South Asian festivals on the move

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South Asia boasts a rich tapestry of festivals encompassing diverse performance traditions such as theater, oral epics, ritual performances, and musical acts. These festivals often feature participants who are "on the move," reflecting both literal mobility and the evolution of traditions beyond their original contexts. As these practices adapt to new environments, they maintain a connection to their South Asian roots while also engaging in creative exchanges with their surroundings. This dynamic is crucial for shaping individual and group identities, particularly during periods of rapid change due to crises like war, ecological challenges, and globalization. Some festivals have vanished or transformed dramatically, while others have preserved their essence in new social contexts, and new celebrations have emerged. The collection edited by Ute Hüsken and Axel Michaels examines these shifts in South Asian festival traditions, focusing on the mobility of performing agents and their cultural expressions. The exploration of how ideas, people, and actions move and evolve is a central theme of this volume, highlighting the ongoing impact of mobility on these vibrant cultural practices.