Test: Festivals in India - CUET MCQ

• Month of Celebration: January


• Reason for Celebration: The International Kite Festival in Gujarat is held in January to coincide with the festival of Makar Sankranti, which marks the end of winter and the beginning of longer days.


• Significance: The festival is a colorful and joyous celebration where people from all over the world come together to fly kites of various shapes, sizes, and colors.


• Location: The International Kite Festival in Gujarat is held in the city of Ahmedabad, which is known for its vibrant kite-flying culture.


• Activities: During the festival, there are kite-flying competitions, kite-making workshops, cultural performances, and food stalls offering traditional Gujarati cuisine.


• Attractions: One of the main attractions of the festival is the sight of thousands of colorful kites filling the sky, creating a mesmerizing and festive atmosphere.

• State: Gujarat

• Madhavpur Mela: Madhavpur Mela is an annual cultural fair held in Madhavpur, a small town in the state of Gujarat, India.


• Significance: The Madhavpur Mela celebrates the marriage of Lord Krishna with Rukmini, the princess of Vidarbha.


• Attractions: The fair includes various cultural performances, folk dances, music, food stalls, and traditional crafts.


• Location: Madhavpur is located in the Porbandar district of Gujarat, known for its scenic beauty and historical significance.

• Location: Jallikattu is a traditional bull taming event mainly held in Tamil Nadu.


• Significance: It is a part of the Pongal festival celebrations in the state.


• Cultural Importance: Jallikattu is an ancient sport that has been practiced for centuries in Tamil Nadu.


• Rules: The event involves participants trying to tame a bull by holding onto its hump and attempting to control it.


• Controversy: In recent years, there has been controversy surrounding Jallikattu due to concerns about animal cruelty and safety issues.


• Legislation: The event has faced bans and restrictions, but efforts are being made to preserve this cultural tradition while ensuring the safety and well-being of both participants and animals.

• Country: Austria

• The Salzburg Festival is an annual event held in Salzburg, Austria.


• It is one of the most prestigious and acclaimed music and performing arts festivals in the world.


• The festival was established in 1920 and takes place every summer, usually in the months of July and August.


• Salzburg, known as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, provides a beautiful and historic backdrop for the festival.


• The festival features a wide range of performances including opera, theater, concerts, and other cultural events.


• Many renowned artists and performers participate in the Salzburg Festival, attracting audiences from around the globe.

• Makar Sankranti: Makar Sankranti is a festival celebrated in various parts of India and Nepal to mark the transition of the Sun into the Makara (Capricorn) zodiac sign. It is usually celebrated on January 14th.


• Pongal: Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, India. It is a four-day festival which usually takes place from January 14th to January 17th.


• Gudi Padwa: Gudi Padwa is a festival celebrated by people in Maharashtra to mark the beginning of the traditional Hindu new year. It usually falls in the month of March or April and not in January.


• Lohri: Lohri is a popular Punjabi festival celebrated on January 13th every year to mark the end of winter and the arrival of longer days.

Therefore, among the options given, Gudi Padwa is not celebrated almost simultaneously in the month of January each year, unlike the other festivals mentioned.

• Answer: Cuttack

• Bali Jatra Festival: The Bali Jatra festival is a popular maritime festival celebrated in Cuttack, a city in the state of Odisha, India.


• Significance: The festival commemorates the ancient tradition of Odia mariners who used to sail to distant lands of Bali, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo for trade and cultural exchange.


• Celebration: During the Bali Jatra festival, people gather on the banks of the Mahanadi River to pay homage to their ancestors and offer prayers for safe voyages and prosperity.


• Activities: The festival includes cultural programs, traditional music and dance performances, food stalls, and a grand fair where people come to buy and sell various goods.


• Duration: The Bali Jatra festival usually takes place in the Kartika Purnima month of the Hindu calendar, which falls around November-December.

• State: Mizoram

• Origin: Chapchar Kut is one of the most important festivals of Mizoram and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor.


• Significance: The festival marks the clearing of forests for jhum cultivation after a period of rest during the monsoon season.


• Celebration: During Chapchar Kut, people come together to dance, sing, and enjoy traditional Mizo music and performances.


• Date: The festival is usually celebrated in the month of March, after the completion of the harvesting season.


• Food: Traditional Mizo dishes are prepared and shared among family and friends during the festival.

• Chapchar Kut is not only a celebration of agriculture and the harvest but also a time for the community to come together and strengthen bonds.

• Pongal: Jallikattu is associated with the festival of Pongal, which is a harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu. It is a traditional event where bulls are released into a crowd of people, and participants attempt to grab the bull's hump and ride it.

Therefore, the correct answer is B: Pongal.

• Bihar: Sonepur, the venue of one of the largest cattle fairs, is located in the state of Bihar.

• Historical Significance: The Sonepur Cattle Fair has a rich historical significance and is a major event in Bihar.


• Duration: The fair typically lasts for a few weeks and attracts a large number of visitors from different parts of the country.


• Attractions: The fair is not only known for buying and selling of cattle but also features various cultural events, handicrafts, and entertainment activities.


• Importance: The Sonepur Cattle Fair is considered one of the biggest and oldest fairs of its kind in Asia.

• Location: The Hornbill Festival is held annually in Nagaland, one of the northeastern states of India.


• Celebration: The festival is a celebration of the indigenous Naga tribes of Nagaland and showcases their rich culture, heritage, and traditions.


• Duration: The festival usually takes place from December 1st to December 10th every year.


• Activities: During the festival, visitors can enjoy traditional Naga dance performances, music, arts and crafts, food stalls serving Naga cuisine, and various competitions and activities.


• Significance: The Hornbill Festival is named after the Indian Hornbill bird, which is revered by the Naga tribes for its significance in their folklore and traditions.


