The interesting events around the world from March to April 2024

You are invited to attend festivals in four countries around the world: Indonesia, Japan, France and Thailand.

Bali Island, Indonesia

Nyepi Day: Day of Silence / Date: 11-12 March 2024

“Nyepi” is primarily a Hindu holiday. But to Balinese, it is a “Day of Silence” commemorated every Isakawarsa, according to the Balinese calendar. Nyepi, a day reserved for self-reflection, is famously known for the unique fact that all activities on the island are halted for 24 hours. Locals and tourists remain silent from 6am on the first day till 6am of the next day. Stores are closed, traveling halts to a standstill. No one ventures out of their homes. Nobody works nor do they talk to each other – in order to deceive evil spirits into thinking that Bali is a deserted island. The day before Nyepi, a grand procession of demonic statues made from richly painted bamboo, cloth, tinsel and styrofoam – called Ogoh-Ogoh – is paraded to drive away the demons into the sea and bring peace to the village again.

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Ceremony before the start of the Day of Silence (Photo: iStockphoto)

Parade of demonic statues representing Ogoh-Ogoh (Photo: iStockphoto)

Tokyo, Japan

Kinryu no Mai: Golden Dragon Dance / Date: 18 March 2024

The Kinryu no Mai Festival is held at the famous Sensoji Temple in Asakusa every year. Visitors can witness a powerful yet graceful golden dragon dance in sync with “hayashi” played by a geisha on this special day. The dance happens three times during the day – at 11.30am, 2pm and 3.30pm. The highlight is the Golden Dragon, with body length of 18 meters and weight of 88 kilograms, and has a total of 8,888 scales. Legend has it that on 18 March in the year 628, two fishermen fished a Buddhist statue out of the Sumida River. The village chief used this statue, which turned out to be one of the Bodhisattva Guanyin, to found Sensoji Temple. Why the dragon? Because Guanyin took the form of a Golden Dragon when descending from Heaven.

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Golden Dragon dance (Photo: iStockphoto)

Geisha playing Hayashi music (Photo: iStockphoto)

Paris, France

Art Paris / Date: 4-7 April 2024

The 26th anniversary edition of Art Paris art fair is held at the Grand Palais Éphémère building and galleries throughout Paris. There will be 136 international galleries of modern and contemporary art from 25 countries by 900 artists.
This art fair will have two themes: ‘Fragile Utopias,’ a focus on the French scene, and ‘Art & Craft.’ Art Paris 2024 will be the last art fair to be held at this temporary building before the Paris Olympic Game at the end of July.

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Art exhibition at Art Paris (Photo: Art Paris 2023 by Almine Rech)

Grand Palais Éphémère building (Photo: Art Paris 2023)

Thailand

Songkran Festival / Date: 13-15 April 2024

UNESCO has officially designated Songkran in Thailand as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage.” Songkran, celebrated for centuries, is full of tradition and culture. Apart from splashing water, there will be various activities that attract tourists in the celebration of this traditional Thai New Year. They include making merit, bathing Buddha statues, pouring water over adults’ hands, building pagodas and witnessing performances related to Songkran customs and ancient beliefs.

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