Why is April such a festive month across Asia?

There are harvest feasts, new year celebrations, a Golden Week in Japan. Take a tour with Adam Jacot de Boinod, in this week’s Capital Letters.

Seeing a society in celebration mode is a wonderful way to get to know it better. Whatever we believe reaches its most social expression in our festivals, with their often-intriguing mix of religious, cultural, ritualistic and joyous practices. April, in that sense, is party month across Asia.

People dress up, re-enact myths and play games, during the three-day new year festivities in Cambodia. (Adobe Stock)

In India, it is the month of a range of harvest festivals that also mark the start of a new year. In Punjab, this is Vaisakhi, a Sikh festival traditionally celebrated with processions