Home to various cultures, communities, religions and languages, it would only be logical for India to have some really unique and vibrant festivals. You've no doubt heard of Holi, the festival of color, and Diwali, the festival of light, both celebrated madly across the country. But what about the state and region-centric ones that aren't as well-known but equally magnificent, that every traveler to India should experience at least once?

Starting from the northern tip and travelling down to the southern regions of the country, here's a look at some the most beautiful festivals from the various states of India.

When planning a trip to India, check with a travel expert if you can squeeze in some of these colorful extravaganzas into your itinerary that will add that extra pizzazz to your vacation. One thing is guaranteed: you won't see anything quite like this anywhere else in the world.

1) The Ladakh Festival:

In the land of beautiful monasteries and deep rooted buddhism, the Ladakh Festival is a 7-day long celebration in September. This eastern region of Kashmir state is a road-tripper's heaven, and you may want to time your car drive or bike ride through Ladakh to cath this festival (check exact dates with the travel expert) The fun starts in Leh (the capital) with an elaborate inauguration ceremony, and over the course of 7 days, spreads through the multiple villages of Ladakh, bringing together various cultural groups of the region and their unique Tibetan customs and traditions.

On the menu you have everything from polo to dance competitions and village archery. The elaborate dance of cham is a sight to behold; it is performed only in certain buddhist sects and uses elaborate costumes and get-ups to signify things like the progress of the soul or the triumph of good over evil. Hugely culturally and spiritually significant to these smiley, friendly, peaceable people, this is, hands down, one of the most unique festivals of northern India.

2) Hornbill Festival:

This is one of the most awaited and extravagant festivals in the entire north-east of India. It gets its name from the Hornbill bird, native to the state of Nagaland, which is where the fun and games take place for a week, usually between 1st and 10th of December, bringing together the multiple small tribes within the state.

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This one week of December has it all, from music concerts, arts and craft exhibitions, wrestling competitions, and each tribe showcasing their individual traditions and customs. It's also a fantastic opportunity for travelers journeying through Nagaland to taste the local, unique cuisine and to hear the traditional drumbeats, chants and lilting music of the various tribes.

3) International Sand Art Festival:

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Apart from just celebrating various cultures and traditions, India also celebrates various art forms. This festival, which is just a year old, is held in the state of Odisha from 1st to 5th December every year, and is a must for all art lovers. It has a different theme every year, and is also used as platform to spread awareness on many issues such as global warming. It attracts artists from all over the world, providing them a platform to showcase their talent. The art does not restrict itself to sand, but also includes sculptures made of wood, stone and bronze. The talent displayed in the first year was prolific and prodigious; it's only going to get better. This year (2017) will see a hugely increased participation of Indian sculptors, as well as artists from Germany, USA, Singapore, Mexico, Spain and other countries.

4) Poush Mela:

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This Mela, which translates as “fair”, is organised in Shantiniketan (started by India's most celebrated poet, musician, author Rabindranath Tagore), which is located in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. A carnival of colour and sound, it is usually 3 days long, and begins on/around 23rd December.

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The festival is known for its splendid performances in music, theatre and poetry by the students of Shantiniketan and other tribal communities in West Bengal. Apart from the live performances, visitors also get to hear melodious Bengali folk music, notably that of the famous Baul musicians; it is also an excellent chance to explore the artistic handicrafts of the region. Once upon a time, this was only limited to the members of the Tagore family and handful of other people; today it attracts crowds from all over the world.

5) Desert Festival:

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Having an elaborate history of royal dynasties dating back to medieval times, the state of Rajasthan has long since emerged the poster-child of India's cultural heritage; the Desert Festival brings all that into living, vivid color from 8th to 10th of February in the Thar desert in Jaisalmer. According to legend, Lord Krishna had prophesized that a descendant of the Yadav community would rule over the Trikuta Hill (the site of the famous Jaisalmer Fort today). It was believed that this prophecy came true when Rawal Jaiswal, a descendant of the Yadav community, established his kingdom here in 1196. This lead to celebrations throughout the kingdom and became an annual fair which today is known as the Desert Festival. The festivities begin with a procession from Jaisalmer Fort to the Poonam Singh Stadium.

