Set 9 | Important Indian Festivals, Fairs and Calendars MCQs 2024

Correct Answer is B.

• The Indian National calendar, sometimes called the Saka calendar, is the official civil calendar in use in India along with the Vikram Samvat calendar.
• The national calendar based on the Saka era, with Chaitra as its first month and a normal year of 365 days was adopted from 22^nd march 1957 along with the Gregorian calendar for the following official purposes :-
• 1) Gazette of India, 2) News broadcast by All India Radio, 3) Calendars issued by the Government of India, 4) Government communications addressed to the members of the public, 5) Dates of the national calendar have a permanent correspondence with dates of the Gregorian calendar, 6) The calendar months follow the signs of the tropical zodiac rather than the sidereal zodiac normally used with the Hindu calendar, 7) In leap years, Chaitra has 31 days and starts on March 21 instead of March 22.

Correct Answer is D.

• Magh Mela is organised at Triveni Sangam, the confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati in Prayagraj during the month of Magh (Jan or Feb).
• This is not only observed in India but also in Indonesia (Bali).
• It is mentioned in Puranas and Mahabharata.
• It is also considered important as it is a part of the river festival which follows the transition of Jupiter into various zodiacs.
• We also find mention of Magh Mela in Tamil literature of Sangam period.

Correct Answer is A.

• Kumbh Mela is the largest fair of the world, attended by various devotees not only from India but also from all over the world.
• It is the largest Hindu pilgrimage where millions of people gather to take a spiritual bath.
• There are predominantly four kinds of Kumbh Melas that are organised. Kumbh Mela is held every three years in rotation at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik.
• Ardh Kumbh Mela is held every 6 years of Purna Kumbh Mela at Haridwar and Prayagraj.
• The Purna Kumbh Mela is organised at Prayagraj every 12 years .
• Lastly, the Maha Kumbh Mela is held every 144 years only at Prayagraj.

Correct Answer is C.

• Rambarat and Kailash Mela is celebrated in Agra.
• Rambarat is held for the celebration of the marriage procession of Lord Ram every year mainly in the city of Agra. It is celebrated in the month of September or October during the celebration of popular Ramlila.
• Kailash Mela is a colourful carnival in Agra. It is celebrated in the honour of Lord Shiva at Kailash (Agra district). It is celebrated in the months of August and September.
• According to popular legend, Lord Shiva himself appeared here in the from of a stone lingam in Kailash.

Correct Answer is A, B, C & D.

• All fairs are celebrated in Uttar Pradesh.
• Rath Mela is organised in the month of Chaitra, in the honour of Lord Rangnath at Vrindavan, Mathura.
• Gau Charan Mela is organised on the eighth day of Kartik month as per Hindi calendar in Braj region of Uttar Pradesh. In this fair, cows are worshipped and it is also known as Gopasthami.
• Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second day of Kartik month in Shukla Paksha. As per Hindu Mythology, it is observes because Yamuna, sister of Yamraj, kept fast for him and prayed for his well-being, good health and prosperity.
• Nauchandi Mela is organised at Meerut to worship Nauchandi Devi and pay homage to saint Syed Salar. It is organised to imbibe the feeling of communal harmony.

Correct Answer is A.

• Bateshwar is an important spiritual and cultural centre, in Agra district on the banks of river Yamuna.
• The fair is organised in the month of October and November. It is organised after the name of the regional deity, Bateshwar Mahadeo. The place has 108 temples dedicated to various deities.
• Devotees congregate here in large numbers to worship Lord Shiva and take dips in Yamuna river. Apart from this, a livestock fair is organised where owners and buyers also conduct business.

Correct Answer is B & C.

• Kartik Purnima and Ram Navami both are celebrated mainly in Uttar Pradesh.
• Kartik Purnima is celebrated in the month of November on the sacred day known as Dev Deepawali.
• On this day, people visit the ghats of Varanasi and light earthen lamps.
• Ram Navami is celebrated all over the country, especially in Ayodhaya. It is celebrated on the occasion of the birth of Lord Rama.

Correct Answer is B.

• Shakumbhari Mela is a Shakti Peeth situated in Jasmour village, Saharanpur district.
• Shakumbhari means the abode of Shakti Goddess SHakumbhari. It has two temples: Devi Shakumbhari temple and Bhura Dev temple.
• Bhura Dev temple is the temple of deity Bhairava, guard of goddess Shakumbhari.
• There is another temple of SHakumbhari Devi, near Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan and one in Karnataka at Badami, Bagalkot district.

Correct Answer is D.

• Lathmar Holi is celebrated with a lot of fervour and excitement in the twin towns of Barsana and Nandgan, also known as the towns of Radha and Krishna respectively located in Mathura district.
• As per Hindu Mythology, it is believed that Lord Krishna along with his friends used to go to Barsana village to spray colour on them.

Correct Answer is A.

• Sulahkul Mahotsav is celebrated in Agra as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity every year.
• This principla of Sulahkul was established by Akbar.