So many festivals exist across the world that it would take more than a lifetime to experience them. But we will make the job easier by shortlisting some fun ones. What you&rsquoll love about these messy and chaotic festivals is that they give you one day to drop the garb of civilised behaviour and live the day to the fullest.
La Tomatina, Spain
Remember the iconic tomato battle in the movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara It did make us all want to live that dream once. So topping the list is La Tomatina from Buñol, Valencia, in Spain. La Tomatina is known as the world&rsquos biggest food fight and is organised every year on the last Wednesday of August. The festival is celebrated to honour the town's patron saints, Luis Bertran and the Mare de Deu dels Desemparats (Mother of God of the Defenseless), a title of the Virgin Mary. The celebrations start at 11 AM with many trucks hauling tomatoes into the centre of the town from Plaza del Pueblo.
Also See Parque de San Luis, Auditorio Municipal San Luis, Castillo de Buñol, Cueva Turche, and Masonic Cemetary can be visited to explore the culture of the town.
La Battaglia Delle Arance, Italy
Representing the liberation of the people of Ivrea in northern Italy, La Battaglia Delle Arance - or The Battle of Oranges - is a traditional festival that takes place in late February, in the days preceding Ash Wednesday. More than five thousand people gather in the streets of Ivrea and divide themselves into teams and throw oranges at each other.
Also See Don&rsquot miss tasting the delicious fagiolata, a typical carnival bean soup of the festival. One can choose to visit Ivrea Cathedral, Santuario Monte Stella, château d'Ivrée, and Municipal Museum Pier Alessandro when in the town.
Cheese Rolling, England
Cheeseheads, you must check out the Cheese Rolling fest in Gloucestershire County in southwest England. The festival is celebrated on the last Monday of May, also known as The Spring Bank Holiday. People launch themselves down Cooper&rsquos Hill in pursuit of a cheese wheel. The sport has been around since the 15th century, with the first written record dating back to 1826. The nine-pound double cheese roll made from milk from Gloucester cattle is released down the steep gradient of Cooper Hil. Since 2013 the cheese has been replaced with a foam replica for safety reasons. The first person touching the finish line wins the game after completing a run of 200 yards.
Also See Gloucestershire can also be visited to experience the beauty of the Romanesque and Gothic architecture of Gloucester Cathedral, built in the eleventh century. The burial of King Edward II, The Gloucester Docks, and Mariners Chapel are some other notable sites to visit.
Clean Monday Flour War, Greece
A quiet harbour town known as Galaxidi on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth in Greece gets painted with colours on Clean Monday every year. It is supposed to originate in 1801, when the Ottomans forbade the locals from celebrating any festivals under their reign. In retaliation, the locals painted their faces with ash and danced in the streets. Today, a full-blown colourful celebration takes place. The festival ironically takes place on the day declared by the Eastern Orthodox Churches as Clean Monday, which marks the start of 40 days of Lent until Easter.
Also See One can visit the ancient sanctuary of Delphi, Acropolis, Parthenon, Plaka and Syntagma Square to learn about Greek history, culture, and traditions.
Boryeong Mud Festival, South Korea
Haven&rsquot we all heard about mud packs Think of this festival as something on a much grander scale. The 10-day mud festival was created as a tool for the cosmetic business to sell the region's well-known mud and clay. Millions of mud enthusiasts now go to the biggest mud festival in the world to partake in any mud-related activities ranging from bathing, wrestling, sliding, playing, dancing, and tossing.
Also See Hang out at the beaches and at Wangdaesa and Boryeong Mugunghwa.