We asked Lincoln University students from around the globe to share unique cultural celebrations from their home. (Photos were generated using Playground AI.)
Bhutan - Tshechu Festival
Tshechu is a religious festival celebrated annually at various monasteries and dzongs (fortresses) across Bhutan. Tshechu typically lasts for four or five days. It is celebrated on the tenth day of the month of the lunar calendar corresponding to the birthday of Guru Rinpoche. During a Tshechu festival, people gather to witness mask dances and performances. These dances, known as cham, often tell stories from Buddhist teachings and are believed to bring blessings and cleanse sins. The performers wear colorful costumes and masks representing deities, historical figures, and animals.
Monks perform group dances in elaborate costumes, showcasing athletic moves like high leaps and twirls with precise steps. They often wear wooden masks of animals, deities, and Guru Rinpoche. Women sing between dances with minimal movements. Tshechus feature a Thongdrel, a large thangka of Padmasambhava, believed to cleanse sins, displayed from dawn until afternoon.Observing the Thongdrel is believed to cleanse one's sins. It is unfurled before dawn and rolled back up by the afternoon. (Author: Namgay Dem, MBA-FMIB)
Turkiye (Turkey) - Sufi Tradition
One of the most peculiar manifestations of Turkish culture is the Sema ceremony and whirling dervishes. The Mevlevi Order was founded by the thirteenth-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic, Rumi. Their operations revolve on the centerpiece of the ritualistic Sema ceremony, which comprises spinning dervish dances to music.
Dervishes dress in long, flowy white robes and tall brown hats for the Sema ceremony. Their left hands are turned downward to channel spiritual energy and spiritually center themselves, while their right hands are raised to collect it, spinning in precise circular movements. Conveying both the planets revolving around the sun and the soul’s spiritual journey, the spinning of the whirling dervishes seeks to achieve a trance-like state of complete unity with God by symbolically discarding the ego.
On the center of the dance floor, the dervishes rhythmically and precisely move along the carpet, chanting to kettledrums, reed flutes, and reciting poetry. They must first complete a series of gestures and bowing patterns before they start to twirl in circles. This ancient tradition, deeply linked to Sufism, has also been expanded to feature Turkish culture and heritage. Participating in a traditional Sema ceremony led by whirling dervishes is a deeply spiritual activity steeped in history. (Author: Djalalov Jasurbek Mustafa, MBA-MIS)
Mongolia - Naadam Festival
The Naadam Festival is a significant cultural event in Mongolia, often called the "Three Manly Games" or "Three Games of Men" because it traditionally featured competitions in three main sports: wrestling, horse racing, and archery.
The festival typically takes place annually during the summer months, usually on the 11-14th of July, and it is celebrated across Mongolia as well as in Mongolian communities around the world. During the Naadam festival, Mongolians usually consume traditional meals such as fried dumplings called Khuushuur, and drink Horse milk we call it “Airag”.
Wrestling (Bokh): Bokh, a traditional Mongolian wrestling style practiced for centuries, features unique rules, rituals, and wrestlers wearing "zodog" attire. Matches occur in open fields or designated arenas, aiming to topple opponents using technique and mental strength.
Horse Racing: Horse racing holds deep cultural significance in Mongolia due to the historical importance of horses in transportation and nomadic life. At the Naadam Festival, races cover varying distances, showcasing both horse abilities and jockeys' skills.
Archery: Archery, a traditional sport in the Naadam Festival, has historical importance as a skill used by nomadic warriors. Competitors use traditional Mongolian bows to hit distant targets with precision and consistency. (Author: Enjing, MBA-FMIB)
Nigeria - Argungu Fishing Festival
The Argungu Fishing Festival is an annual four-day event held in the State of Kebbi, located in northwestern Nigeria. Taking place in Argungu, a riverside town and the capital of the Argungu Emirate Council, this cultural celebration focuses on the fertile river areas known as Matan fada, Mala, and Gamji. The festival predominantly attracts fishermen who are also farmers. People from around the world travel to Argungu to witness this unique festival, which marks the beginning of the fishing season in the town.
Held between February and March each year, the festival features local men and boys wading into the Argungu River armed with large fishnet scoops, accompanied by canoes filled with drummers and men shaking seed-filled gourds to drive fish towards shallow waters. The festivals include canoe racing, wild duck hunting, bare-handed fishing, diving compeons, and swimming. As the day turns into night, there is singing, dancing, and merriment. Notably, in 2005, the winning fish weighed a whopping 75 kg, requiring four men to hoist it onto the scales. As night falls, there is singing, dancing, and merriment. Notably, in 2005, the winning fish weighed a whopping 75 kg, requiring four men to hoist it onto the scales. The government now conserves fish stocks by prohibiting certain fishing methods, and competitors are only allowed to use traditional fishing tools, with many men-catching fish entirely by hand. (Author: Aishat Usman, BA-DI)
Nepal - Kukur Tihar
In western society, dogs are beloved as household pets and companions. However, in small Himalayan Nation Nepal, dogs are revered as divine beings along with cows, crows, and other animals during the annual Hindu festival Tihar, which usually falls around October-November. Akin to Diwali in India, this celebration features a unique day called Kukur Tihar dedicated to dogs only.
During this day, dogs are adorned with flower garlands and applied tikas on their foreheads to symbolize respect and honor. The occasion highlights how deeply ingrained animals are in Nepalese Society. Dogs, traditionally considered guardians of Yama's Gate in Hindu mythology, are honored with special meals, not only for household pets but also for street and police dogs, highlighting their importance in Nepalese communities. Experiencing Tihar in Nepal provides a fascinating glimpse into the nation's deep heritage and animal-loving culture, making it an unforgettable event for tourists during this important celebration. (Author: Prashamsa Hamal, MBA-MIS)