Domestic Festivals

Independence Day March 26 is the day of Independence of Bangladesh. It is the biggest state festival. This day is most befittingly observed and the capital wears a festive look. It is a public holiday. The citizens of Dhaka wake up early in the morning with the booming of guns heralding the day. Citizens including government leaders and sociopolitical organizations and freedom fighters place floral wreaths at the National Martyrs Monument at Savar. Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and other sociocultural organizations hold cultural functions. At night the main public buildings are tastefully illuminated to give the capital city a dazzling look. Similar functions are arranged in other parts of the country.

Nazrul Jayanti

Nazrul Jayanti, is a day of remembrance and celebration across Bangladesh, and a unique cultural experience for visitors. Tourists who are able to attend the festivities are recommended to join in this personal and heartfelt tribute to legendary literary visionaries. Nazrul Jayanti is held each year to commemorate their contributions to the Bengali Culture. Large crowds gather together to listen to readings of their works and performances of their music, as well as to watch dances and short plays based on the works created by him. While celebrating the various forms of arts Nazrul is remembered for, the people of Bangladesh also celebrate their culture and heritage.

Foreign Festivals

Knysna Oyster Festival Despite being smack bang in the middle of winter, the coastal town of Knysna comes alive for ten days in July over the increasingly famous Oyster Festival period. It may be a bit chilly (especially for that early morning forest start for the popular Knysna Half Marathon) but other than that the skies are clear and restaurant decks are overfl owing with visitors fl ocking to taste oysters, washed down with the odd glass of bubbly. In addition to oyster tasting, oyster braais, oyster-eating competitions and other molluscular sports, the festival programme boasts over 100 events, from live entertainment to Navy displays and an entirely separate programme just for kids. The two main sporting events, including the afore-mentioned half and full marathon and the Knysna Cycle Tour attract over 13 000 runners and cyclists. 2010 will boast an additional dimension in that the town is playing host to both the French and Danish World Cup teams, so therell be some cultural attractions to make these special guests feel at home.

Semana Santa

This is considered by many to be the most important of all Spains's festivals and is epitomised by the impressive processions of brotherhoods of robed men carrying huge sculptures depicting the Virgin, Christ or other religious icons and symbols of their faith. The Passion of Christ, or Easter Week, known in Spain as Semana Santa begins with the Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) and ends with Lunes de Pascua (Easter Monday). It is a celebration of life itself and the whole country takes part. The processions can go on for miles and will not stop until the early hours of the morning, every night through the Easter week. For some it is a festival filled with fun, for others a spiritual week that encompasses ritual and reflection.