Burning Man is an annual week-long event held in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, USA, where tens of thousands of people gather to create a temporary city called Black Rock City. The festival centers on community, art, self- expression, and radical self-reliance, guided by ten core principles including radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, and leaving no trace

. The event culminates in the symbolic burning of a large wooden effigy known as "the Man," which is the namesake of the festival. Participants build and contribute all the art, performances, and activities themselves, inspired by a different theme each year

. Burning Man is not a traditional festival with commercial transactions; instead, it operates on a gifting economy where no money is exchanged except for limited sales like ice and coffee. Attendees are expected to be self- sufficient, bringing their own food, water, and shelter, and to participate actively in the community

. Originally started in 1986 on a San Francisco beach by Larry Harvey and Jerry James, it moved to the Nevada desert in 1990 and has grown into a large- scale cultural movement emphasizing participation, creativity, and environmental responsibility

. In summary, Burning Man is a unique cultural event that combines art, community, and radical self-expression in a temporary desert city, culminating in the burning of a symbolic wooden figure and leaving no trace behind