Umhlanga, also known as the Reed Dance, is a significant cultural festival observed in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) around the last week of August and the first week of September, lasting for eight days. Established in the 1940s under King Sobhuza II, the festival was adapted from the umcwasho ceremony and is exclusively participated in by maidens who have reached marriageable age and maintained their chastity. The first five days are dedicated to preparation, with the dancing ceremonies commencing on the sixth day, attended by His Majesty the King and open to tourists. The festival culminates in the slaughter of 20-25 cattle on the final day, with each maiden receiving a piece of meat to take home. The last two days of Umhlanga are designated as public holidays in Eswatini, and the festival's exact dates are determined annually based on ancestral astrology.