Light festivals across the world

New Delhi: Light symbolises various beliefs and emotions across different cultures, with most nations having festivals centred around light. Many cities have turned these traditional practices into major tourist events with light installations by global artists across the city.

NewsMobile brings to you some of the best Light Installation Festivals from across the globe. 

Berlin, Germany: Usually held in the second week of October for a period of nine days, the Berlin Festival of Lights began in 2005. The festival creates a stunning spectacle of lights across 70 monuments in the city, featuring works by local and international artists. Ever since it’s inception, the festival has been led and organized by Birgit Zander, a local artist, who wanted to transform her hometown into a stage for visitors and locals alike. The event has gained in popularity over the years, and has given a boost to tourism in the city.

Lyon, France: The Fête de Lumières in Lyon is perhaps one of the best known events in France. Unlike its contemporaries, this festival has a great amount of history and culture associated with it. It is said to have originated in 1643 to pay tribute to Mary if Lyon was spared from plague, and gained popularity a storm threatened the celebration of a newly-erected statue of Virgin Mary in 1852. As the skies cleared out, people filled their homes and streets with lights and candles to celebrate the inauguration grandly. This tradition evolved into the current festival to give designers, architects, artists and lighting specialists a unique platform to showcase their creativity. The most famous landmarks for light installations are the Basilica de Fourvière and the Place des Terreaux, although it is the best time to explore the beautiful city on foot. 

Sydney, Australia: ‘Vivid Sydney’ is easily the largest celebration of light, music and ideas in the Southern Hemisphere. The festival, which is usually held in May, features many other art forms on the streets besides the light installations, such as painting exhibitions, magic shows, music and dance performances. The festival attracts many tourists and artists to the city, which is already a global centre for business and culture. There are stunning light installations on buildings all over the city, but those at the Opera House and St. Martin’s Square are amongst the most inspiring ones.

East Peoria: This festival starts in November and continues until January 1 every year. The festival begins with a parade of lighted floats in the shape of reindeers, cars, buses, made using thousands of light bulbs. In addition to the floats, laser light shows, indoor winter carnivals, and events such as Folepi’s enchanted forest. The festival began in 1984 as a part of the East Peoria centennial celebration

Japan: There are quite a few acclaimed light festivals in Japan. One of the largest annual festivals of Japan which attracts a huge throng of tourists every year is the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri. Twenty illuminated floats representing warrior figures are paraded around the city streets of Aomori, with traditional music being played in the background. In Nabana no Sato, Nagashima, there is a beautiful light spectacle across a large wide landscape, with LED light tunnels, light rivers, and an LED projection on Mt. Fuji at sunset. While the former is held in August, the latter is a winter attraction, usually being held during November-February.