Guardian readers September 1, 2014

Readers’ travel photograph competition: August – festivals

This month’s images capture the colour and spectacle of festivals around the world, from religious to musical. The best shot of the year wins a fantastic 11-night trip to South Africa

Soma Nomaoi samurai horse festival — Thom Davies: Thousands attended this traditional Soma-Nomaoi samurai horse festival in Japan, which takes place north of the site of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident. Dating back over 1,000 years, the festival was cancelled in 2011 due to fears of nuclear radiation. Photograph: GuardianWitness

Glastonbury — Celeste Stephens: Glastonbury Tor in the background, nature in the foreground, the crowds and music spread out below – this captures what the Glastonbury experience means to me: a tribal meeting of chaos, calm and emersion in another world. Photograph: GuardianWitness

Horse show, Tarifa, Spain — Andrew Lever: Competitors line up for the start of their horse show in Tarifa, southern Spain. The event is part of an annual festival in this beautiful region of Andalucía. Photograph: GuardianWitness

Shambala festival — Liam Arthur: This shot is of my daughter at last year’s Shambala festival in Norfolk. My wife had made her wings to wear as fancy dress, and she spent the weekend flying around like a tropical bird. Photograph: GuardianWitness

Yutenji festival, Tokyo, Japan — Christina Wong: My friend took me to this summer festival in July in Yutenji, Tokyo. The colours, the smells, the sounds ... all breathtaking. Photograph: GuardianWitness

Japanese Taiko drums — Lewis Freeth: The Batala samba drumming group at last year’s Notting Hill carnival. Photograph: GuardianWitness

Holi festival in Pushkar — Charlotte Barnes, runner-up: After the festivities of Holi had finished, we returned to the main square in Pushkar. Where there had been chaos we found this remarkably clean cow.

Natalie Mayer, judge: All that purple! The photographer has done well to include the hanging clothes as well as the floor. The speakers suggest much fun was enjoyed here! Photograph: GuardianWitness

Holi festival — Gavin Burnett, runner-up: During the Holi festival of colours in India, I wrapped my camera in a freezer bag and put on my £2 outfit. This boy’s smile is a reaction to seeing me covered in paint.

Natalie Mayer, judge: A strong, engaging portrait. The crop eliminates distractions and the subject has an engaged, but not self-conscious, expression. Photograph: GuardianWitness

Finding of the True Cross festival, Addis Ababa — Christine Willis, winner: A young Ethiopian at the Finding of the True Cross festival in Addis Ababa.

Natalie Mayer, judge: Although this one doesn’t scream ‘festival’, it’s a fantastic, captivating image. The backlight, making the cloak glow, combined with the well lit face, catchlight in the eyes and dark background are very skilfully captured. Photograph: GuardianWitness

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