From a late winter beer festival in Munich to a water drawing festival in Japan, the month of March holds unique experiences that should not be missed.

#1 HOLI

INDIA

MARCH 1-2

The festival of colours might be celebrated around the world, but nothing can beat the experience of the festivities in India. From the singing of spiritual songs in Uttarakhand to the beating of townsmen by the townswomen in Barsana to throwing flowers at each other in Mathura to demonstrating of physical agility celebrating Warrior Holi in Punjab.

#2 WATER DRAWING FESTIVAL

OMIZUTORI, JAPAN

MARCH 1-14

Held at the Todai-ji temple in Nara, the Water-Drawing Festival is a 1,200-year-old Buddhist ceremony where the priests draw up the divine water which is believed to have healing powers. It is especially spectacular on the last night (13th), full of huge, blazing torches and noise-making monks.

#3 STARKBIERZEIT

MUNICH, GERMANY

UNTIL MARCH 25

Not extravagant like the Oktoberfest, but equally sudsy, the Starkbierzeit fest dates back to centuries when Paulaner monks brewed heady beer to help them make it through the Lent fasting. Events are held in breweries, restaurants, beer halls throughout the city.

#4  5 DAYS OFF FESTIVAL

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

MARCH 4-8

Electronic music across five nights, this annual fest takes over two of Amsterdam’s legendary musical venues where night mongers can dance the night away until morning. The parallel event 5 DAYS ON plays host to film viewing and art exhibition.

#5 GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND

MARCH 8-25

The largest event of its kind in Europe, the comedy gathering will bring together household names who would take to the stand-up stage to make you laugh your heart out.

#6 INTERNATIONAL TANGO CONFERENCE

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

MARCH 11-17

The sexiest dance on Earth, the Tango was declared as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Take part in the longest running Tango meeting at the world’s most important Tango event.

#7 LAS FALLAS

VALENCIA, SPAIN

MARCH 15-19

This festival can be counted in one of the strangest yet exuberant sprig cleaning fests. It dates back to the time when carpenters used to burn their wooden wick holders to welcome the spring season. Dressed in traditional garb dancing to the tunes, sculptures as huge as 30 m tall are paraded through the streets and burned on the final evening in a massive bonfire. The festival ends in true Spanish style with music and dance until wee hours of the morning.

#8 PARO TSECHU FESTIVAL

BHUTAN

MARCH 27-31

Tsechu is a religious celebration in honour of Padmasambhava, the great Nyingmapa scholar who was born from a lotus flower. The magnificent Paro Tsechu Festival is held in a spectacular location in the Himalayas, with hundreds of locals gathering to see the monks dressed in vivid robes performing masked ritual prayers and dances.

                                                                                                                                                       Written By:- Pallavi Jaisinghani