Nitin Singhania Test: Fairs & festivals of India - UPSC MCQ

Diwali or Deepawali: It is more commonly known as the 'Festival of Lights' and is celebrated by all Hindu sects across the country and abroad. It falls on the auspicious day of the new moon' or Amavasy in the month of Karthik that usually falls in October or November. There are several Hindu clerics who call it ‘Krishna Chaturdashi'. The ritualistic cleansing of the house or place of business and lightening them up is a way of celebrating the festival. Furthermore, people purchase new clothing and exchange gifts on the day.

There are several auspicious days that mark the coming of Diwali, i.e. the day before the festival is called Naraka Chaturdasi. This marks the win of Lord Krishna over the demon Naraka. The next day is the big day of Diwali or the day of Lakshmi Puja. This day is holy for two reasons: it is the day when Lord Rama came back to Ayodhya from his fourteen-year long exile to the forest. It signifies the victory of light over darkness.

It marks the end of winter as the days become longer and the nights become shorter. Many worshippers also take a trip to Ganga Sagar and Prayag to take a dip in the holy water. In some parts of the country, this day is considered auspicious for the buying of cattle and hence Cattle/Bullock fairs are conducted in many part of the country. Usually, the festival of Makar Sankranti falls on 14th of January.

This is one of the biggest festivals of the state of Odisha. The Rath Yatra or the Chario festival of Lord Jagannath takes place once in a year in the holy town of Puri, the Neelachal Srikshetra. The festival falls on the second day of the month of Ashadha (June/July). The festival is dedicated to three main deities Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath.

The date of the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr is calculated after a complicated process, it is set to be on the first day of the month of Shawwal and after the appearance of the moon at the end of the month of Ramadan.

According to the Muslim traditions, the Holy Quran was revealed on one of the odd nights during the last days of the holy month of Ramadan. It is usually calculated to be the 27th day of the Ramadan month. This month is also important for the Muslim calendar because wstorically Prophet Muhammad achieved victory during the Battle of Badr that led to victory of the city of Mecca. Furthermore, the martyrdom of the prophet's son-in-law, Ali occurred on the 21st day of Ramadan (Ramzan).

Christmas: This day is celebrated all across the world as the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ. It falls on the 25th of December every year. The celebrations begin with the Midnight mass that is held at all the churches on the night of the 24th - 25th December, which signifies the birth of Christ at midnight. People visit the church where several programmes are arranged for the devotees to remember the good work of Christ.

People visit each other's houses and exchange gifts. The two rituals attached to the festival are of the Christmas Tree, which is set in everyone's house. It is decorated with lamps, lights and holly. The other myth is of Santa Claus who is supposed to be a harbinger of gifts. People sing carols and distribute sweets and cakes on this day.

Maghi: It is the seasonal gathering of the Sikhs and it is celebrated annually. It is celebrated in Muktsar in the memory of forty Sikh martyrs (Chalis Mukte) who fought with the Mughals. The 10th Guru Govind Singh died while fighting with Wazir khan, the mughal emperor in 1705. The Sikhs take a procession to the site of this Sikh - Muslim War and take a bath in the sacred water of Muktsar. It is celebrated on 14th of January every year.

Parkash Utsav Dasveh Patshah: This festival is celebrated on the birthday of 10th Sikh guru Guru Gobind Singh. It also means the birth celebration of the 10th Divine Light or divine knowledge. This occasion is widely celebrated by the Sikhs on 31st January every year.

Ullambana is a Buddhist festival.

Buddha Purnima: The Buddha Purnima or the Buddha Jayanti is celebrated as the birth annivers Buddha. It falls in the month of April May and is celebrated widely in the par east India. It is called Saga Dawa (Dasa) in Sikkim and Vishakha Puja in the theravada tradition. The main areas of celebration in northern India, is in Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh and Bodh Gaya in Bihar. The celebrations include ritualistic prayers and listening to sermons on the life of Gautam Buddha. The day also includes chanting of Buddhist scriptures, worshipping the image of Buddha and the Bodhi tree and meditation.

Different sects follow different rules like:

• Mahayana Buddhists organize a large procession with gyalings and rabdungs. They also read Kangyur texts.

• The Theravada Buddhists only concentrate on offering ceremonial prayers to the idols of Buddha.

Navapad Oli: The nine-day Oli is a period of semi-fasting. During this period, Jains take only one meal a day of very plain food. It comes twice a year during March/April and September/October.

