Major Festivals Of India

Question 1

Bathukamma Telangana

Answer 1

It is a festival of flowers and is celebrated as part of Dussehra.

Question 2

Bonalu Telangana

Answer 2

Bonalu is celebrated during the Telugu month of Ashadam (June/July).
The festival is dedicated to Goddess Mahakali.

Question 3

Ugadi Karnataka

Answer 3

This festival marks the Kannada New Year. It is celebrated on the first
day of the Indian month of Chaitra (March–April).

Question 4

Doongri Himachal Pradesh

Answer 4

Celebrated in honour of Hidimba Devi (wife of Bhima) at the Hadimba
or Dhungiri temple in Manali, located in the Dhungri van Vihar forest.

Question 5

Sarhul Jharkhand

Answer 5

It is celebrated during the spring season, offering Saal flowers to
Gods.

Question 6

Vishu Kerala

Answer 6

It is the ‘Malayalam New Year’. It is celebrated on the first day of the
Malayalam month of Medam

Question 7

Mela Hemis Gompa Ladakh

Answer 7

It is held at the Hemis monastery to celebrate the birth of Lord
Padmasambhava (founder of the Vajrayana sect of Buddhism) on
the 10th day of the Tibetan Calendar, which coincides with the end
of the winter season in Ladakh.

Question 8

Hari Jiroti Madhya Pradesh

Answer 8

It is a month-long festival of greenery during which the Gond and
Korku tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees

Question 9

Gudi Padva Maharashtra

Answer 9

It is Widely celebrated as the Marathi New Year.

Question 10

Rath Yatra Odisha

Answer 10

The sacred journey of Lord Jagannath with brother Balabhadra
and sister Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha
Temple

Question 11

Baisakhi
Punjab, Haryana
and western
Uttar Pradesh

Answer 11

It is celebrated on the first day of the Vaisakh month (April–May)
when harvest is gathered.
It is also known as the foundation day of Khalsa Panth.

Question 12

Gangaur Rajasthan

Answer 12

It is a spring festival celebrated in honour of Goddess Parvati or
Gauri, the wife of Lord Shiva.

Question 13

Desert festival Rajasthan

Answer 13

It is celebrated in Jaisalmer, showcasing the tradition of Rajasthan,
including the camel race.

Question 14

Pushkar fair Rajasthan

Answer 14

It is also known as Pushkar Camel Fair, where lakhs flock to Pushkar,
along with their camels and cattle, for many days for livestock
trading and pilgrimage.

Question 15

Pongal Tamil Nadu

Answer 15

It is a major harvest festival.

Question 16

Teppam Tamil Nadu

Answer 16

It is a 12-day festival also known as float festival.

Question 17

Puthandu Tamil Nadu .

Answer 17

It is celebrated as the Tamil New Year’s Day

Question 18

Meenakshikalaynam
(Chithirai Festival) Tamil Nadu

Answer 18

This festival is celebrated in Madurai to re-enact the celestial wedding
of Goddess Meenakshi (Shakti) with Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva).

Question 19

Nanda Devi Raj Jat
Yatra Uttarakhand

Answer 19

It is a festival of the Gharwali and Kumaoni people. [UPSC 2017].

Question 20

Chaliha Festival All India

Answer 20

It is a festival celebrated by the Sindhis, wherein they pray to their
god, Jhulelal. [UPSC 2017]

Question 21

Makar Sankranti All India

Answer 21

It denotes the sun’s entry into the zodiac sign of Makara (Capricorn).
It is also celebrated as a thanksgiving to Mother Nature for a good
crop.

Question 22

Vasanth Panchmi All India

Answer 22

It is dedicated to the worship of Saraswati (Goddess of Learning).

Question 23

Cheti Chand All India

Answer 23

Sindhi New Year, celebrated in honour of the birth of Jhulelal

Question 24

Buddha Purnima All India

Answer 24

It was celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, on a full
moon day in the month of Vaisakh

Question 25

Gurupurab All India

Answer 25

It is also known as Guru Nanak’s Prakash Utsav and Guru Nanak
Dev Ji Jayanti, celebrates the birth of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak