UPSC Prelims 2020 Important Topics: Festival and States

UPSC Prelims 2020 Important Topics: Festival and States: India is a land of diversification. Every state has its unique art, culture, and tradition. The one thing that is common for all states is the celebration of individual culture and tradition.

Indians celebrate their beliefs, culture, and tradition in the form of festivals. Every festival has its own specific characteristics. Festivals in India are celebrated season-wise and state-wise.

The main reason for the celebration of these festivals is to spread happiness and strengthen the bond between friends and family. Many festivals are local and held at different dates each year. Few are set according to the lunar calendar. The relevance of festivals in India is to honor a deity at a particular temple, celebrate the agriculture cycle or a religious story or event.

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This is an important topic for UPSC Prelims and other government exams 2020-21

UPSC Prelims 2020 Important Topics

List of Indian Festivals

The list of the Indian festivals mentioned below is stated in the following order:

  1. State-specific
  2. Season-specific

The state-specific Indian festivals are listed below:

StateList of Indian Festivals
Andhra PradeshBhishma Ekadasi, Deccan Festival, Pitr, Brahmotsavam
Arunachal PradeshPongtu, Losar
AssamBhogali Bihu
BiharChhath Puja
ChhattisgarhMaghi Purnima, Bastar
GoaCarnival, Sunburn festival
GujaratNavratri, Janmashtami, Kutch Utsav
Himachal PradeshRakhadumni, Gochi Festival
HaryanaBaisakhi, Surajkund Mela
Jammu and KashmirHar Navami, Chhari, Bahu Mela
JharkhandKaram Utsav, Holi
KarnatakaMysore Dasara, Ugadi
KeralaOnam, Vishu
Madhya PradeshLokrang utsav, Diwali
MeghalayaNongkrem festival, Khasis festival
MaharashtraGanesh Utsav, Gudi Padva
ManipurYaoshang
MizoramChapcharkut Festival
NagalandHornbill festival
OdishaRath Yatra, Raja Parba
PunjabLohri, Baisakhi
RajasthanGangaur, Teej
SikkimLosar, Saga Dawa
Tamil NaduPongal
TelanganaBonalu, Bathukamma
TripuraKharchi Puja
West BengalDurga Puja
UttaranchalGanga Dussehra, Kumbh Mela
Uttar PradeshRam Navmi, Ganga Mahotsav, Navaratri

List of (Season-specific) Harvest Festivals in India

North India

FestivalMonth
Makar SankrantiJanuary
BaisakhiApril
Ladakh harvest festivalSeptember
LohriJanuary
Basant PanchamiJanuary

South India

FestivalMonth
OnamAugust
PongalJanuary
UgadiMarch
VishuApril

East & West India

FestivalMonth
Bhogali BihuJanuary
WangalaNovember
Ka Pomblang NongkremNovember
NuakhaiAugust
Gudi PadwaMarch
NabannaNovember-December

Interesting Facts about Festivals in India:

  • Tihar is one of the festivals of India that is dedicated to certain animals and things. They are classified as day of dog, day of crow, day of cows, etc.
  • Gotmar festival in Pandhurna is one of the festivals where two large villages perform an act of rivalry against one another by hurling rocks for 24 hours.
  • Gajan festival is one such festival where devotees offer sacrifices and perform acts of devotion such as running over hot coals, lying on beds of nails, stepping over children, offering human remains and piercing themselves to win blessings from Hindu gods such as Lord Shiva.
  • Snake Boat Races are held in Kerala and several dozens of men race on a boat in Kerala’s waterways and canals.

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