Elephant Festival: Jaipur is filled with beautifully decorated elephants during this important and fascinating festival. Folk dancers follow behind, performing traditional Gair and Dhaph dances. Elephant races and polo matches are highlights, as are tug-of-war matches between the pachyderms and hapless humans.

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.