festival

KUMBHA MELA-----ONCE IN EVERY 12 YRS IN PRAYAG, HARIWAR,UJJAIN,NASIK


KHORDAD SAL IS THE FESTIVAL OF BUDDHISTS



TAMIL NADU----PONGAL
WEST BENGAL----DOL PURNIMA
KERALA-----ONAM
ASSAM----BHAGELI BIHU


RAJASTAN


‘Vastra 2012’ starts in Jaipur
• The first International textile and Apparel Fair ‘Vastra 2012’ begun from 22nd November in Jaipur.
• The fair is being jointly organized by Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation
(RIICO) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
• Around 170 exhibitors from 60 different countries are participating. It provides a platform for market
access, exposure to latest technologies, trends, fashions and possibilities of new investment in the sector.



Pushkar fair starts in Rajasthan
• 8 day long Pushkar fair began in Rajasthan on 21st November.
• The Pushkar fair takes place in the month of kartik, beginning on the 8th day of lunar calendar and
continues till full moon. Rajasthani dance, camel race, camel dance and Mandna competition would be the
main attractions of pushkar fair.

India-Raas Yatra begins
• The holy Raas Yatra of Lord Madan Mohan was held at the historic Madan Mohan temple in Cooch Behar, in West Bengal. This year marks the 200 year of the festival that was initiated in 1812 by Maharaja Harendra Narayan.
• The Raas Chakra is a symbol of religious harmony as it is made by a Muslim family as their hereditary
duty. It is ornamented with pictures of Hindu God and Goddesses, the Buddhist Dharma Chakra and Tazia
of Muharram.

MANIPUR


Manipur Sangai Festival 2012 begins
• It is a Tourism Festival, renamed as the Manipur Sangai Festival since the 2010
edition, to showcase the uniqueness of the Brow-Antlered Deer popularly known
as the Sangai Deer and to further promote Manipur as a world class tourism
destination.
• Sangai Deer is found only in Manipur at the floating Keibul Lamjao National Park in Loktak Lake.
• The 10 day festival was started on 21st November at Impal. The Festival strives to showcase and promote
the best of what the state has to offer to the world in terms of art and culture, handloom and handicrafts,
fine arts, indigenous sports, cuisines and music, adventure sports as well as the scenic natural beauty.







Asia’s biggest cattle fair begins
• Sonepur mela or Harihar Kshetra Mela, Asia’s biggest cattle fair recently held at Sonepur in Saran district.
• The fair has its origins in ancient times when Emperor Chandragupta Maurya used to buy elephants and horses from across the Ganga.





madhya pradesh

Bhagoria Fest is a festival celebrated by the tribal people in  Madhya Pradesh (Originally Known as 'Malwa'). Also known as Bhagoria Haat Festival, young boys and girls are allowed to elope after choosing their partners. The Bhagoria Haat Festival belongs to  Bhils and Bhilalas. organized in the form of a 'swayamvar' or a marriage market . has an agricultural significance  to mark the completion of harvesting.










goa


Shigmotsav to begin in Goa from Mar 7, 2012
 ‘‘Shigmo’: a festival of colours in Goa corresponding to ‘Holi’ in the rest of India.
Shigamo to be celebrated in Goa from March 7 to 11, 2012.
People, especially the peasants celebrate this festival with great fervor. The celebrations are a way
of saying goodbye to the winter season and welcoming the spring season.



