Maharashtra Day celebrations of India’s statehood are held across the country, but one of the best places to enjoy the festivities is at Mumbai’s central Shivaji Park. A colourful parade, music, dancing and food all take place here.

Buddha Purnima: one of Buddhism’s most sacred days celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. As India has a large contingent of Buddhists every Buddhist temple in the country is inundated with pilgrims and interesting rituals.

Rath Yatra, one of India’s most passionate religious ceremonies takes place in the 12th-century town of Puri every year as hundreds of thousands of Hindus descend on this seaside site to worship Krishna. Massive images of Krishna and his brother and sister are pulled by devotees for 2kms to the Gundicha Ghat temple amidst an atmosphere that borders on the surreal.