march – the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere, brings hope and new life into the world. in the southern hemisphere – autumn, a time filled with relaxation and tranquility, it’s the perfect time to take that getaway trip you’ve been waiting for, whether that’s to recharge, to boost your energy or to slow down and appreciate the beauty of mother nature. here are 5 events around the world to look forward to in march 2022.
holi festival
holi is one of the most popular festivals in india dating back to ancient times, and commemorates the victory of the deity vishnu over the evil asura king hiranyakashipu. it’s exuberant and filled with colour (literally), joy and laughter. also known as the ‘festival of love’ or ‘festival of colours’, it’s one day and night where people of all walks of life come together, put aside their differences, and celebrate the triumph of good over evil. during the day, families delight in spraying coloured water or throwing buckets of colour on one another in the streets while enjoying festival snacks. some cities that celebrate holi with particular panache are agra, udaipur and mumbai.
Khovsgol Ice Festival & Gobi Desert Camel Festival
photo courtesy of celine jentzsch
throw yourself into adventure in mongolia, with march featuring two exciting festivals – the ice festival and the camel festival. natural sights to make your way to while you’re there include gorkhi trelj national park which is famous for hot springs, the sandstone flaming cliffs and the many lakes and ice-capped mountains of the central asian steppes. the ice festival will take you to a frozen lake khovsgol, the largest fresh water like in mongolia by volume, and is packed full of cultural performances, dog and horse sleds and on-ice competitions (archery, ice staking etc.) amidst stunning ice sculptures. the camel festival takes place in the gobi desert town of bulgan, where you will see the two-humped bactrian camels native to this part of the world. the festival’s events will focus around these gorgeous creatures, with demonstrations of camel training, competitions and showcases of how they fit into mongolians’ nomadic lifestyle.
where: mongolia
when: march 1 to march 6 (ice festival), and march 5 to march 8 (camel festival)
it’s that time of year again! whether it’s your first or tenth time seeing the blossoming sakura flowers, they will never cease to ravish your eyes. cherry blossoms only bloom for a short period of time, so do your research before deciding on a location to enjoy them – for example, in rokyo full bloom is expected to be on march 24 next year, but in hiroshima they won’t bloom until march 30. crowded viewing spots like the philosopher’s path in kyoto or ueno park in tokyo are popular for a reason, offering spectacular views of these explosions of cotton candy flowers. however, for a more peaceful experience, seek out lesser-known spots that are just as beautiful, like mount yoshino in nara prefecture or aomori prefecture’s hirosaki castle in the tokhuko region.
every year in mid-march, creatives from around the world gather in austin to exchange ideas, attend workshops and enjoy the most innovative works in interactive media, music and independent film. so far, the music line-up for 2022 includes punk rock band surfbort, rapper maxo kream and jazz singer poppy ajudha. there will be a creative industries expo involving conferences, keynote speakers and the chance to network with other creative businesses.
the number of tourists in morocco in march is minimal, making for a quieter time to travel through the north african nation. march is a time when the winds of the mediterranean and atlantic oceans will flow into the cities, deserts and rolling hills, making for a pleasant climate for travel. the oasis town of m’hamid el ghizlane, where the international nomads festival is held, is the perfect gateway to exploring the famed sahara desert. for city destinations, make sure to tick fez, the world’s oldest surviving medieval city, and the mediterranean port city tetouan off your bucket list. the nomads festival celebrates the nomadic heritage of tribes in the region, who live independently from society and are self-reliant in regards to food, shelter and medicine. in previous years, the festival has welcomed musicians from around the world – nigeria, poland, and india – and has hosted events including desert hocket and bread-baking in the hot sands of the Sahara.