Hello everyone. I am Saadhana, a person who is interested in learning about different cultures and languages. I feel that the spirit of each nation's culture lies in its festivals. So, today I'll be taking you through different and unique festivals from all over the world.

I will be starting off with ‘dia de los muertos'.

A Mexican holiday, 'Day of the Dead' focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration takes place on 1st and 2nd of November and traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honouring the deceased using sugar skulls and marigolds, eating the favourite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with gifts. I feel this festival is unique as death is not often celebrated but rather grieved upon.

Now, I will be talking about the Songkran festival of Thailand. Songkran is the welcoming of spring and the vernal equinox in Thailand, although it's also celebrated in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, under different names and on slightly different dates. In Thailand the traditional New Year is taken. The most famous celebrations last for six days in the northern city of Chiang Mai and the Thais celebrate by throwing water at each other and passers-by in the street. It also marks the end of the dry season in Thailand and the hottest time of year.

Lanterns are wishes we send to the sky, Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival, this is one of the oldest festivals in Korea, that showcases the country’s traditions and culture. The native people light thousands of red lanterns by the bank of the ‘Nam’ River and made wishes for the well-being, health, and prosperity of their near and dear ones. The custom started way back in 1592, iconizing with the custom of lighting lanterns to avoid Japanese troops from commuting the Namgang River during the Japanese invasion period. Hence these lanterns also pay tribute to the Jinjuseong Fortress Battle veterans.

The Obon Festival also uses lanterns but in a different way in Japan. The Obon Festival lasts for three days across Japan, usually in August. It is a Buddhist festival to commemorate one's ancestors and is celebrated through Bon Odori dances and a giant bonfire lit in the hills of Kyoto. The festival is also known as the "festival of lanterns", as one of the customs during this time is to send paper lanterns floating along the river to symbolise the souls of those departed returning to their graves in peace.

I hope I've introduced you guys to many different and unique festivals around the world. The world we live in is extremely diverse and has different cultures. I have only mentioned very few and have not done justice to the many more unique ones out there. So, I hope we all take an effort to understand and educate ourselves on the different cultures and traditions followed by people around the world. 

--- Saadhana