• Tourism: The festival has become a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors from all over the world to experience the unique culture and traditions of the Naga tribes.

• Teej: Teej is a monsoon festival celebrated in India, especially in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Punjab. It is dedicated to the goddess Parvati and is a celebration of the union between Lord Shiva and Parvati.

Overall, Teej is a significant monsoon festival in India that is celebrated with great enthusiasm and traditional rituals.

• Celebrated in: Sikkim

• Losoong Festival is the Sikkimese New Year festival celebrated by the Bhutia community of Sikkim.


• It usually falls in December and marks the end of the harvesting season.


• The festival is celebrated with various cultural events, traditional dances, music, and feasting.


• During Losoong, people also participate in archery competitions and other traditional sports.


• It is a time for the community to come together, rejoice, and seek blessings for the coming year.

• Origin: Atla Taddi is a traditional festival celebrated by the women of Andhra Pradesh.


• Celebration: It falls on the 3rd day after the full moon in the month of Aswayuja (September/October).


• Significance: Women observe fasting and pray for the well-being and longevity of their husbands.


• Rituals: Women wake up early, take a holy bath, wear new clothes, and prepare special dishes like atlu (dosa), uyyala (vada), and other traditional sweets.


• Activities: They perform special rituals by placing a rangoli made of rice flour and turmeric, light lamps, and offer prayers to Goddess Gauri.


• Conclusion: At the end of the day, women break their fast after seeing the moon, signifying the end of the festival.

• Pushkar Fair is held in Ajmer, Rajasthan.

• Pushkar Fair is one of the most famous camel fairs in India, held annually in the town of Pushkar in Ajmer, Rajasthan.


• It is a vibrant and colorful event that attracts tourists and locals alike.


• The fair usually takes place in the months of October or November, coinciding with the Hindu lunar calendar.


• During the fair, thousands of camels, horses, and cattle are brought to the fairgrounds for buying and selling.


• Visitors can also enjoy cultural performances, camel races, and various traditional activities during the fair.

• Surajkund crafts fair: Surajkund crafts fair is an annual fair that showcases the richness and diversity of Indian handicrafts, handlooms, and cultural heritage.


• Location: The Surajkund crafts fair is held at Surajkund, which is located in the state of Haryana, India.


• Significance: The fair attracts craftsmen, artists, and visitors from all over the country and abroad, making it a major cultural event.


• Duration: The fair usually takes place in the first two weeks of February every year.


• Highlights: Visitors can experience a wide range of traditional and contemporary crafts, cultural performances, and regional cuisines at the fair.

• Sarhul Festival: Sarhul is a festival celebrated in the state of Jharkhand.


• Significance: Sarhul is an important tribal festival of the region, especially among the Oraon tribe.


• Celebration: The festival is celebrated during the spring season to mark the beginning of the agricultural activities.


• Rituals: People offer prayers to the village deity and the earth goddess during Sarhul.


• Traditions: The festival is characterized by the worship of trees, especially the Sal tree, which is considered sacred by the tribes.


• Cultural significance: Sarhul is not just a religious festival but also a celebration of the tribal culture and heritage of Jharkhand.

• Kambala: Kambala is a traditional buffalo race that is held in the state of Karnataka.


• History: Kambala has been a popular sport in Karnataka for centuries and is deeply rooted in the state's culture and traditions.


• Event: The race involves pairs of buffaloes being driven by farmers across a paddy field, while being cheered on by spectators.


• Celebration: Kambala is not just a race but a celebration of the bond between the farmers and their buffaloes, as well as a way to pray for a good harvest.


• Controversy: In recent years, Kambala has faced some controversy due to concerns about animal cruelty, leading to restrictions being placed on the sport.

• Answer: Mumbai

• Kala Ghoda Art Festival: The Kala Ghoda Art Festival is an annual festival held in Mumbai in the Kala Ghoda area, known for its rich heritage and vibrant art scene.


• Timing: The festival usually takes place in February every year and lasts for around nine days.


• Events: The festival showcases a wide range of art forms including visual arts, dance, music, theater, and literature.


• Attractions: Visitors can enjoy exhibitions, workshops, performances, and installations by both established and upcoming artists.


• Crowd: The festival attracts a large number of art enthusiasts, locals, and tourists from around the world.

• Buffalo fighting: Ahatguri in Assam is famous for buffalo fighting, which is a traditional sport where two buffaloes are pitted against each other in a battle of strength and agility.


• Cultural significance: Buffalo fighting is deeply rooted in the culture of Assam and holds immense importance among the local population.


• Popular event: The buffalo fighting events in Ahatguri attract large crowds of spectators who come to witness the thrilling competition.


• Traditional practice: The tradition of buffalo fighting has been passed down through generations and continues to be a popular sport in Assam.


• Conservation efforts: While buffalo fighting has faced criticism from animal rights activists, efforts are being made to ensure the welfare of the animals involved in these events.

• Location of the Desert Festival: The Desert Festival, an annual event in Rajasthan that showcases local folk arts and culture, aerobatics, camel races, is held at Jaisalmer.


• Significance of Jaisalmer: Jaisalmer, also known as the "Golden City," is a popular tourist destination in Rajasthan known for its stunning sand dunes, majestic forts, and rich cultural heritage.


• Historical Importance: Jaisalmer's history dates back to medieval times, and the city has been an important center for trade and commerce in the region.


• Cultural Extravaganza: The Desert Festival in Jaisalmer is a vibrant celebration of the local Rajasthani culture, featuring traditional music, dance performances, art and craft exhibitions, and delicious local cuisine.


• Main Attractions: Visitors to the Desert Festival can enjoy camel rides, witness folk performances, participate in various competitions, and explore the beautiful sandstone architecture of Jaisalmer.