Parties are regularly celebrated in different parts of the globe but only few can lay claim on being the wildest and the most enchanting in the group. We list down the parties that are not to be missed in one’s lifetime

It’s not always that you find the best party, offering a dizzying explosion of sounds and colors and an ocean of revelers ready to forget their cares, at the turn of a corner. To get into one, you sometimes have to travel across continents in search of a unique party experience. Almost every country takes pride in its very own brand of merrymaking, flavored with culture and drenched in hedonistic pleasures. People of different nationalities invariably share the desire to dress up (or down!) and let themselves loose for a week, a day, or even for a brief night.

The following are the five of the biggest and craziest gatherings around – especially recommended for those up for a taste of international debauchery.

BURNING MAN – Nevada, USA (eight days before the American Labor Day)

Take a room, fill it with junk scraps, and then let an artist (a frustrated one will do) run wild inside. He’s bound to create something unusual, right? Now, picture the room as a vast desert, put more things to build with, and then call tens of thousands of people to come in and join the fun. What do you get? An army of some of the most spectacularly bizarre contraptions on the planet, and that’s the Burning Man Festival in a nutshell. Once a year, hedonists converge at the Nevada Black Rock Desert and then proceed to forming their very own city that is governed by one rule alone: express oneself in the most radical way possible. It is a week-long extravanganza consisting of themed art-making and hard partying that culminates in the burning of a colossal 72-foot tall man made out of wood. Just remember to bring along your own scraps so you can participate in the madness – what you create is limited only by your imagination.

LA TOMATINA – Buñol, Spain (last Wednesday of August)

Our parents have always told us not to play with our food. Well, the La Tomatina is perhaps one of their worst nightmares, as squishy tomatoes fly back and forth the streets of Buñol, thrown by the thousands of revelers hell-bent on painting the town red – literally.

On the morning of the last Wednesday in August, dozens of trucks containing tons of ripe tomatoes descend on the city, with the eager partygoers already lining the sidewalks and bracing for the world’s largest food fight – stripped down and ready to ruin someone else’s clothes. As soon as the merchants of chaos unload their cargo, mayhem immediately ensues as everybody scrambles to gather ammunition and pelt anyone within striking distance. There is one and only one goal here: make spaghetti out of your fellow revelers.

After the said event, fire trucks come to the rescue and literally hose down the thick salsa covering the streets and anyone and anything in them.

FULL MOON PARTY – Ko Phang Nga, Thailand (every full moon of the month)

Wolves aren’t the only ones who can howl at the full moon – so can the attendees of the wild, wild Full Moon Party held at the beaches of Ko Phang Nga (KPG for short, and it’s plain cool). It is said that this massive revelry started off as just a simple hippie birthday party. Can you believe it? That is, though, until the pleasure-seeking backpackers discovered it and found the event to be extremely enjoyable – and so decided then and there to do it again and again and again.

Today, thousands gather at the first sign of dusk in KPG’s crescent-shaped beach, waiting with bated anticipation as the round moon finally breaks through the horizon and dimly shines on the soda-white sands. Then they break out the disco lights, line the alcohol in small tables, and start partying like crazy. Those who plan to partake in the occasion should very well prepare for a serious dose of night-long debauchery that lasts till the wee hours of the next morning.

CARNIVAL – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (seven weeks before Easter Sunday)

The word carnival actually means “remove meat,” as it is a celebration held just a few days before the Lenten season officially begins – and is reputed one of the most popular events around. In fact, different cities around the world try to make their own versions of this iconic festival, although there is still nothing that can beat the original Rio de Janeiro Carnival. Be prepared to “Samba” your limbs off if you plan to partake in this four day dance-a-thon.

Its origins are however murky, for such a popular festival, with some claiming it to have been derived from ancient Roman pagan occasions. Today, the celebration appears to be a cauldron of European, African, and Native American cultures, liberally flavored with hardcore Brazilian partying. Get your shades ready, as your eyes will be dazzled with the Sambodrome parade, a concession of brightly-dressed and costumed revelers dancing merrily to their hearts’ content. Men are also advised to wipe the drool of their faces at the sight of scantily-clad female locals dressed only in barely-there tights, sequins, and colorful feathers.

NUIT BLANCHE – Paris, France (early October)

It’s art mania to the extreme in Paris as it is invaded by the highly-anticipated Nuit Blanche in early October, an occasion that is part art festival and part street party. In French, it means “White Night,” and is actually a one-nighter that magically transforms the city’s bustling streets into a virtual art museum and gallery that attracts hundreds of thousands of revelers every single year.

One can only sigh in amazement at the sight of the unique and lovely artworks displayed on the streets without a care in the world. Don’t come to Nuit Blanche with a set plan of action in mind, – that is not the best way to celebrate it. Amble around and leave the rest of the evening to luck and chance, as that is in keeping with the festival’s brave and avant-garde spirit. What takes the cake, actually, is that countless Parisian establishments – be it a museum, hotel, or swimming pool – open their doors to all revelers free of charge. As dawn finally emerges after a night of partying, the city halls provide a succulent breakfast as a reward to all those who were able to make it through the night.