Burning Man 2012 Kicks Off Today: Facts About The Fun Under The Nevada Desert Sun
The 2012 "Burning Man" festival will kick off on Monday Aug. 27th and continue until Sept. 3rd. The controversial gathering has indeed built itself a large following. Organized in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, the festivities have soared in popularity to what many are saying is at an unsustainable level.
In response to last year's massive sellout of nearly 54,000 attendees, a newbie lottery approach was introduced. The highly anticipated event ended up surpassing the previous years by selling 55,000 tickets as raffles.
The gathering is described as an experiment of radical self-expression and self-reliance. Rituals include the burning of a large wooden man-esque effigy, as well as various dancing and music. Bars, restaurants, clubs and even a farmers market make up the seemingly separate universe, amongst other attractions.
The "Burners" are expected to take care of their own basic necessities and adhere to the regulations of the frequently updated survival guide.
"Burning Man" is ran by trades, sharing, gifting, and exchanges. There is no commercial sponsorship, advertising or cash transactions allowed. Money can only be used by charity, fuel and sanitation vendors.
The "Burning" event and its affiliations are grounded by 10 principles that aim towards cultural ethos. The guidelines had been originally created by Larry Harvey in 2004 for the sole purpose of regional organization.
