Question Discussion & Solution

• Lohri, the bonfire harvest festival of Punjab celebrated in the month of Magh, is symbolic of new beginnings.
• The festival is celebrated every year on January 13 with much enthusiasm and zeal.
• It is primarily the harvest festival of the Punjabis.
• This festival denotes the harvesting of the Rabi crops and hence all the farmers get together in order to thank god for giving them such a wonderful harvest.
• The rituals related to Lohri symbolize the attachment of the people with Mother Nature.

The correct answer is Onam.

Key Points

• Onam:
  • It is a harvest festival of Kerala.
  • It was celebrated to commemorate the arrival of King Mahabali.
  • The festival lasts for ten days.
  • It is celebrated every year in August-September.
  • Boat Race is conducted during this festival in Kerala.
• Pongal:
  • Pongal is a four-day-long harvest festival celebrated mostly in the states of South India, especially in Tamil Nadu.
  • The harvest festival is named after the Tamil word, Ponga, which means to boil.
  • The first day of Pongal is called Bogi and is celebrated in honor of Lord Indra.
  • The second day of Pongal is known as Surya Pongal and is dedicated to the Sun God.
  • The third day of Pongal is called Mattu Pongal and is celebrated in the name of cows.
  • The fourth and final day of Pongal is called Kaanum Pongal, which marks the end of the harvest festival for the year.
  • It is celebrated in the month of January every year.
• Bihu:
  • It is a harvest festival that is celebrated to mark the shift in the Sun's solstice.
  • It is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in the state of Assam.
  • It is celebrated three times a year. 
  • Rongali or Bohag Bihu is observed in April, Kongali or Kati Bihu observed in October, and Bhogali or Magh Bihu observed in January.
• Navratri:
  • It is celebrated as Durga Puja in various parts of Northeast India.
  • It is celebrated among the Hindus as a symbol of victory of goddess Durga for defeating Mahishasura.
  • The nine-day Durga festival, or Navratri is celebrated in September or October. 

The correct answer is (A)-(4), (B)-(3), (C)-(1), (D)-(2).

Key Points

• Onam:
  • It is a harvest festival of Kerala.
  • It is celebrated to commemorate the arrival of King Mahabali.
  • The festival lasts for ten days.
  • It is also a harvest festival and falls on the 22nd Nakshatra Thiruvonam in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingam, which in the Gregorian calendar overlaps with August–September.
• Hornbill:
  • ​Hornbill festival is the premier festival of Nagaland held every year in the first week of December.
  • The festival is named after the hornbill, the globally respected bird and which is displayed in folklore in most of the state’s tribes.
  • This festival usually takes place in Kohima.
  • The Festival's highlights include the Traditional Naga Morungs Exhibition and sale of Arts and crafts, flower shows, cultural medley etc.
• Losar:
  • ​Losar is a festival in Tibetan Buddhism.
  • The holiday is celebrated on various dates depending on location (Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, India) tradition.
  • It marks the Tibetan New year that resonated with the large Tibetan and Buddhist communities that inhabit the region.
  • In India, it is celebrated in places like Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh.
• Ugadi:
  • ​Ugadi also referred to as Yugadi is a major festival that is celebrated in the southern states of Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
  • As per the Hindu calendar, it is celebrated as the beginning of a new year.
  • Famous festivals of Karnataka are Kanakadasa Jayanti and Karaga.

The correct answer is Gujarat.

Key Points

• Garba:
  • It is a popular folk dance of Gujarat.
  • It is performed throughout nine nights of Navaratri.
  • It is performed by the womenfolk of Gujarat. 
  • Garba danced around the symbol to honour the fact that all humans have the Divine energy of Devi within them.

Additional Information

• Some other common folk Dances are - 

The correct answer is Tamil Nadu.

In News

• Karuppur Kalamkari Paintings and Kallakurichi Wood Carvings from Tamil Nadu get the GI tags. Hence, option 2 is correct.

Key Points

• Kallakuruchi wood carvings are done using pens, palm stems, date trees, brushes made of bamboo sticks and coconut tree stems.
• This certificate was issued by the Geographical Indications Registry on the basis of an application filed by Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation (Poompuhar).
• These carvings are done for designs and ornaments. These are indigenous to the Madurai region.