India’s largest city has a wealth of national and local events running throughout the year. As usual, it’s the religious festivals that take precedent but there are plenty more things going on besides, and travellers to the city are always very welcome to join in the festivities.

New Year’s Day: the Western New Year is not really celebrated in India but in more Westernized Mumbai where alcohol is widely available, things are different. The big hotels will have parties and expatriates and foreign travellers to the city celebrate New Year’s Eve like anywhere else, so there is always something happening, especially in southern Mumbai.

Mumbai Festival: lasting about 2 weeks every January, the Mumbai Festival is the major event of the year, taking place in the coolest month for maximum enjoyment. There’s theatre, dance, music, fashion and food on offer, all with a familiar taste of Mumbai; and the party keeps going all day long. This is perhaps the best time of year to be in the city – don’t miss it.

Elephanta Festival: held on ever-popular Elephanta Island, this festival is a big one for tourists with traditional song, dance and food lasting 2 days that features big names in the Indian music industry. Take the specially-run ferries from the Gateway of India to get here.

Holi: undoubtedly the most colourful festival of the Indian calendar, Holi marks the beginning of spring with the throwing of coloured powder believed to ward off illness with the changing of the season.

Gudi Padava: the start of the New Year in Maharashtra state, Gudi Padava sees drinks placed on top of colourfully decorated ‘gudis’ or bamboo poles which line the whole of the city. It’s usually held in uncomfortably high temperatures, but if you feel up to the heat, its well worth it.

Janmashtami: held either in July or August according to the Hindu calendar, Janmashtami is a wonderful spectacle for the casual observer. Celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Lord Krishna, the event is typified by human pyramids of men extending into the Mumbai sky, trying to crush pots of curd hung up along the streets. Don’t ask why: just stand well away from the falling pottery and curd, get your camera out, and marvel at the amateur acrobatics on display.

Ganesh Chaturthi: just as the monsoon begins to dry up around the end of August and the beginning of September, this colourful festival comes to life over 10 days. It’s one of the biggest and brightest Mumbai has to offer and features millions of images of the Hindu elephant god Ganesh. Processions often bring main thoroughfares to a standstill, so do things on foot to make the most of this Mumbai must-see.

Mount Mary’s Feast: held on Mount Mary, a small hill in Bandra suburb and home to a famous Catholic church, this event makes a change from the mostly Hindu events. Festivities take place over a whole week and begin on the Sunday following 8 September, the birthday of the Virgin Mary, mother of Christ. The fair attracts swarms of people no matter what faith.

Ramadan: nearly one in five people living in Mumbai is Muslim so the holy month of Ramadan is a big deal even if the local population is mostly Hindu. Tourists can’t really get involved in this as it’s about fasting and prayer. The dates change every year according to the lunar Islamic calendar.

Diwali: India’s main event is huge in Mumbai, a festival that takes over much of the city and doesn’t let go for 5 days of colour and light. Diwali is the festival that marks the victory of good over evil with lit candles and lanterns. Usually takes place in October but sometimes in November.

Eid: the end of the holy Islamic month of fasting means more prayer but also feasting as Mumbai Muslims deck themselves in their finest clothes for a family holiday of relief and celebration.

Christmas: with a Christian population of nearly one million people, including the centre and greater Mumbai, and many more visiting at this time of year from abroad, the city makes a big deal over Christmas.