Published on: August 16, 2024
REVISION FOR KAS PRELIMS – FESTIVALS OF INDIA
REVISION FOR KAS PRELIMS – FESTIVALS OF INDIA
Attukal Pongala
- 10-Day Festival: Celebrated annually at Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Trivandrum, Kerala.
- Dedication: Dedicated to Attukal Bhagavathy, also known as Goddess Kannaki or Bhadrakali.
- Pongala Preparation: Begins with the ritual ‘Aduppuvettu’, where the pongala hearth (fireplace) is lit.
- Ritual Offering: Women prepare sweet payasam and offer it to the Goddess on the 9th day.
- Significance: Known as the Sabarimala for women, recognized by Guinness World Records for the largest annual gathering of women.
- Sacrificial Offering: Includes Kuruthitharpanam during the 10-day festivities.
Sammakka Saralamma Jathara
- Biennial Tribal Festival: Held in Medaram village, Telangana.
- Historical Significance: Commemorates the revolt by Sammakka and Saralamma against Kakatiya rulers.
- Location: Takes place in Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, part of Dandakaranya.
- Rituals: Offerings of gold equivalent to one’s weight; holy bath in Jampanna Vagu; honors tribal warrior Jampanna.
- Cultural Significance: Promotes harmony between people and tribal communities, preserving traditions.
Paruveta Utsavam
- UNESCO Recognition Effort: Aimed at recognizing ‘Paruveta Utsavam’ as an ‘intangible cultural heritage’.
- Festival Duration: Commences on Makarasankranthi at Sri Narasimha Swamy temple in Ahobilam, Andhra Pradesh, lasting 40-45 days.
- Location: Ahobilam, in Nallamala Forest, Eastern Ghats; significant as one of the 108 Divya Desams.
Bali Yatra
- Asia’s Largest Fair: Held on the banks of the Mahanadi River in Cuttack, Odisha during Kartika Purnima.
- Commemoration: Celebrates Odisha’s maritime legacy with Southeast Asia.
- Key Rituals: Includes floating toy boats, honoring maritime traditions, and rituals like ‘Bhalukuni Osha’ and ‘Boita Bandana’.
- Historical Significance: Highlights Odisha’s maritime links with ancient civilizations.
Bihan Mela
- Seed Festival: Celebrated by the Kondh tribe in Odisha’s Nayagarh district, beginning after kharif crop harvesting.
- Event Activities: Farmers exchange seeds, promoting traditional farming methods.
- Cultural Significance: Aims to revive native crops and improve food security and soil quality.
Kharchi Puja
- Ancestral Worship: Centers around worship of Tripuri ancestral deities in Tripura.
- Festival Name: Derived from Tripuri words meaning ‘cleaning sins’.
- Ritual Significance: Observed after the menstruation of Mother Goddess Tripura Sundari.
Unmesha and Utkarsh Festivals
- Organizers: Jointly organized by Sangeet Natak Akademi and Sahitya Akademi.
- Utkarsh: National festival of folk and tribal expressions, focusing on tribal progress.
- Unmesha: India’s largest literature festival representing multiple languages.
- Cultural Institutions: Sangeet Natak Akademi and Sahitya Akademi play pivotal roles in promoting arts and literature.
Aadi Perukku Festival
- Gratitude to Nature: Celebrated in Tamil Nadu to thank nature and the monsoon god for water supply.
- Timing: Celebrated on the 18th day of Aadi month, marking the monsoon season’s beginning.
- Worship: Mother Nature is worshipped as Amman deities.
Nadi Utsav
- Riverine Culture Festival: Organized by the National Mission on Cultural Mapping, held on the banks of River Yamuna.
- Objective: Documents riverine culture, traditions, and water wisdom.
- Inauguration: First held in 2018 in Nashik on the banks of River Godavari.
Kati Bihu
- Agricultural Festival: Celebrated in Assam, marking the transplantation of rice saplings.
- Timing: Observed on the first day of Kati month in the Assamese calendar.
- Rituals: Lighting of Akash Banti or Sky Candle in paddy fields.
Bathukamma Festival
- Flower Festival: Celebrated by women in Telangana and parts of Andhra Pradesh.
- Symbolism: Bathukamma is a flower stack arranged in a temple gopuram shape.
- Cultural Significance: Represents the celebration of womanhood and nature.
Raja Parba
- Odisha Festival: Multi-day celebration dedicated to Basu-Mata, the Earth Goddess.
- Celebration of Womanhood: Agricultural activities are halted, and women celebrate their significance.
- Cultural Traditions: Night yatra and Gotipua dance performances are featured.
Ambubachi Mela
- Fertility Festival: Held at Kamakhya temple in Assam, associated with Tantric Shakti cult.
- Timing: Celebrated during the Assamese month Ahaar, coinciding with monsoon.
- Rituals: Temple remains closed for three days during the Goddess Kamakhya’s annual menstrual cycle.
Ker Puja
- Austerity Ritual: Celebrated 14 days after Kharchi Puja in Tripura.
- Area Demarcation: Specific areas are marked and closed off for the ritual, with no entry or exit allowed during the puja.