Leh celebrates Sindu Festival
A 3-day annual Sindhu Festival starts on the bank of Indus River in Leh district of Jammu and
Kashmir
Sindhu Festival:
 A 3-day festival starts on the full moon day (Guru Poornima) in the month of June
 The festival endorses the Indus River (Sindhu River) as an idol of the communal harmony
and unity of India. The festival is also a symbolic salutation to the brave soldiers of the country, who endanger
their life to safeguard the nation.
 Sindhu Darshan Festival was celebrated 1st time in the year 1997
People from different parts of the country participate in Sindhu Darshan Festival. They follow a unique ritual of
bringing water from the river of their own state in earthen pots and immerse these pots in the Sindhu River.
Consequently, the waters of all rivers get mixed together, thereby representing the multi-dimensional cultural
identity of the country







Assam celebrates ‘Rongali Bihu’
The people of Assam celebrated “Rongali Bihu” to welcome the Assamese New Year 1419.
What is Rongali Bihu?
 Rongali Bihu (mid-April, also called Bohag Bihu), is a festival of Assam celebrated to mark the onset
of the Assamese New Year (around April 15) and the coming of Spring.
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
 The festival is also known as the ‘Bohaag Bihu’ as it marks the beginning of the Assamese month-Bohaag.
Bihu is also used to imply Bihu dance and Bihu folk songs.
 The folk songs associated with the Bohag Bihu are called Bihugeets or Bihu songs.
 Rongali Bihu festival continues for seven days.
 Rongali Bihu is also a fertility festival, where by the bihu dance the young women call out to celebrate their
fertility. In this aspect, the bihu dance can also be called a mating ritual by the young men and women.







Nepal ushers in the New Year
In Nepal, the New year 2069 is being celebrated with the beginning of the Nepali month of Baisakh.
New Year: It is known as “Navavarsha” in Nepal. Nepal has its official calendar that begins from the
first day of the first month Baisakh. This very first day is observed as Nepali New Year which usually
falls in the second week of April.

Loktantra Diwas celebrated in Nepal
6th anniversary of Loktantra Diwas celebrated in Nepal to mark the People’s Movement
of 2006 for reinstatement of the democracy in the country.The day also commemorates
the abdication of throne by King Gyanendra and reinstatement of the dissolved House
of Representatives.





4th phase of Bru (Reang) repatriation will begin from 26th April,
2012: Chidambaram
The Union Home Minister P Chidambaram held that the 4thphase of Bru repatriation will begin
from the April 26, 2012. In this a total of 669 families will be brought back to Mizoram. The Chief
Minister of Mizoram, Mr. Lal Thanhawla held that this will be the last and final phase of Bru
repatriation.
Who are Bru (Reangs) ?
The Bru people (also referred to as Reangs), were inhabitants of Mizoram who were displaced from Mizoram in 1997
on account of ethnic conflicts. Most of the Brus (Reangs) were originally resident of about 100 habitations in Mammit
Sub-Division of Aizawl District. Reang or Riangare are one of the 21 scheduled tribes of the Indian state of Tripura.
More on Bru Community’s (Reangs) Problems and its causes







Nepal celebrates Janai Purnima festival
Nepal celebrated Janai Purnima festival. People celebrate this festival by getting their sacred thread -Janai sanctified
by the Brahmin priests. People from different communities also tie yellow-red threads blessed by priests.
The festival is celebrated in different ways by various communities.

For the Newar Community the day is the beginning of the 9-day festival Gunhu Punhi.
However, for the Terai community, the day is celebrated as Rakshya Bandhan.



‘Ghode Jatra’ festival observed in Nepal on March 22, 2012
On March 22, 2012 in Nepal, the Ghode Jatra , a festival of horses was observed in Kathmandu valley.
The festival marks victory of good over evil and the day is marked by a special programme by the
Nepal army. The festival, Ghode Jatra is observed on the 14th day of Chaita month according to the
Nepali calendar. The festival came into existence as a celebration of the victory over a demon named
Tundi, who resided over the meadow in Kathmandu valley , which is known as Tundikhel at present.











