Art and Culture of India (Part-2), Static GK!

Andhra Pradesh

● Brahmotsavam– celebrated at Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, for nine days during the months of September – October.

● Bhishma Ekadasi, Deccan Festival, Pitr, Sankranthi, Tyagaraja Festival

Arunachal Pradesh

● Losar Festival– Tibetan New year, Marked with ancient ceremonies that represent the struggle between good and evil

● Chalo Loku, Pongtu

Assam

● Bohag Bihu– The spring festival of Bohaag Bihu or Rongali Bihu ushers in the New Year in the State of Assam, which marks the onset of a new agricultural cycle.

● Magh or Bhogali Bihu

Bihar

● Chhath Puja– Also called Dala Puja devoted to worshiping the sun is traditionally celebrated by the people of Bihar.

Chhattisgarh

● Bastar Dussehra –  The longest Dussehra celebration in the world is celebrated in Bastar and spans over 75 days starting around August and ending in October.

● Maghi Purnima– It is the flagship festival of this state which encompasses the birth anniversary of Guru Ghasidas.

Goa

● Carnival– Three-day non-stop extravaganza of fun, song, music, and dance celebrated just before the 40 days of Lent.

● Shigmo Mela– it is a counterpart of the festival of colors Holi

● Sunburn Festival

Gujarat

● Janmashtami – Birth anniversary of Lord Krishna

●  Diwali – Festival of lights, Festival marks the beginning of the New Year.

● Navaratra, Kutch Rann Utsav

Himachal Pradesh

● Gochi Festival– In this festival the villagers celebrate the birth of male children. Token marriages of children below the age of six are also performed

● Mahashivaratri–  A week-long international Mandi Shivratri Fair and Sobha Yatra are held near the Temple of Bhoothnath (Lord Shiva) every year

● Rakhadumni

Haryana

● Gugga Naumi – Snake-worship. It is observed in the months of August-September.

●  Surajkund Mela, Baishakhi

Jammu and Kashmir

● Eid-ul-Fitr – Marks the end of fasting month of Ramadan.

● Eid-ul-Azha – More prominent for the Qurbani (sacrifice). People sacrifice goats, sheep and some even camels

● Bahu Mela– It is a biannual festival held at the Kali Temple in Bahu Fort. It is celebrated twice a year in the month of March-April and September-October.

● Chhari  (Pilgrimage to Amarnath cave),  Urs,  Har Navami

Jharkhand

● Karam Festival –  It is celebrated 15 days after the Kunwaar-Shukla-Paksha.

● Holi– Festival of colors, celebrated in the months of February/March.

Karnataka

● Ugadi– Celebrated in the second half of March or in early April. It marks the beginning of the new Hindu lunar calendar.

● Mahamastakabhisheka – Held once every 12 years in veneration of Gomateswara Bahubali at Sravanbelagola.

● Mysore Dasara,  Makar Sankramana.

Kerala

● Onam– The festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali. It is celebrated in Chingam (August-September) and lasts for ten days. Vallamkali, the enchanting Snake Boat Race, Folk performances like Kummatti kali and Pulikali add to the zest of celebrations. Nehru Trophy Boat Race is also organized.

● Vishu, Pooram

Madhya Pradesh

● Lokrang festival – Most iconic dance festival of MP which signifies the existing legacy of its dance

● Diwali, Khajuraho Dance Festival

Meghalaya

● Nongkrem Dance Festival–  Five days long religious festival devoted to appeasing the Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a rich bumper harvest and prosperity of the people

● Khasis – Dance festival

Maharashtra

● Ganesh Chaturthi–  Falls in months of August – September. Ganesh images are kept in houses as a divine guest for five to ten days by people. The image is then taken out ceremoniously and immersed in the river, sea or well. It is called Visarjan.

● Nag Panchami, Navratri, Gudi Padva

Manipur

● Yaoshang– It is celebrated for five days. It commences from the full moon day of Phalguna (February/March). The main highlight of the festival is the Thabal Chongba dance.

Mizoram

● ChapcharKut Festival – Marks the clearing and readying of hill slopes for jhum or shifting cultivation.

