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Fairs And Festivals Of India MCQs
High-yield multiple choice questions asked in previous years (UPSC, SSC CGL, JKSSB, RRB & State PSCs).
High-Yield Concept Capsule & Key Facts
📌 Crucial segment across SSC CGL, CHSL, UPSC CSE, State PSCs, and JKSSB exams.
Religious & Pilgrim Fairs (Melas)
- • Kumbh Mela: World's largest peaceful religious gathering, inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list; held every 12 years (and Ardh Kumbh every 6 years) rotated across 4 sacred river sites: (1) Prayagraj (Triveni Sangam - Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati), (2) Haridwar (Ganga), (3) Ujjain (Shipra), (4) Nashik (Godavari).
- • Pushkar Camel Fair (Rajasthan): Annual multi-day livestock and cultural fair held during Kartik Purnima on the banks of Pushkar Lake (housing the rare Lord Brahma Temple).
- • Ambubachi Mela (Assam): Annual Hindu mela held during monsoon at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati celebrating the annual menstruation of Mother Earth (Devi Kamakhya).
- • Gangasagar Mela (West Bengal): Celebrated on Makar Sankranti at the confluence of the Hooghly (Ganga) river and the Bay of Bengal at Sagar Island.
Harvest & Regional Seasonal Festivals
- • Makar Sankranti & Equivalents: Solar transition into Capricorn (Makara); celebrated nationwide under diverse regional names: Pongal (Tamil Nadu - 4 days: Bhogi, Surya, Mattu, Kaanum Pongal), Magh Bihu (Assam), Uttarayan & International Kite Festival (Gujarat), Lohri & Maghi (Punjab), Saakraat (Bihar).
- • Hornbill Festival (Nagaland): 'Festival of Festivals' held annually from Dec 1 to 10 at Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima, showcasing Naga tribal war dances, crafts, and morungs.
- • Onam (Kerala): 10-day harvest festival commemorating the mythical golden reign of Asura King Mahabali. Features Vallam Kali (Snake Boat Race on Pamba river), Pookalam (floral carpets), and Onasadya (grand feast).
- • Chhath Puja (Bihar, Jharkhand, UP): Ancient Vedic 4-day solar thanksgiving ritual dedicated to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya, observed by standing in water bodies at sunrise and sunset.
| Fair / Festival | Primary State / Region | Dedicated Deity / Nature | Key Cultural Attraction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kumbh Mela | Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik | Amrit Kumbha (Sacred Rivers) | Shahi Snan (Royal Dip of Akharas) |
| Pushkar Fair | Pushkar (Rajasthan) | Lord Brahma / Livestock | Camel trade, folk music, Kartik Purnima |
| Ambubachi Mela | Guwahati (Assam) | Devi Kamakhya (Tantric) | Symbolic fertility rite of Mother Earth |
| Hornbill Festival | Kisama (Nagaland) | 17 Naga Tribes Unity | Naga warrior dances, indigenous games |
| Onam | Kerala | King Mahabali return | Vallam Kali snake boat race, Pookkalam |
| Hemis Festival | Ladakh | Guru Padmasambhava | Cham masked dances at Hemis Monastery |
Showing 15 Practice Questions
Q1SSC CGL 2023Easy
The world-famous 'Hornbill Festival', celebrated annually to promote tribal inter-cultural harmony, takes place in which state?
Q2JKSSB FAA 2022Easy
The Kumbh Mela, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, is NOT celebrated at which of the following locations?
Q3UPSC CSE PrelimsMedium
The annual Ambubachi Mela, associated with the fertility rite of Devi Kamakhya, is held at which historic temple?
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Q4SSC CHSL 2022Easy
The famous Pushkar Fair of Rajasthan, held on Kartik Purnima, is globally renowned for trading which animals?
Q5JKSSB VLW 2023Easy
Vallam Kali, the world-famous Snake Boat Race featuring long canoes called Chundan Vallams, is a hallmark spectacle of which harvest festival?
Q6SSC CGL Tier-1Easy
Chhath Puja, an ancient Vedic solar festival dedicated to Surya and Usha, is most prominently celebrated in:
Q7CDS 2022Medium
The harvest festival 'Pongal' in Tamil Nadu is celebrated across four days. What is the dedicated name of the third day honoring farm livestock?
Q8JKPSC KAS PrelimsMedium
The Hemis Festival in Ladakh, featuring the sacred masked Cham dances, commemorates the birth anniversary of:
Q9JKSSB Sub-InspectorEasy
The Losar festival, marked with ancient rituals, illumination, and prayer, represents the New Year of which community?
Q10Current Affairs & GK 2022Easy
Which mega festival celebrated in West Bengal was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2021?
Q11JKSSB Patwari 2024Easy
Baisakhi marks the founding of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in which historical year?
Q12SSC CHSLEasy
The International Kite Festival (Uttarayan) is organized every January with worldwide participation in which city?
Q13SSC CGLEasy
The Sonepur Cattle Fair, renowned as Asia's largest livestock fair, is held at the confluence of the Ganga and Gandak rivers in:
Q14UPSC CSEMedium
The Chapchar Kut festival is an important spring agrarian festival celebrated by which tribal community?
Q15JKSSB Junior AssistantMedium
Which community celebrates the harvest thanksgiving festival 'Nuakhai' on the day after Ganesh Chaturthi?
Frequently Asked Questions (Fairs And Festivals Of India)
Q: At which four holy locations is the Kumbh Mela rotated every 12 years?
The Kumbh Mela is held sequentially every three years at four sacred river banks: (1) Prayagraj (at the Triveni Sangam of Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati in UP), (2) Haridwar (Ganga in Uttarakhand), (3) Ujjain (Shipra River in MP), and (4) Nashik (Godavari River in Maharashtra).
Q: Where is the Hornbill Festival organized and what is its significance?
The Hornbill Festival is held from December 1 to 10 every year at the Kisama Naga Heritage Village near Kohima, Nagaland. Named after the revered Indian Hornbill bird, it unites all 17 recognized Naga tribes to preserve and showcase indigenous folklore, warrior traditions, and gastronomy.
Q: What is the biological / symbolic meaning behind the Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya Temple?
The Ambubachi Mela celebrates the annual menstrual cycle of Mother Earth (Mother Kamakhya) during the monsoon month of Aashadha. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple remains closed for three days and reopens on the fourth day for pilgrim blessings.
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