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These 3 days see a non-stop flurry of activities: Kalabaz (a group of local nomads) perform clever gymnastics, there are camel races, there are turban tying competitions, stalls with beautiful artwork and clothes, jewellery, textiles with beautiful mirror work that is unique to this state. Everyone seems to be dancing away to Rajashtani folk music that is heard throughout the three days. There is also Mau-Shri (a Mr. Desert muscle-man) competition. All of this is accompanied by delicious food sold at the hundreds of stalls. If you are ever traveling through Rajasthan, soaking up its forts and palaces, we strongly recommend a detour through the desert for this festival.

6) Pushkar Festival:

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Another Rajasthani extravaganza: the sand dunes of the Thar Desert come to life during the Pushkar Camel Fair, a major highlight of India for any traveler. The festival begins with the Kartik Shukla Ekadashi (which usually comes in the month of November, around the time of the full moon) and goes on for 14 days. Traditionally it served the purpose of trading camels; today it has grown into a celebration unlike any other in the state. Maintaining tradition, the trade of cattle animals including horses and sheep etc. still takes place, but the ship of the desert is focus of the festival. The camels can be seen getting washed and adorned by people. They are made to wear clothing with colourful and beautiful patterns. They are also made to wear silver bangles and other jewellery, ensuring that they look their best. These camels are then paraded and the best looking beast wins the pageant.

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During these five days of celebrations, traditional folk music and dance forms can be seen and heard every evening. There are camels races, there are hot air balloon displays (to see these beauties over the desert landscape is a visual treat). The festival has gained such popularity that it gets quite crowded during the 5 days, making it hard to find accommodation. Tip: Booking in advance is a must.

7) Mysore Dasara:

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The festival “Dasara” which celebrates the triumph of good over evil is celebrated all over the country, but Mysore is where you should be to catch the best of it. Also known as “Navratri” (meaning nine-nights) in some parts of the country, it comes to an end on the 10th day, known as Vijaydashmi. In Mysore, Karnataka, the festival assumes a royal character and the 10 days are celebrated with the utmost grandeur and splendor. A practice that was started by the Vijaynagara Empire in the 15th century and continued by the Wodeyars of Mysore, it typically runs from end-September to early-October. There are grand parades where people wear colourful costumes depicting various characters out of Indian mythology and act out fantastic stories, especially the one about Goddess Chamundeshwari killing the demon Mahishasur on the 10th day of the festival (Vijaydashmi).

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The soldiers of the Royal Mysore Palace march in all their glory, accompanied by flamboyant floats signifying the important features of the country. Groups perform dance and music native to the state. The Royal Palace of Mysore is decorated beautifully with lights for all the 10 days, with stalls and exhibitions outside its gates selling everything from cosmetics, clothes, jewellery and of course delicious street food. Definitely worth checking out while traveling through Karnataka.

8) Boat Race Festival:

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The backwaters of Kerala are known for two things: their pristine and untouched beauty (for the most part) and one crazy annual boat race. The most prominent feature of this festival are the elaborate ‘snake boats’, usually 100-200 feet in length, designed to fit a racing team of 100 rowers. Each village owns one such boat and flaunts it with great pride during the festival. This tradition has a history going back 400 years, and attracts huge crowds from the state, country and around the globe. Time your travel through the backwaters of Kerala to catch this event; there are few spectacles to match this.

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Teams train and prepare right through the year, and the energy levels during the race are cranked up to eleven. There are multiple boat races across Kerala, the main ones being The Prestigious Nehru Trophy Race held at Alleppey’s Punnamda Lake, the Champakkulam Moolam held on the Champakkulam Lake and the Aranmula Boat Race held in the Pampa River in Aranmula. The dates are subject to change each year but are typically in the monsoon months (July- September). The cheering parties lined up on the shore, and the songs and drumbeats to maintain the tempo of the rowers, create an environment of energy and enthusiasm that you won't forget in a hurry.