Nagaland

● Hornbill Festival- It is one of the biggest cultural extravaganzas in the North East & held every year from Dec1-10. It is a festival to protect, revive and promote the richness of the Naga heritage and traditions.

● Sekrenyi – It is celebrated by the Angami Tribe. It is also associated with celebrating the rich culture of the tribes that has lasted for many a moon.

Odisha

● Rath Yatra (Dola Yatra) – It triggers the construction of the Oriya calendar and its consequent presentation to their deity Jagannath who also carries another name of Dola Govinda. Mainly celebrated at Puri.

● Raja Parba – It is the living cultural heritage and agricultural way of life. It is held for three days in June.

● Akshaya Tritiya, Konark Festival

Punjab

● Lohri – It is celebrated on the 13th of January a day before Makar Sankranti. It is dedicated to the Sun god.

● Baisakhi – Marks the time for harvest of Rabi crops. Traditional folk dances Bhangra and Giddha are performed by men and women to the beat of Dhol

● Bandi Chhor Divas, Guru Parab

Rajasthan

● Gangaur Festival – It falls a fortnight after Holi & is celebrated for 18 days in honor of Goddess Parvati mostly by the womenfolk of Rajasthan. It is also the consequent celebration of the harvest.

● Teej, Pushkar Fair, Urs at Ajmer.

Sikkim

● Losar – Celebrated on the dawn of the new Tibetan year

● Saga Dawa – Magnificent carnival famous for masked dances

Tamil Nadu

● Pongal– Four-day-long harvest festival which falls in the month of January-February. Bhogi festival, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal is celebrated. Is is the local Makar Sankranti of this state.

● Thyagaraja Aradhana, Jallikattu, Panguni Uthiram, Puthandu (Tamil New Year)

Telangana 

● Bonalu– The word Bonalu came from “Bhojanalu” which is offered to the goddess during festival time.

● Bathukamma – It involves worship of goddess Gauri and consequent celebrations.

Tripura

● Kharchi Puja – It is the worship of the fourteen gods of Tripura and is celebrated in the month of July-August. It ends up with sacrifices of cattle to the Earth God.

● Tripureshwari Temple Festival.

West Bengal

● Durga Puja– Also referred to as Durgotsava. It is commemorated by worshipping Goddess Durga

Uttaranchal

● Ganga Dusshera– It is a day of devotion and faith celebrated in the month of June.

● Purna Kumbh Mela

Uttar Pradesh

● Navaratri – Celebrated for nine nights during which people worship Goddess Durga and her nine forms to seek her blessings.

● Ram Navmi – Marks the birth anniversary of God Rama and is celebrated with worship of girls and other females of the society

● Brahmostav, Kans ka Mela, Sravana festival, Ram Leela, Ganga Mahotsav

 Ugadi / Chaitra Suddha Padyami

Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka

 Gudi Padva

Maharashtra

 Samvastsar Padvo

Goa

 Naba Barsha

West Bengal

 Puthando

Tamil Nadu

 Vishu

Kerala

Religious Festivals of India

Secular Festivals of India

• Diwali
• Sharad Purnima
• Holi
• Makar Sankranti
• Janmashtami
• Dussehra
• Ram Navami
• Durga Puja
• Ganesh Chaturthi
• Karva Chauth
• Vasant Panchami
• Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath
• Mahashivratri
• Eid- Ul- Fitr
• Id –Ul-Zuha ( Id-Ul-Azha)
• Milad-Un-Nabi
• Muharram
• Shab-I-Barat
• Christmas
• Easter and Good Friday
• Gurpurab
• Guru Purnima
• Mahavir Jayanti
• Paryushna
• Buddha Purnima
• Jamshedi Navroz

• Most of the NEW YEAR AND HARVEST FESTIVALS (except – Thai Pongal)
• Gangaur Festival
• Khajuraho Dance Festival
• Teej
• Sair-e-Gul Faroshan
• ITC Music Festival
• Saptak Music Festival
• Tansen Music Festival
• Thyagaraja Music Festival
• Gharana Music Festival