Friday, 9 December 2011

Focus on PNG's calendar of events

Cultural shows are held every year to draw in visitors to view their spectacular festivals and traditions. Festivals in PNG include: Hiri Moale Festival, Baliem Valley Festival, Mt Hagen Cultural Festival, Goroka Cultural Festival, Morobe Cultural Show, Tumbuna Sing-Sing, Wahgi Singsing, The Gogodala Canoe Festival, The Alotau Canoe & Kundu Festival Tour, Enga Cultural Show, Tumbuan Mask Festival, Papua New Guinea Arts & Cultural Festival.


The Hiri Moale Festival is one of the most famous festivals. It is the most important cultural event of Port Moresby. Stretched over a period days, it is held on September 16, which is the day PNG gained independence from Australia. During this festival, there is an art exhibition, beauty pageant contest, cultural dances, canoe racing and musical concerts.



Made up of 700 different tribes, the people of PNG get together in the month of August, at Mt Hagen for the annual Mt Hagen Cultural Festival. This festival is a celebration of the tradition and tribal history as the tribes recreate their legends. This show started during the 1950s when tribal relations had to be improved. The tribes come in bilas, which is their traditional costume, with body paint and tattoos. This event will feature legends of the different tribal groups in musical performances, cultural activities and an agricultural fair.



The Goroka Cultural Festival, held in September, is somewhat similar to the Mt Hagen Festival. It is also a competition to see which is the best district in terms of organization and administration. It has become a national event in PNG's calendar. The Goroka show has attracted many tourists from around the world. It is a unique festival as it is rare for all the different tribes to come together to showcase their culture.

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