Bodo tribes celebrate ‘Baisagu’ with traditional merriment in Assam
The Bodo tribes (of Assam) celebrated their spring festival ‘Baisagu’ with traditional merriment
and ebullience. Appealing cultural programmes and tribal dances marked the occasion in four
Bodo-dominated districts of Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Baksa and Chirang.
Baisagu for Bodo tribes:
“Rongali Bihu” is celebrated by most of the races that inhabit in Assam in their own colours and
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
names. It is the most popular Bihu that celebrates the onset of the Assamese New Year (around April 15) and the
coming of spring. Parallels of Bihu among the other races and tribes of Assam are Baisagu for Bodo Kacharis, Baikhu for
Rabhas, Ali- Ai -Ligang for Misings, Bohhaggio Bishu for Deoris.







buddist festival

Dalailama performs Kalchakra Puja at Bodhgaya
 Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama performs “Kalchakra puja” for international brotherhood, peace and harmony
at Bodhgaya in Bihar. He says that the path of non-violence, truth and harmony as a far more powerful force than
the activities of any military power that only believes in lust and annihilation.
 He said, the holy light of Buddhism spread across the world from India which is the abode of spiritualism and true
religious harmony.


9 day long Lord Jagannath's Rathyatra commences
9 day Long Rathyatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri, Odisha
Why it is celebrated: To mark the annual visit of the God to his
birthplace
Deities Lord Jagannath, brother Balabhadra and sister
Subhadra taken in their respective chariots
The King of Puri Gajapati Maharaj did the traditional cleanse
of the grand road by a golden broom after the deities were
taken into the chariots
In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Rathyatra of Lord Jagannath began
from the 400-year-old Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area
The Rathyatra is taken out at 110 places in Gujarat, and the
procession in Ahmedabad has the longest tradition
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi did the symbolic 'road cleaning' ahead of passage of chariots
of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balram and their sister, Subhadra
In Delhi, processions taken out from Jagannath temples at Hauz Khas and Thyagaraja Nagar






Magh Mela starts at Allahabad
 Devotees take holy dip at Prayag Sangam in Allahabad since morning on the occasion of first bathing of magh
month Paush Purnima.
 With the Paush purnima bathing, the famous magh mela of Allahabad also starts.



harvest festival



 Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival, celebrated in different parts of the country with traditional fervour and
enthusiasm.
 The festival is known by various names in different states. It is known as Bhogali Bihu in Assam and West Bengal,
Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and Uttarayan in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
 In Uttar Pradesh, devotees gather at Prayag Sangam in Allahabad to take a holy dip in the river Ganga on the
occasion of Makar Sankranti.
 In Assam, Bhogali Bihu, popularly known as the Magh Bihu was celebrated as part of Makar Sankranti. In Kerala,
the holy shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Sabarimala is celebrates the Makaravilakku festival.
 Lohri celebrated with special significance in Punjab. Farmers celebrate Lohri to get a good yield of wheat crop.





andaman


Carnic Fest inaugurated at Car Nicobar
 CARNIC festival being organized for the first time in Nicobar Islands of the Andaman and Nicobar to promote
tourism in the tribal islands.
 The most beautiful island in the Nicobar region, Car Nicobar was devastated by killer Tsunami in 2004, it has been
largely closed for the tourists and at present, the entry to this island is restricted through tribal passes and strictly
banned for the tourists.
 The Lt Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar islands, Lt Gen Bhopinder Singh announces that the Car Nicobar
islands will be open for the tourists in the near future.





gujarat


Gujarat: 4 Day International Kite Festival Begins
 In Gujarat, the four-day international kite festival begins at river Sabarmati in Ahmedabad.
 Governor Dr. Kamala Beniwal and Chief Minister Narendra Modi kicked off the festivities at a ceremonial
function.
 International Kite festival has put Gujarat on the tourist map of the world.



