JIVITPUTRIKA

State

Regional Festival

Significance

Andhra Pradesh

Ugadi

Marks the Telugu New Year and the onset of spring, celebrated with prayers and traditional foods like Ugadi Pachadi.

Arunachal Pradesh

Losar

Tibetan New Year festival celebrated with prayers, dances, and feasting, particularly by the Monpa tribe.

Assam

Bihu

A set of three festivals – Rongali (Bohag), Kongali (Kati), and Bhogali (Magh) – that celebrate the Assamese New Year and harvest.

Bihar

Chhath Puja

A major festival dedicated to Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, marked by fasting and prayers along riverbanks.

Chhattisgarh

Bastar Dussehra

Celebrated in Jagdalpur, it lasts 75 days and honors Maa Danteshwari. Rituals include processions and folk performances.

Goa

Shigmo

Spring festival marked by street processions, music, and the celebration of the victory of good over evil.

Gujarat

Navratri

Nine-night festival dedicated to Goddess Durga, marked by Garba and Dandiya Raas dances.

Haryana

Gugga Naumi

Festival to honor Gugga Pir, believed to protect people from snake bites. 

Himachal Pradesh

Kullu Dussehra

Celebrated in the Kullu Valley, it marks the victory of good over evil.

Jharkhand

Sarhul

Celebrated by the Oraon, Munda, and other tribal communities to honor Mother Nature and the beginning of the harvest season.

Karnataka

Karaga

A traditional festival of Bengaluru, where the Karaga deity is carried by a priest in a night-long procession.

Kerala

Onam

A harvest festival celebrated with boat races, traditional dances, and the Pookalam (flower arrangement) to welcome the spirit of King Mahabali.

Madhya Pradesh

Bhagoria Festival

Tribal festival celebrated by the Bhil and Bhilala tribes before the harvest season,.

Maharashtra

Gudi Padwa

Marks the Marathi New Year and is celebrated with the hoisting of Gudi flags to signify victory and prosperity.

Manipur

Yaoshang

A five-day festival similar to Holi, marked by the Thabal Chongba dance and the lighting of the sacred fire.

Meghalaya

Nongkrem Dance

Celebrated by the Khasi tribe, it is a harvest festival.

Mizoram

Chapchar Kut

A harvest festival celebrated with traditional music and dance by the Mizo people.

Nagaland

Hornbill Festival

A week-long festival.

Odisha

Rath Yatra

The grand procession of Lord Jagannath from the Jagannath Temple in Puri, symbolizing the journey of the deity from the temple to the Gundicha Temple.

Punjab

Lohri

A winter harvest festival.

Rajasthan

Gangaur

Celebrated by women to honor Goddess Parvati, symbolizing marital happiness and prosperity.

Sikkim

Saga Dawa

A Buddhist festival celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha.

Tamil Nadu

Pongal

A major harvest festival celebrated by offering prayers to Sun God and the preparation of the traditional dish Pongal.

Telangana

Bonalu

Dedicated to Goddess Mahakali.

Tripura

Kharchi Puja

A week-long festival dedicated to the 14 deities of Tripura.

Uttar Pradesh

Makar Sankranti

A festival celebrating the sun's entry into Capricorn, marked by bathing in the Ganges and distributing til-gur sweets.

Uttarakhand

Harela

A harvest festival celebrating the new harvest season.

West Bengal

Durga Puja

A celebration of Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q:Consider the following statements in reference to regional festivals of India: 

1. Saga Dawa commemorates the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni.

2. Chapchar Kut is a harvest festival of the Naga people.

Select the incorrect statements using the codes given below:

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: b

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Saga Dawa is considered the most sacred Buddhist festival, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana (passing away) of Buddha Shakyamuni. This day is also known as the ‘Triple Blessed Occasion’.

Statement 2 is incorrect: It is a harvest festival celebrated with traditional music and dance by the Mizo people.