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FRENZIED FESTIVALS
Somewhere near you, a festival is happening right now. Why not join in with
the madness and mayhem? From scaring devils and staging battles to messy food
fights and crazy tests of courage, festivals are a great way to let off steam—and
there is often a real element of danger to the organized
chaos. When the festival’s over, life becomes safer and
duller again. Until the next time, that is.
IV AN KUP ALA
Fire-leaping festivals are held on
Ivan Kupala (Saint John’s Day, July 7)
GOTMAR MELA also part of the fun, and the festivities
in Poland, Ukraine, and Russia.
Participants take turns jumping
over the flames because the ritual
is said to cleanse the body and mind,
Madhya Pradesh, India, line up on both sides of
and bring good luck. Water fights are
Every year, men from two villages in
a river and pelt one another with stones. The idea
is to stop the rival villagers from seizing the flag
are well attended by locals.
attached to the top of a pole in the middle
of the river.
PAMPLONA
BULL RUN
For a real taste of adventure, visit Pamplona in Spain to see young
bulls being run through the town to the bullring for the festival
of San Fermín. If you’re daring enough, race ahead of the bulls as
they charge through the narrow streets. Be careful, though—if you
lose your footing, you risk being gored or trampled to death.
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