5 unusual festivals around the world

Top 5 of the wildest festivals

In a world like ours, where our differences are our first wealth, it is not surprising to attend customs or other religious festivals as surprising as one another...

Here is an extract of 5 of them:

The return of the dead to Madagascar

Commonly called the "return of the dead" or the "famadihana" , this event is a religious custom that we meet very often in the tribes of Madagascar. A religious custom that would have appeared in the 17th century but would have existed well before in other regions of the world. A practice that is becoming increasingly scary, but which aims to celebrate with the deceased, which according to Malagasy philosophy only join the world of ancestors once after the complete corruption of the body. A very meticulous ritual because it is only after the digest of the bones, the envelopment in a linceul and other customs, that the relatives can finally dance around the tomb.

Baby throwing in South India

Yes, everything is in the title! Indeed, it is in the state of Karnataka in South India that an ancestral custom of baby throwing takes place. Another religious custom that is supposed to strengthen the spirit of the Child. As crazy as it may seem, the babies are still "protected", launched about 10 meters high, and amortized by a tense tarp, held by the crowd and close to the bambin. Purely symbolic, this ritual will undoubtedly allow the child not to be afraid to embark on life without any hesitation!

The Naki Sumo ceremony in Tokyo

It seems that babies in Asia suffer some "traumatics" at some local festivals... To believe this custom from Japan, there is no question of traumatizing a baby but of strengthening it and testing its good health. In the country of the rising sun, the more a baby cries the more healthy it is. It is therefore during a strange contest that many parents bring their babies 18 months old, 108 babies exactly, in the Irugi temple in Tokyo where the ceremony of Naki Sumo is organized. Bringed to the end by a sumo, the baby who shouted the strongest will win this funny festival! According to Japanese belief, the cries of the baby would also allow the evil spirits to be removed!

India Pig Festival in Peru

Many of us have had these little rodents more commonly called “Indian pigs” in childhood. Small hairballs that are cherished by being small... Aunt Peru , the cute side of India’s pigs did not escape a custom older than 1500 years. A festival during which several villagers disguise their Indian pigs in local costumes or original disguises. The aim being to elect the cutest and most beautiful disguises, only the winners will emerge alive from this Peruvian feast. Unfortunately, all the others will finish in the village’s plate...

The God Pig festival in Taiwan

Also called "the pigs of suffering" This festival aims to show huge dead pigs. Sewing and religious tradition, these pigs are nourished with strength and gaved until they reach a little more than a ton to finally be sacrificed for the gods. A ritual that is an integral part of Hakka religious beliefs and has been contested for many years because of its barbarity. The fattening of the pigs lasts two whole years until the pigs reach a monstrous size and can scroll dead on tanks decorated for the occasion... An abusive and inhuman practice that should probably be stopped in the years to come...

As crazy as surprising, some customs are more fun than others... One thing is certain, these practices translate the world in which we live, makes traditions and cultural riches so different.