If you’ve ever wanted to experience the chaos of a confetti cannon explosion inside your brain, Southeast Asia’s festivals are your jam. These celebrations are a kaleidoscope of colours, traditions and absolute absurdity. From flinging cow dung to drenching strangers in icy water, here’s a roundup of the quirkiest, most unhinged festivals this vibrant region has to offer. Pack your bags (and maybe a helmet), because this is going to get wild.
Songkran (Thailand): The Ultimate Wet T-Shirt Contest
Imagine the world’s biggest water fight. Now add beer, Buddha blessings and grannies with buckets. That’s Songkran, Thailand’s celebration of the new year, which turns streets into aquatic battlegrounds every April. Everyone – and we mean everyone – is fair game. Your weapon of choice? Water pistols, hoses, or the classic bucket-to-the-face maneuver. The best part? It’s all in the name of washing away bad luck and starting fresh. The worst part? The auntie with a garden hose aiming directly at your soul.
April 13 to 15, 2025
Nyepi (Bali, Indonesia): Silence Is Golden (But Creepy Statues Are Better)
Bali’s “Day of Silence” sounds serene – until you learn about the ogoh-ogoh. These towering, grotesque demon effigies are paraded through the streets in a raucous procession before being ceremonially torched. After that, the entire island goes into a 24-hour lockdown: no lights, no travel, no Netflix binges. It’s like a mandatory detox, but instead of kale smoothies, you get existential dread. Bonus points if you spot the one rebellious tourist sneaking out for snacks.
March 29 to 30, 2025
Thaipusam (Malaysia): Pain Is Just a Suggestion
Thaipusam is not for the faint of heart – or squeamish. Devotees seeking divine blessings honor Lord Murugan by piercing their skin with hooks, skewers and spikes while hauling elaborate, heavy structures called kavadi. It’s a spiritual journey of endurance and pain, made even more dramatic by the hypnotic drumbeats and throngs of onlookers. Just try not to faint when someone casually pulls a cart with their back muscles.
February 11, 2025
Phi Ta Khon (Thailand): Ghosts Gone Wild
Part Halloween, part Mardi Gras, Phi Ta Khon is Thailand’s way of inviting spirits to party. Revelers don spooky masks with grotesque faces and horns, turning the streets into a parade of chaos. The highlight? A “parade of fertility” featuring gigantic phallic symbols, because nothing says “bless our crops” like waving a 10-foot wooden… symbol around. The vibe is equal parts spooky and silly, and it’s the perfect excuse to unleash your inner ghost.
July 27 to 19, 2025
Bun Bang Fai (Laos): Rocket Science, Rural Style
Think NASA, but with rice paddies and beer. The Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival in Laos is a pre-monsoon ritual where villagers launch homemade rockets into the sky to encourage rain. The rockets, crafted with questionable engineering, often misfire or explode prematurely, making this both thrilling and mildly terrifying. Meanwhile, the ground party involves music, dance, and enough Lao-Lao whiskey to make you forget about safety regulations.
May 9 to 11, 2025
Hungry Ghost Festival (Singapore/China/Vietnam): Dinner With the Dead
During the seventh lunar month, the Hungry Ghost Festival turns entire neighbourhoods into spooky block parties. Food offerings and incense are left out for wandering spirits, and there are getai performances – over-the-top concerts meant to entertain the living and the dead. The catch? The first row of seats is reserved for ghosts, so don’t be that person who sits there unless you want supernatural beef.
September 6, 2025
