Colourful Festivals: From Holi to Day of The Dead, List of Festivals Celebrated With Colourful Traditions Around The World

Holi 2025: Every festival has a unique way of celebration, some are based on fashion while some are celebrated with colours. When we talk about colourful festivals, Holi is the first thing that comes to our mind. Celebrated with great enthusiasm across India, Holi is not only confined to the country, but it has become a global event of playing with colours and indulging in various activities. Apart from Holi, there are many other festivals celebrated with colours in different parts of the world. Check out the list of some extraordinary festivals where colours play a crucial role in primary celebrations. 

Holi, India

Known as the “Festival of Colours,” Holi is a colouful Hindu festival celebrated throughout India. To celebrate the entrance of spring, people play with bright colours, enjoy delicacies like gujiya, and dance their heart out. 

La Tomatina, Spain

La Tomatina, a popular food festival in Buñol, Spain, involves thousands of people throwing ripe tomatoes at one another. This filthy yet exuberant celebration takes place on the last Wednesday of August and fills the streets with red pulp, producing an unforgettable spectacle. It started as a spontaneous food fight in 1945 and has since grown into a global phenomenon.

Day of the Dead, Mexico

Día de los Muertos is a Mexican event that honours deceased loved ones. On November 1st and 2nd, families create altars (ofrendas) decorated with marigolds, candles, and favorite delicacies of the deceased. People paint their faces like skulls, parade in colorful costumes, and consume pan de muerto, celebrating the cycle of life and death with joy and remembrance.  

Chinese New Year, China

Chinese New Year is the most important festival in China. The lunar new year is celebrated with dragon dances, crimson lanterns, firecrackers, and huge feasts. Families exchange red envelopes (hongbao) containing money for good luck and to respect ancestors, and each year is associated with a Chinese zodiac animal. 

Rio Carnival, Brazil

The world’s largest and lavish event, Rio Carnival, takes place in Brazil before Lent. It includes samba parades, spectacular costumes, and street celebrations with music and dancing. The highlight is the competition between samba schools, in which performers dressed in magnificent feathered costumes bring bright themes to life, creating an exhilarating environment.  

Carnevale di Venezia, Italy

Carnevale di Venezia is a spectacular Venetian celebration famed for its elaborate masks and costumes. It is held in Venice prior to Lent and dates back to the 12th century, celebrating mystery and splendor. The city’s canals and ancient squares serve as stages for masquerade parties, plays, and processions, creating a magical atmosphere. 

Songkran Water Festival, Thailand

Songkran, Thailand's New Year’s festival, takes place in April and features large water fights. Originally a Buddhist practice of cleaning and rejuvenation, it has evolved into a national celebration in which people splash water on one another with buckets, hoses, and water cannons. The streets transform into vibrant battlegrounds of joy, symbolizing the washing away of previous sorrows.  

Jinhae Gunhangjae Cherry Blossom Festival, South Korea

The Jinhae Gunhangjae Festival, held in South Korea, is a spectacular celebration of cherry blossoms. Held in early April, it draws millions of visitors to see streets and parks covered in pink and white petals. Visitors can wander along lovely paths, watch cultural performances, and admire the splendor of spring in full bloom. 

MassKara Festival, The Philippines

MassKara Festival, held in Bacolod, Philippines, is a vibrant event that includes smiling masks, elaborate costumes, and intense street dance. It began in October as a response to economic hardships in the 1980s, representing resilience and joy. The festival fills the city with music, vibrant colors, and an irresistible sense of excitement.