๐ Chapter 09 ยท PYQs ยท Festivals of India
Festivals of India โ Previous Year Questions
UPSC, APPSC, and TGPSC previous year questions on Indian festivals with detailed answers.
The Pongal festival is celebrated in which state?
- A) Kerala
- B) Tamil Nadu
- C) Karnataka
- D) Andhra Pradesh
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Answer: B โ Pongal is the major harvest festival of Tamil Nadu, celebrated in January (Thai month) for four days. It is a thanksgiving to the Sun God (Surya).
Consider the following pairs: (1) Bihu โ Assam (2) Onam โ Kerala (3) Pongal โ Tamil Nadu. Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- A) 1 and 2 only
- B) 2 and 3 only
- C) 1 and 3 only
- D) 1, 2 and 3
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Answer: D โ All three pairs are correctly matched. Bihu is from Assam, Onam from Kerala, and Pongal from Tamil Nadu.
Thrissur Pooram, considered the “Mother of all Poorams,” is held at which temple?
- A) Guruvayur Temple
- B) Vadakkunnathan Temple
- C) Sabarimala Temple
- D) Padmanabhaswamy Temple
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Answer: B โ Thrissur Pooram is held at the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur, Kerala. It is considered the “Mother of all Poorams” and features a spectacular display of decorated elephants and percussion music.
The Kumbh Mela is held at four locations in India. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
- A) Prayagraj
- B) Haridwar
- C) Varanasi
- D) Ujjain
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Answer: C โ The four Kumbh Mela locations are Prayagraj (Allahabad), Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain. Varanasi is not one of the Kumbh Mela locations.
Ugadi is the New Year festival celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The special dish prepared on this day is:
- A) Pongal
- B) Pachadi (Ugadi Pachadi)
- C) Onasadya
- D) Seviyan
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Answer: B โ Ugadi Pachadi is the special dish prepared on Ugadi. It contains six tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, spicy, astringent) symbolising the different experiences of life in the coming year.
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held on which lake?
- A) Vembanad Lake
- B) Punnamada Lake
- C) Ashtamudi Lake
- D) Sasthamkotta Lake
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Answer: B โ The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held on Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kerala, on the second Saturday of August. It features the famous Chundan Vallam (snake boats).
The Wangala festival is associated with which tribe?
- A) Khasi
- B) Garo
- C) Naga
- D) Mizo
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Answer: B โ The Wangala festival (also called the “Hundred Drums Festival”) is the harvest festival of the Garo tribe of Meghalaya. It is a thanksgiving to Saljong, the Sun God of fertility.
Republic Day is celebrated on 26 January because:
- A) India gained independence on this day
- B) The Constitution of India came into force on this day (1950)
- C) The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on this day
- D) The first general elections were held on this day
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Answer: B โ Republic Day is celebrated on 26 January because the Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950. The Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1949 (Constitution Day).
The Pushkar Fair (Pushkar Mela) is held in which state?
- A) Gujarat
- B) Rajasthan
- C) Madhya Pradesh
- D) Haryana
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Answer: B โ The Pushkar Fair is held in Pushkar, Rajasthan during Kartik Purnima. It is the world’s largest camel fair and is also associated with the only Brahma Temple in India.
The Mysore Dasara is the state festival of which state?
- A) Tamil Nadu
- B) Andhra Pradesh
- C) Karnataka
- D) Kerala
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Answer: C โ Mysore Dasara (Vijayadashami) is the state festival of Karnataka. The grand procession (Jamboo Savari) features the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari on a golden howdah atop a decorated elephant.