Festival Archives

Workers paint a mural of Hindu deity Ganesha ahead of the Kumbh Mela, which organisers expect to be attended by 400 million devotees

World

India’s Kumbh Mela, world’s largest religious gathering

A deadly stampede on Wednesday hit India’s Kumbh Mela, a vast Hindu festival held by the banks of the Ganges river that 400 million...

AFPJanuary 28, 2025

World

15 dead in India after stampede at Hindu mega-festival

A stampede at the world’s largest religious gathering in India killed at least 15 people with many more injured, a doctor at the Kumbh...

AFPJanuary 28, 2025

During the 40-day period over the holiday, nine billion interprovincial passenger trips, on all forms of transport combined, are expected to be made

World

China travel peaks as millions head home for Lunar New Year

The Chinese New Year, the Year of the Snake, begins Wednesday.

AFPJanuary 25, 2025

As night falls in the southern Chinese city of Fuzhou, lanterns -- some of them 10 metres high -- transform Hongguang Lake Park into a fantastical land

World

Lanterns light up southern Chinese city ahead of Lunar New Year

Dozens of giant lanterns in the shape of mythical creatures, flowers and legendary characters light up the night sky in southern China.

AFPJanuary 22, 2025

As many as 400 million pilgrims will visit the Kumbh Mela, a millennia-old sacred show of Hindu piety and ritual bathing

World

India uses AI to stop stampedes at world’s biggest gathering

Keen to improve India’s abysmal crowd management record at large-scale religious events, organisers of the world’s largest human gathering are using artificial intelligence to...

AFPJanuary 19, 2025

South Korean film director Bong Joon-ho will show his latest film in Berlin

Entertainment

‘Parasite’ director Bong Joon-ho to show new film at Berlin festival

South Korean director Bong Joon-ho will present his new film "Mickey 17" out of competition in Berlin next month.

AFPJanuary 16, 2025

Millions of pilgrims at India's Kumbh Mela festival rely on toilet workers from the lowest Hindu caste to clean up behind them

World

India’s outcast toilet cleaners keeping Hindu festival going

Millions of pilgrims hoping to cleanse their sins by ritual baths at India’s Kumbh Mela festival rely on key lavatory workers to clear up...

AFPJanuary 16, 2025

Millions of people are expected to attend the Kumbh Mela festival in northern India

World

Holy dips at India’s giant Hindu festival come with challenge

For pilgrims at the largest gathering of humanity, ritual bathing in India’s holy rivers includes a key challenge — finding your family and clothes...

AFPJanuary 15, 2025