Fairs & Festivals — Set 1

Correct Answer: B. Nagaland

• **Hornbill Festival** = The Hornbill Festival, also known as the 'Festival of Festivals', is celebrated in Nagaland. • **First week of December** — This is when it annually takes place at Kisama Heritage Village, encouraging inter-tribal interaction. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Manipur: Celebrates the Sangai Festival; Mizoram: Is known for the Chapchar Kut festival; Arunachal Pradesh: Is known for festivals like Losar and Ziro Music Festival.

Correct Answer: B. Pushkar Fair

• **Pushkar Fair** = The Pushkar Fair is a traditional trade event held in Rajasthan, famous for being the world's largest cattle fair. • **Kartika** — This Hindu lunar month is when the fair coincides, attracting pilgrims to the holy Pushkar Lake. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Sonepur Mela: It is one of Asia's largest animal fairs, but held in Bihar; Kumbh Mela: A major Hindu pilgrimage, not primarily a cattle fair; Surajkund Mela: An international crafts fair held in Haryana.

Correct Answer: A. Guru Padmasambhava

• **Guru Padmasambhava** = Hemis Festival is celebrated in Ladakh to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. • **'Cham'** — This masked dance, performed by monks, is the main attraction of the festival at Hemis Monastery. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Dalai Lama: A revered spiritual leader, but the festival specifically honors Guru Padmasambhava; Adi Shankara: A renowned philosopher of Hinduism, not associated with the Hemis Festival; Gautama Buddha: The founder of Buddhism, but the festival specifically commemorates Padmasambhava's birth.

Correct Answer: D. Cuttack

• **Bali Yatra** = The famous 'Bali Yatra' is organized in Cuttack to commemorate the ancient maritime history of Odisha. • **Mahanadi river** — The fair is held on the banks of this river, celebrating the day ancient sailors set sail for distant lands. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Bhubaneswar: The capital of Odisha, but Bali Yatra is specifically held in Cuttack; Puri: Famous for the Jagannath Temple, not the primary venue for Bali Yatra; Konark: Known for its Sun Temple, not the primary venue for Bali Yatra.

Correct Answer: C. Sikkim

• **Losoong** = The festival of 'Losoong', the Tibetan New Year, is primarily celebrated in the Indian state of Sikkim. • **December** — This is usually the month it falls in, according to the lunar calendar, marking the end of the harvest season for Bhutia and Lepcha tribes. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Assam: Known for the Bihu festival; Uttarakhand: Known for festivals like Ganga Dussehra or Kumbh Mela (Haridwar); Himachal Pradesh: Known for festivals like Kullu Dussehra or Pori festival.

Correct Answer: D. Onam

• **Onam** = Onam is a harvest festival in Kerala characterized by the famous Snake Boat Race known as 'Vallam Kali'. • **Ten-day event** — Onam is observed during the month of Chingam in the Malayalam calendar and includes traditions like Pookalam or floral carpets. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Attukal Pongala: A major women's festival in Kerala, not known for boat races; Thrissur Pooram: A prominent temple festival known for elephant parades; Vishu: The Malayalam New Year, but not associated with Vallam Kali.

Correct Answer: C. Mizoram

• **Chapchar Kut** = The 'Chapchar Kut' festival is the most important traditional spring festival of Mizoram. • **Cheraw dance** — This famous dance, performed with bamboo staves, is the highlight of this celebration after Jhum cultivation tasks. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Tripura: Known for festivals like Kharchi Puja; Meghalaya: Known for the Wangala Festival; Nagaland: Known for the Hornbill Festival.

Correct Answer: D. Kamakhya Temple

• **Ambubachi Mela** = The 'Ambubachi Mela' is an annual Hindu mela held at the famous Kamakhya Temple in Assam. • **Three days** — The temple remains closed for this duration during the festival to honor the Goddess Kamakhya's annual menstruation. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Sukreswar Temple: Another prominent temple in Assam, but not the site of Ambubachi Mela; Navagraha Temple: A temple dedicated to celestial bodies in Assam, not the site of Ambubachi Mela; Umananda Temple: A Shiva temple in Assam, not the site of Ambubachi Mela.

Correct Answer: B. Jaisalmer

• **Desert Festival** = The 'Desert Festival', showcasing Rajasthani folk culture, is held annually in Jaisalmer. • **Three days** — The event, held in the Hindu month of Magh (February), features camel races and folk music against the backdrop of Sam Sand Dunes. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Udaipur: Known as the 'City of Lakes', a different cultural hub; Bikaner: Known for its Camel Festival, distinct from the main Desert Festival; Jodhpur: Known as the 'Blue City', also a different cultural hub.

Correct Answer: D. Bathukamma

• **Bathukamma** = Bathukamma is a floral festival of Telangana that involves the worship of Goddess Gauri and is celebrated mostly by women. • **Seasonal flowers** — Women arrange these in beautiful circular layers, representing the cultural spirit of Telangana. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Bonalu: Another important Telangana festival where Mahakali is worshipped; Ugadi: The New Year festival in Telugu states, not specifically a floral festival for Gauri; Medaram Jathara: A tribal festival honoring goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma, celebrated biennially.