The correct answer is B: Teej.
Explanation:

Teej is one of the most colorful festivals celebrated in Northern India, particularly in the states of Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. It falls on the third day of the month of Shravan, which usually falls in July or August.

Key Points about Teej:

• Teej is primarily celebrated by women, and it holds great significance for them.


• Women apply mehendi or henna on their hands and feet as part of the celebrations.


• They also dress up in new clothes and jewelry.


• The festival is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Parvati, seeking her blessings for marital bliss, well-being, and prosperity.


• Women observe fasts and pray for the long and healthy lives of their husbands.


• Teej is celebrated with great enthusiasm and includes various cultural activities like dancing, singing, and swinging on decorated swings.


• It is a time for women to come together, celebrate, and enjoy the festivities.

Conclusion:

Teej is a vibrant and joyous festival celebrated in Northern India, where women adorn themselves with henna, wear new clothes, and pray for the well-being of their husbands. It is a time of togetherness and celebration for the women of the household.

Sarhul: Sarhul marks the beginning of the New Year for the tribals of Jharkhand. It is mainly celebrated by the Munda, Oraon and Ho tribes. Sarhul literally means 'Worship of Sal. It is celebrated in the spring season i.e. in the month of Phagun according to the Hindu calendar. Tribals hold nature in great reverence and Mother Earth is worshipped during the festival. Sarhul is celebrated for several days during which the main traditional dance Sarhul is performed.

Kharchi Puja: This festival primarily originates from the State of Tripura. While it began as a festival of the royal family of Tripura, currently even the common households celebrate this festival. It is celebrated over a period of 10 days and takes place in the month of July each year. 
The word "Kharchi" is derived from the word "Khya" which means "Earth". Kharchi Puja is basically done to worship the earth. All of the rituals are of tribal origin, which includes worshipping fourteen gods and Mother Earth.

Hornbill Festival: It is one of the major agricultural festivals celebrated in the State of Nagaland. It’s a weeklong festival that begins on 1st December every year. All the major Naga tribes attend this festival and congregate at the Kisama Heritage village. All the tribes showcase their talent and cultural vividness through costumes, weapons, bows and arrows and headgears of the clans. This is also a good opportunity to bring all the tribes together and for the younger generation to form cultural ties. Further celebrations are held during the Kohima Night Bazaar where all the crafts are displayed. There are interesting events like the pork eating and King Chilli eating competitions. Majuli Festival: This is one of the more modern festivals held in Majuli that is in the State of Assam. The festival is organised in November, as it is the best time considering the alternating climatic conditions in Assam. The Department for Culture under the State ministry of Assam organises various events during the festival like the seminars, which highlight the traditional history and glory of Assam in general, and Majuli in particular.

Bihu Festival: Bohag Bihu is one of the most popular festivals of Assam and helds for celebrating the Assamese New year. Although the Assamese celebrate Bihu thrice in a year, the Bohag Bihu is the most anticipated one.

The three Bihu's are:

• Bohag or Rongali Bihu

• Kati or Kongali Bihu

• Maagh or Bhogali Bihu

Ambubachi Mela: It is held in the premises of the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati in the State of Assam.

The festival falls in the month of June and is one of the major festivals in North-East India, so much so that it has been dubbed as the ‘Mahakumbh of the East. The festival has been associated with fertility rituals and many devotees come to seek the blessing of a child from the Goddess. Dree Festival: The Apatani tribe that resides in Arunachal Pradesh primarily celebrates the festival currently, more and more tribes have started observing the rituals of the Dree festival. It is celebrated on the 5th of July each year, but the preparations and rituals begin a few days before the actual festival. The festival is one of the biggest celebrations held in the Ziro valley and hundreds of people from villages around the valley congregate here to celebrate.

At Haridwar and Allahabad, Ardh-Kumbh Mela is held every sixth year and a Maha Kumbh takes place once in 144 years. Maagh Kumbh is celebrated every year in the month of Maagh (Jan-Feb) in Allahabad.