Jaipur Literature Festival, begins
 Fifth Jaipur Literature Festival begins in Jaipur on 19th January.
 About 250 writers from India and abroadparticipating in the 5-day long Jaipur Literature Festival.
 In a session on ‘Truth of Poetry and Truth of Politics’, Union Minister Mr Kapil Sibbal says that the Government
does not believe in censorship on Internet and that no step has been taken in this regard.
 Writers, critics, film makers and translators from various countries have expressed their views in various sessions
on different literary and social issues.
 Jaipur literature festival is now recognized as an important literary event of Asia-Pacific region.
 The absense of Salman Rashdie was more prominent that this expected presence and attracts media all over
country.
 Author Salman Rushdie cancelled his visit to India for the Jaipur Literature Festival citing threats to his life. In a
statement read out to the press by festival producer Sanjoy K Roy, the Booker Prize winning author stated that
he had been told by intelligence sources in Maharashtra and Rajasthan that paid assassins from the Mumbai
underworld may be on their way to Jaipur to eliminate him. Later Rashdie tweeted that Police intentionally kept
him out.



Arunachal Pradesh



Dree festival in Arunachal Pradesh
Dree Festival: The chief festival of the Apatani community in Arunachal Pradesh
Dree being celebrated in the state with conventional passion
Few rites are performed to worship and appease Gods and Goddesses, who protect the crops, and
ensure well-being
In every village, after observing Dree, 7 days taboo period is strictly observed
During this 7 days period, people are not allowed to work in the field or garden nor they can bring
green vegetables and fire woods as it is supposed that if the adherence of these taboos is violated
the performance at the time of festival may not be successful





assam


Bhogali Bihu festival celebrated in Assam
 Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu is a harvest festival and marks the end of harvesting season.
 The festival celebrates in Assam with traditional pomp and gaiety on 15 January, coinciding with Makara
Sankranti.
 People exchanged greetings, bid adieu to the winter season and welcome the religious month of Magh.



‘Me-Dam-Me-Phi’ festival celebrated across Assam

 ‘Me-Dam-Me-Phi’ festival of the Tai Ahom community has been celebrated across Assam with religious fervour
and traditional gaiety.
 The Tai-Ahoms offer oblations to their departed ancestors and offer sacrifices to Gods in traditional manner on
this day.
 The Tai-Ahoms believe that their worthy ancestors are still living in the Heaven. It is one of the important
festivals observed by the Tai Ahoms from very ancient times.
 The Ahom Kings, who ruled Assam for around six hundred years till 1826, performed this annual ‘ancestor
worship’ initially at Charaideo, the erstwhile capital of the Ahom Kingdom, now at Sibsagar in Upper Assam.



NAGALAND


11th Hornbill Festival in Kohima
• Nagaland hosted the 11th Hornbill Festival, at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama in Kohima, under the
theme Unity.
• Hornbill Festival dubbed as the Festival of Festivals in Nagaland, encourages inter-tribal interaction,
showcasing the entire array of Naga life and culture.


ORISSA


Bali Yatra of Cuttack in Odisha starts
• Chief Minister Navin Patnaik inaugurated the seven- day long festival of the famous Bali Yatra of Cuttack
in Odisha beside the bank of river Mahanadi.
• The Bali Yatra is celebrated to commemorate the voyage by Odiya traders to far off islands like Bali,Sumatra in modern day Indonesia and Sri Lanka, since the era before Christ till around the fifteen century AD.




Festival of Kerala


Makaravilakku festival celebrated in Kerala
 Thousands of pilgrims thronged the famous Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala for the makaravilakku festival.
 Pilgrims flock here every year for darshan of Lord Ayyappa on the most auspicious makarasankranti day.



