Festivals: Festivals in UPSC answers

Nuakhai (nua = new, khai = eating) is the harvest festival of western Odisha, especially the Sambalpur–Bolangir–Kalahandi belt, and of adjoining parts of Chhattisgarh. It is held on the day after Ganesh Chaturthi (Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami). The first grain of the new paddy (nabanna) is offered to the presiding deity, at Sambalpur to Goddess Samaleswari, and only then eaten by the family, followed by the 'Nuakhai Juhar' greeting to elders.

Hola Mohalla was begun by Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib (Punjab) around 1701 to turn the colours of Holi into a festival of valour: Sikhs gathered for mock battles, poetry and martial drill. It is held on the day after Holi (the first of Chet in the Nanakshahi reckoning) and lasts about three days. The Nihang Singhs lead processions and display horse- riding, tent-pegging and the martial art gatka.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak promoted the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav from 1893, using public pandals, processions, lectures and songs to bring people of all castes together at a time when political meetings were restricted. He followed it with the Shivaji festival (from 1895–96). Ganesh Chaturthi itself falls on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi and ends with immersion on Anant Chaturdashi.

Paryushana is the chief annual Jain festival of fasting and forgiveness. Losar is the Tibetan Buddhist new year, kept in Ladakh, Sikkim and Tawang (where the Monpas observe it). The Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, founder of the Chishti order in India, is held at his dargah in Ajmer on his death anniversary in the Islamic month of Rajab. Bhagoria, however, is the spring haat-festival of the Bhils and Bhilalas of western Madhya Pradesh (Jhabua, Alirajpur) before Holi, not of the Santhals.

The Nanda Devi Raj Jat of Uttarakhand escorts the goddess Nanda, the 'daughter' of Garhwal and Kumaon, back to her husband Shiva's home in the high Himalaya. It is held about once in twelve years, starting from Nauti village near Karnaprayag and climbing about 280 km to Homkund, past Roopkund. A four-horned ram, born in the region and seen as the goddess's messenger, leads the procession and is set free beyond Homkund with the offerings. The last Raj Jat was held in 2014.

Bandi Chhor Divas ('day of liberation of prisoners') recalls the release of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind, from detention in Gwalior Fort under Jahangir. Sikh tradition holds that he agreed to leave only if 52 imprisoned Rajput chiefs were freed with him, and they walked out holding the tassels of his robe. His return to Amritsar coincided with Diwali, so the Harmandir Sahib is lit up on that night.

Chhath, celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh and the Nepal Terai, worships Surya and Chhathi Maiya through offerings at rivers and ponds, without the need for an idol. Its four days are Nahay-Khay, Kharna, the evening arghya to the setting Sun and the dawn arghya to the rising Sun, after a long fast. The main festival falls on Kartika Shukla Shashthi, but a second observance, Chaiti Chhath, is held in Chaitra, so statement 3 is wrong.

Mizo festivals follow the jhum (shifting cultivation) year. Chapchar Kut in spring (March) follows the clearing of bamboo for jhum. Mim Kut, after the maize harvest in August– September, is dedicated to the dead: the first maize, vegetables and other food are kept aside for departed relatives. Pawl Kut, in December–January, is the thanksgiving after the paddy harvest, with community feasting. Thalfavang Kut is a smaller festival after the weeding of the jhum fields.

Pairs 1 and 2 are correct (b). Chapchar Kut (1) is Mizoram's spring festival, held in March after the bamboo forests are cleared for jhum (shifting) cultivation, with the Cheraw bamboo dance. Khongjom Parba (2) is a Manipuri ballad about the Battle of Khongjom in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, sung to the dholak. Pair 3 is wrong because Thang-Ta, the art of sword (thang) and spear (ta), is a Manipuri martial art. It is not from Sikkim.

Khongjom Day is marked on 23 April. Notice other northeastern traditions often asked: Hornbill Festival (Nagaland), Sangai Festival (Manipur), Losar (Sikkim/Arunachal), and the Manipuri dance Ras Lila.

Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.

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Only pair 1 is correct (a). Chaliha Sahib is a 40-day fast and prayer by Sindhis to Jhulelal, their patron saint, held each July–August (1). Pair 2 is wrong because the Nanda Devi Raj Jat is a pilgrimage held about every 12 years in the Garhwal–Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand. It escorts Goddess Nanda to Homkund and has no connection with the Gonds of central India. Pair 3 is wrong because the Wari is the Warkari foot-pilgrimage to Vitthala (Vithoba) at Pandharpur, Maharashtra, carrying the palkhis of saints Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram. It has nothing to do with the Santhals.

Notice the Santhal festivals to keep apart: Sohrai and Karam. The Santhal rebellion was the Hul of 1855.

Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.

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