Burning Man is an annual week-long event held in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, where tens of thousands of people come together to create a temporary city called Black Rock City. The event focuses on community, art, self- expression, and radical self-reliance, guided by ten core principles including radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, participation, and leaving no trace
. The festival culminates in the symbolic burning of a large wooden effigy known as "the Man" on the penultimate night, which gives the event its name
. Participants actively contribute by creating and sharing art installations, performances, and interactive experiences inspired by an annual theme. The event operates without commercial transactions except for coffee and ice, emphasizing gifting and volunteerism instead
. Burning Man began in 1986 as a small bonfire ritual on a San Francisco beach and moved to the Nevada desert in 1990, evolving into a large-scale cultural phenomenon that blends countercultural revelry with a spirit of communal effort and civic responsibility
. It is described as both a spiritual journey and a vibrant celebration of creativity and identity, where attendees build a fully functioning temporary city and then meticulously clean up, leaving no trace of their presence
. In summary, Burning Man is much more than a festival; it is a participatory cultural movement emphasizing art, community, radical self-expression, and environmental respect in a unique desert setting
