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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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