India is well known for its lavish, colourful festivals and celebrations that seem to go on for days on end. Many are dedicated to Hindu gods, or to phases of the moon. If you can time your trip to India well enough, you can witness the locals coming out to play – and join in the festivities yourself.

Here are some of the main festivals, high days and holidays that are celebrated in India during the year.

Diwali (festival of light)

This is probably the most famous and best-loved of all the Indian festivals. Diwali takes place in October or November depending on the cycles of the moon in each particular year. The event unashamedly celebrates light, with families getting together to celebrate happiness, light and the triumph of good over evil. People light lamps and candles and let off fireworks to show their joy. Although Diwali itself lasts only one day, people begin the celebrations three days prior, with special sweets and foods, gift exchanges and family get-togethers. The festivities carry on for two days after Diwali as well.

Holi (festival of colour)

This festival takes place around the middle of March each year. It truly brings to life the vibrant, colourful nature of India and its people. Participants enjoy a frivolous day of fun, throwing brightly-hued powders and water and dancing underneath the resultant showers of colours that mix and combine on their clothes and skin. The day before Holi, fires are lit to symbolically get rid of life’s bad or unwanted elements in readiness for the celebrations the following day.

Makar Sankranti (festival of kite flying)

Eyes should turn skyward for this charming Indian festival that centres on flying brightly coloured kites and joining in friendly kite ‘battles’ with family and friends. The festival takes place on 14 January each year and celebrates the sun’s journey to the north. People in different regions of India celebrate Makar Sankranti in slightly different ways. The festival is also observed by non-Hindus in the region, which only adds to its aims of inclusion and diversity.

Navratri (festival of the nine manifestations of Durga) and Dusehra

This spiritual event celebrates the nine manifestations of the Indian goddess, Durga. Navratri begins with a nine-day period of devotion in the month of September or October. It concludes on the tenth day with the celebration of Dussehra. Participants enjoy dancing to special music, creating colour spectacles that are well worth experiencing, especially in places like Bengal, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Raksha Bandhan (festival of brothers and sister)

This wholesome celebration of family life and the importance of siblings happens every year around the end of August. This timing coincides with the end of the lunar month Shravan in the Hindu calendar. A sister will tie a sacred thread called a rakhi around her brother’s wrist to symbolise their close relationship. In return, she will receive a gift from him. This touching tradition serves to remind both parties of their duty of care and protection towards each other. Those who do not have a brother or sister can still celebrate their bonds with cousins or close friends.

Regional festivals

Of course, India also hosts a plethora of smaller, regional festivals that are unique to the regions in which they are held. The Pushkar camel fair in Rajasthan sees visitors from all over the country and beyond see thousands of camels, sheep and cows come together for livestock trading and related fun and festivities. The event traditionally takes place in October or November on a full moon day.

For something completely different, head over to Jaipur when its world-famous literary festival is in town. This event takes place annually during January or February and is a bold and beautiful celebration of books, literature and the written word. Attracting people of all ages, the high-brown event opens with an inaugural ceremony and keynote speech before visitors are let loose to explore the many literary delights available during the five-day festival.

Finally, the ten-day Malayali festival of Onam takes place in Kerala every year in August or September. It marks the start of the Malayalam year and celebrates the harvest and the bounty of the land with a range of exciting activities and celebrations. People decorate their homes with flowers and prepare delicious feasts to share with friends and family.