Onam:
Onam is about the sweet memories of distant past when Mahabali, a celebrated emperor of the Asuras, was supposed to
rule over Kerala. His period is believed as the golden age in the history of the country. When Mahabali (Mavely) ruled,
all men were equal, they were leading a life of happiness and nobody had any calamity-thus goes the song. But the
Devas got annoyed and complained to Lord Vishnu and he reincarnated as Vamana, the dwarf. He approached Mahabali
and begged for three feet of land. Mahabali immediately granted Vamanaâs wish. Suddenly, the dwarf sized Vamana
grew into the skies and with one step covered the earth and with another step the heavens. With no place to keep the
third step, Mahabali offered his head, which was pushed by Vamana into the netherworld or pathalam. But before
sending Mahabali to the netherworld, Lord Vishnu gave Mahabali the boon that he can visit his subjects once in a year.
The day Mahabali visits his subjects is celebrated as Onam. The time for his annual visit was in the first Malayalam
month Chingom (August-September) and this occasion became one of Jubilation throughout the land, reminiscent of the
prosperous times of Mahabali as Onam.
Onam has for last several centuries been a grand national harvest festival in which all sections of the people
participate with extreme Jubilation. The festival is supposed to begin from the lunar asterism Atham which falls
ten days before the asterism Thiruvonam.
The preparations for the celebration begin on the Atham day. The Thiruvonam is the most important day of the
festival. In the front yard of the house Athapoovu (floral decoration) is made for ten days from Atham to a
Thiruvonam.Presents are distributed to the younger members of the family.
Then follows the onam feast of delicious food served on plantain leaves. Members of families, staying far away
from native places make it a point to visit their ancestral homes to celebrate the festival in the company of their
kith and kin. Keralites celebrate onam by organising community feast, cultural programmes, etc. After the feast
there will be sports and games, both indoor and outdoor, in which both men and women of all ages participate.
VISHU
After Onam, Vishu is the most important festival of Kerala, celebrated as the Malayalam New Year day. It is a common
belief that the first thing that one sees on waking up on Vishu day ('Vishukkani') is indicative of the fortune of the
coming year. At the dawn, the Malayali's begin the first day of the Year by waking up in front of Kani (Kani Kanal),
which is bedecked with gold ornaments, white clothes, pots filled up with rice or paddy, bell metal mirror, Konna
flowers, halved jack fruits, halved coconuts and yellow cucumber. Behind the pot a garlanded deity of Lord Krishna is
kept illuminated by two standing oil lamps. The mosy uncanny part is that Iyers will mot see anything, but a Kani and
even children are brought blind folded from their beds to where the Kani is kept.
THIRUVATHIRA
The Thiruvathira festival falls on the asterism Thiruvathira in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-January). The
Ardra Darshan celebrated in Tamil Nadu corresponds to Thiruvathira of Kerala. It is considered to be high auspicious to
worship Siva and the devotees go to the temple before sunrise for 'darshan'. Tradition has it that Thiruvathira festival is
celebrated in commemoration of the death of Kamadeva, the mythological God of love.
Thiruvatira is a women's festival, celebrated widely in Kerala in the Malayalam month of Dhanu. The festival
commemorates the death of Kamadeva, the cupid of Hindu mythology. The aim of the celebration is conjugal harmony
and happiness, with the women adorned in colourful sarees, wearing white, black or red marks, lower down the middle
of their foreheads close to the part where the two eyebrows embrace one another and chewing betel leaves, thus
reddening their mouth and lips. Enjoy festive tours fo Kerala to be a part of the festive celebrations.
Karthigai
Karthigai is possibly the only light festival that is celebrated in Malayali houses. The village temple arranges for a
bonfire of useless materials and every family takes a burning torch made of palm leaves (Chootu) from this fire to the
house. Oil lights are lit in houses and the whole town radiates like a spinning nebula on the face of a black sky, an
awesome sight to behold. The place is ready to hold some of the most famous events in Kerala.
Sabarimala Temple Festival
Sabarimala Temple Festival is held at the Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The most vital
day of this festival is the Makkara Vilakku day. It is believed that on that day a light on a neighbouring hill confirms the
arrival of the deity. Among temple festivals, Thrissur Pooram, held at Thrissur, is the most famous. Dance, merriment,
