Ladies, lets face it. Going to a festival can be aย tricky task ย Though we tend to mind our own business, things don’t always go our way and before you know it, you might end up with some really scarring experiences. So here, we rounded up some festivals from around the world that not only are women-friendly, but go to great lengths to celebrate the girl power!
1. Navratri, India
This 9 day festival celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the forces of evil in true Indian style. Each day has its own significance and colour. That’s right. Women all over the country dress up in the colour of the day to commemorate the power of the devi (goddess). Navratri, meaning nine nights, celebrates the all-ruling power of the three Hindu goddesses Durga, Saraswati and Lakshmi. The festival is celebrated by playing garba, a Gujarati traditional dance every night for nine days.
2. Fรชte des Cuisiniรจres, French West Indies
The island of Guadeloupe in the French West Indies sure knows how to treat its women. Every year for a giant food festival, local women whip up some of the most delicious dishes. The festival is held to honour these women, les cuisiniรจres,ย considered a national treasure. This little island can certainly said to be more progressive than most urbanย cities as most of the 200 restaurants here are owned by theseย cuisiniรจres who maintain a thriving economy as they are famous for their food.
3. Ka Pomblang Nongkrem – Shillong, India
The world could sure take a few pointers from the Khasi tribe in Shillong. Known for the strong social role that women enjoy here, the tribe has regular rituals and traditions that honour the power of women. During Ka Pomblang Nongkrem, the tribe gathers around and prays to the Holy Mother and God Shillong to bless the tribe with ample prosperity and health. The High Priestess readies all materials required for the occasion and presides over as the ceremony is carried out by a priest. The social life in this tribe is very different from what we would image. Boys go to house of their in-laws and take up their wife’s name after marriage. Women are responsible for the steady economic and cultural life enjoyed by the tribe.
(Image Credits: celebratingwomen.com)
4.World Wife Carrying, Finland.
If your idea of proving true love is carrying your wife on your back across a gruelling course, then the World Wife Carrying Championship in Finland is the perfect place for you to go. Thought to have originated from the troubling practice of wife stealing in the olden days, it has now culminated into a fun, but somewhat bizarre way to have a good time with your spouse. Actually, it is no more required to even be related to the woman you participate with, just that both of you should be above the age of 17 and consenting. And the best part of this race is? The winner gets rewarded with beer…the weight of his wife!
(Image Credits: fest300.com)
5. Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival
Though the festival had its last edition last year, it still deserves to be mentioned as a festival that celebrated a space for women to be themselves. Known as the ‘Original Womyn’s Woodstock’, the festival had a solid 40 year old run where it was a pioneer in bringing attention to long neglected women’s issues, while simultaneously giving them the freedom to experiment and change. Though it ran in multiple controversies in the last few years, mainly its steadfast refusal to include trans women in its celebrations led to many artists boycotting the event, founder Lisa Vogel claimed that the festival had ‘reached the end of its cycle’ and that it was time to move on.
6. Ohio Lesbian Festival
This Ohio event is designed to bring together women to celebrate and revel in all things that make them who they are. Held in the later part of the year annualy, the festivals hosts talks, seminars and workshops on different subjects concerning the social spectrum that women, and mainly lesbians fit in. Way too many festivals in today’s times are surprisingly in denial of the LGBTQ community so OLF gives them a platform to express and understand themselves.
7. The Wild Woman Fest, New Lebanon, NY.
The Wild Woman Festival held annually in New Lebanon is every girl’s getaway dream. A festival that promises to heal and replenish you in the most basic manner, it’s a soothing and fresh experience. The festival is ridiculously easy to travel to once you get to Grand Central Station as it’s located not very far off. The motto of the festival is ‘Be moved. Be fed. Be wild. With sisters.’ as they focus on community building experiences that tap into our inner ‘feminine energy’ and let our true selves flourish.
(Image Credits: wildwomanfest.com)
8. Wise Woman Weekend, Ireland
The Wise Woman Weekend is quite perfect for the girl with a travelling heart. Started up in 2004, the festival changes its location every year to the different exotic locations of Ireland. And with the location the themes changes everyย year. Concepts like Transformation, Emerging Anew and Transition have all been thoroughly explored by the festival each year. Known popularly as ‘the travelling festival’, women of the festival have all stated that it is a life changing experience.
(Image Credits: www.wisewomanweekend.ie)
9. Stargaze, New Hampshire, USA.
This the kind of festival that you can go attend with your bestie to have loads of fun. A three day music festival, it is known for its beautiful camping sites and brilliant stargazing opportunities. That is not all as the three days are peppered with live music and dance performances, workshops and seminars. Rent a comfy tent and settle down for one of the craziest parties you have ever been to!
(Image Credits: boston.lesbiannightlife.com)
10. National Women’s Music Festival, Wisconsin
Finally, a music festival that not only caters to a female demographic but also commemorates the work of women in music! The NWMF in Wisconsin is a festival that we really need and deserve. A family friendly affair, the festival sees some really great female talent up on its stage every year. The four-day cultural extravaganza works to incorporate every aspect of a woman’s life into the experience where she can be whatever she wants, without judgement or restrictions!
(Image Credits: autostraddle.com)