Gangasagar Mela: It is conducted in the month of January-February at the mouth of the river Hooghy in Bengal. A holy dip in the Ganges especially on the day of Makar Sankranti is considered very auspicious by the Hindus. Thousands of pilgrims throng the site. The presences of Naga sadhus lend a unique identity to the fair. Shamlaji Fair: It is celebrated by a tribal community in Gujarat to revere Lord Shamlaji "the Dark Divine" who is thought to be the incarnate of Krishna or Vishnu. Devotees come in large numbers to worship the deity and take a holy bath in the Meshno river. The 'Bhils' have immense faith in powers of Shamlaji who they lovingly call “Kaliyo Dev'. It lasts for about three weeks in the month of November, with Kartik Poornima being the most important day of the fair. Chitra Vichitra Fair: It is the largest tribal fair in Gujarat celebrated mainly by the 'Gharasia' and 'Bhil tribe. The tribals wear their traditional costumes and showcase the local tribal culture. On the Amavasya' after Holi, the tribal women go to the river to mourn for their near and dear departed ones. The festivities start from the next day. Lively dance performances, best of rural handicrafts and exquisite silver jewelry attract thousands of tourists every year.

Answer: Sonepur Mela
The correct answer is Option C: Sonepur Mela. Here is a detailed explanation:
Introduction:
The event being described is one of the largest cattle fairs in Asia, which takes place in November on the auspicious day of Kartik Poornima. It is the only fair where a large number of elephants are sold.
Sonepur Mela:
Sonepur Mela, also known as Harihar Kshetra Mela, is the correct answer. It is held in Sonepur, Bihar, India. Here are the key points about Sonepur Mela:
1. Location: Sonepur Mela takes place in Sonepur, a small town in Saran district, Bihar, India.
2. Timing: The fair is held in the month of November, usually on the day of Kartik Poornima, which is considered auspicious by the Hindus.
3. Size and significance: Sonepur Mela is one of the largest cattle fairs in Asia, attracting a huge number of visitors from various parts of India and abroad.
4. Elephant trade: The fair is well-known for its elephant trade. It is the only fair where a large number of elephants are bought and sold. Elephants of various breeds and sizes can be seen at the fair.
5. Livestock trade: Apart from elephants, Sonepur Mela also witnesses a significant trade of other livestock such as horses, cows, buffaloes, camels, and various types of birds and poultry.
6. Cultural and entertainment activities: The fair is not just limited to trade but also offers various cultural and entertainment activities such as folk music, dance performances, acrobatics, and magic shows. Visitors can also enjoy rides on Ferris wheels and other amusement park attractions.
7. Religious significance: Sonepur Mela has a religious significance as it is believed to be held at the confluence of the Ganges and Gandak rivers, where devotees take holy dips and perform rituals.
In conclusion, the correct answer is Option C: Sonepur Mela. It is a grand cattle fair held in Sonepur, Bihar, during November on the day of Kartik Poornima. It is famous for its elephant trade and attracts a large number of visitors from across India and abroad.

Lui-Ngai-Ni Festival: Almost all branches of the Naga tribes celebrate this festival. It is celebrated all over in Nagaland and in some of the Naga inhabited parts of Manipur State too. The festival is celebrated after the end of the harvest season. It falls on the 15 of February every year. It is also rejoiced as the mark for seed sowing season. The festival brings the agricultural branches of Naga tribes closer to the non-agricultural based communities of Nagas. The festival is marked with huge amount of celebration and pomp and show.

It is a festival to bring communities closer and spread the message of peace and harmony. There are several rituals that revolve around the blessing of the seeds before sowing them, so that the harvest would be plenty and safe from diseases. Further, the community gets together to make different delicacies and perform traditional dances and show-off the colours of their particular tribe or clan.

Place - River Allahabad - At the Confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati Haridwar -Ganga Nasshik (Maharashtra) - Godavari Ujjain - Shipra Kumbh Mela: The Kumbh Mela is the largest religious gathering in the world. Every day millions of people come to take a dip in the holy river. The mela (gathering) is held on a rotational basis at four auspicious Hindu pilgrimage sites-Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik-Trimbak and Ujjain, According to Hindu mythology, during the Samudra Manthan' i.e. churning of the ocean. "Amrit' i.e. drink of immortality was produced and stored in a 'Kumbh' (pot). In the battle of the Devas and the Asuras, Lord Vishnu dropped drops of Amrit while transporting the Kumbh. These places are the four sites where the Kumbh Mela is held. The mela is held once in three years at different places and at any given place after a time interval of twelve years. The exact dates are determined according to the zodiac positions of the Sun, Moon and the planet Jupiter. At Nashik and Ujjain, if the mela is held when a planet is in Leo (Simha in Hindu astrology), it is called as Simhastha Kumbh.