Forget everything you think you know about carnivals. Bright feathers, samba drums, glittery floats? You won’t find them here. Instead, picture this: sweaty bodies painted in black grease, primal howls, wooden masks, jungle drums, and dancing that feels more like an ancient exorcism than a parade. Welcome to Carnaval de Tenosique — the weirdest carnival in Mexico, maybe even the world.

Deep in the heart of East Kalimantan, along the mighty Mahakam River, the Dayak Bahau people perform an ancestral ritual that merges the eerie with the divine. Known as the Hudoq Dance, this centuries-old performance embodies a prayer for abundant crops, protection from pests, and a harmonious link with the spirit world. Through elaborate wooden masks and trembling leaves that flutter with every movement, the dance tells a story of survival, spiritual belief, and indigenous identity.