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.