playing with fireworks - all heightens the momentum of the festival to a great extent. Another significant festival of
Kerala is Vishu festival, which is celebrated in April-May when the rains are about to commence. This festival has
several rituals associated with it such as Thrissur pooram. According to the Malayalam tradition the morning of this day
is considered to be very propitious, as it is believed that prosperity prevails throughout the year if one views good
things at that particular hour. A great feast at home is the high point of celebrating this festival at home. Gifts are also
exchanged.
Bharani – Kodungallur
Bharani festival dedicated to goddess Kali is celebrated at Sree Kurumba Bhagirathi Temple located at Kodungallur,
Trichur district, one of the grandest and ancient temples in Kerala. It is also one of the first temples in Kerala which
removed the restrictions of caste and religion, and permitted devotees belonging to lower strata of the caste hierarchy
entry to the temple premises, when other temples barred their entry round the year. The festival Bharani comes in the
Malayalam month Meenam which corresponds to March-April. Bharani is the second asterism of the lunar month and
that is the most important day of the festival. The festival observed in goddess Bhadrakali's honour is mostly celebrated
by the low-caste Avarnas, to celebrate the goddess's victory over the demon Daarika. A large congregation of
Velichappad (oracles), both men and women come to participate in this peculiar festival.
Guvayooor Ekadeshi
Guruvayoor is a village near Chavakkad, about 35 km from Trichur. There is an important temple located there
dedicated to Krishna - Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple which is held in great reverence and resorted to largely by the
Hindus throughout Malabar, Cochin and Travancore. Those who are ill, especially rheumatic patients make vows to
make offerings in this temple. The festival of Ekadesi is celebrated here in the Malayalam month of 'Vrischikam'.
Besides the devotees, there are those who come to take part in the annual fair. Merchants erect booths in front and
behind the temple and carry on trade in various articles. The celebration with in the temple consists of Pujas and
processions.
Swathi Sangeethotsavam
Swathi Sangeetholsavam, a week long music festival, is held annually from January 6 to 12 at the 'Kuthira Malika' palace
complex at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The Sangeetholsavam is held in tribute to Maharaja Swathi Thirunal,
who ruled the state of Travancore from 1813- 1846 and was a patron of arts and a musician himself. The festival is held
at the front courtyard of the majestic Kuthiramalika palace, built by Swati Thirunal is organised by H.H.Sir Rama Varma
Maharaja of Travancore Trust. The festival features renditions by both Carnatic and Hindustani musicians including
compositions of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma.
Vetta & Arattu:
This festival is celebrated twice in a year, once in Oct.-Nov. and other in March-April. Vetta represents Lord Vishnu
hunting down the demon of evil in the forest. Late afternoon in the next day the Arattu procession begins. Images of
Lord Padmanabha, Lord Krishna and Lord Narasimha are carried to the Arabian Sea at Sangumugham beach
(Thiruvananthapuram), escorted by the members of the Royal Family. At sunset the images are ritually bathed in the
sea. Returning the images in a procession back to the Padmanabhaswamy temple concludes the event. Several cultural
programs including all-night Kathakali are performed during the festival.
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Thrissur Pooram:
Trissur Pooram, Trissur Thrissur Pooram is the most colourful temple festival of Kerala. The festival attracts large
masses of devotees and tourists from all parts of Kerala. Celebrated in the Malayalam month of Medom (April-May)
caparisoned elephant processions from neighbouring Krishna and Devi temples precede to the Vadakunathan Temple.
Saktan Tampuran, the ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Kochi introduced this festival. Though held in the
premises of Vadakkunathan temple, Vadakkunathan is a mere spectator of the event. The best of the elephants will be
displayed with panchavadyam (music by five percussion and wind musical instruments) followed by magnificent
display of fireworks.
Nehru Trophy Boat Race:
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Kerala is the Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race that began in 1952 when the
erstwhile Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, visited Alappuzha. The race is held every year on the second
Saturday of August. Many gigantic snake boats with 100 rowers in each representing different villages take part in the
race. Another Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held in mid-January to promote tourism.