning over evil. It's a joyful time with laughter, music, and bright colors, creating happy memories and colorful faces for everyone involved. People also throw water balloons at each other to bring more laughter to the celebration.

Origin: Its roots are in mythology, once there was a king called Hiranyakashyab whose son was a big devotee of Lord Vishnu, his father wanted his son to worship him but his son denied, later he got angry and tried to kill his son with the help of his sister Holika, but failed and somehow his sister died and son survived because he was with the good. The name of the festival is derived from this.

La Tomatina, Bunol, Spain

Enjoy the fun and colorful mess of Holi, a spring festival in India. The streets fill with colorful powders as happy people splash colors on each other to celebrate good winning over evil. It's a joyful time with laughter, music, and bright colors, creating happy memories and colorful faces for everyone involved. People also throw water balloons at each other to bring more laughter to the celebration.

Origin: Its roots are in mythology, once there was a king called Hiranyakashyab whose son was a big devotee of Lord Vishnu, his father wanted his son to worship him but his son denied, later he got angry and tried to kill his son with the help of his sister Holika, but failed and somehow his sister died and son survived because he was with the good. The name of the festival is derived from this.

Songkran, Thailand

Prepare to get wet, Songkran- the Thai New Year, is a water war armed with water guns and buckets, this 3-day festival starting from the first full moon in April grabs the attention of everyone. It makes the Thailand streets a battleground. The water used here is symbolic, it's like washing away bad luck and entering a fresh beginning.

Origin: The name of the festival comes from the Sanskrit word “Sankranti” which means the sun moving into a new sign according to Hindu astrology. When the sun moves into the sign of Mesha (which means "ram"), it is celebrated as a New Year festival in many areas of South Asia and Southeast Asia. This astrological system and the New Year celebration spread from South Asia to Southeast Asia during the first thousand years after Christ.

The exact religious beginnings of Songkran are not clear, but in the second thousand years, it started to have more Buddhist meanings and practices as Theravada Buddhism became more important during the Khmer empire (9th–15th century) and the Ayutthaya empire (14th–18th century).

Chinese New Year, China

The festival comes between January 21 to February 20, Chinese New Year is one of the biggest festivals in the world. People can see exciting dragon dances and fireworks, enjoy family meals, and watch lion dances. This two-week celebration is full of old traditions and culture. It is a time to receive lucky red envelopes, feast, enjoy tasty dim sum, meet loved ones, and feel the lively energy of the culture.

Origin: Once there was a monster named “Nian who would attack villagers at the beginning of each New Year but he was afraid of loud noises, bright lights, and the color red. So, people started using all these things to chase the monster away, and still being used in the celebration.

Glastonbury Festival, Somerset, UK

Have fun and vibe with the diverse music scene of England's Glastonbury Festival. More than 100 stages feature a wide variety of music, from rock icons to up-and-coming groups, and the festival's attendees, artists, and performers foster a lively, free-for-all vibe. You're left feeling energized and even a little confused by the sensory explosion of music, laughter, and shared experiences.

Origin: The Victoria & Albert Museum claims that The Pilton Pop, Folk and Blues Festival, Worthy Farm's inaugural event, began the day after Jimi Hendrix's passing in the late summer of 1970. There were 1,500 individuals there. Free milk and camping were included in the £1 admission fee.

Cherry Blossom Festival, Japan

You can enjoy viewing Japan's renowned blooming cherry blossoms at its annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Marvel in the ethereal beauty when blossoms break out like an explosion in gardens and parks that draw people to dwell on it, taking time, which is just too beautiful and short for words. Just take up some space beneath the blossom canopy and take along a picnic basket while indulging in the bliss of being under nature's splendorous creation in the spring.

Origin: Although the hanami, a Japanese traditional cherry blossom viewing, traces its history for thousands of years, the modern ceremony did not take place till 1912. In the year 1915, 3,000 cherry blossom trees planted by Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki in the city of Washington, D.C., as an expression of friendship, began to flower and became an overnight wonder.