Diwali
Diwali's first day is widely celebrated in honor of this goddess, who represents wealth and prosperity
Who is Lakshmi?
This colorful holiday has been interpreted as both a celebration of the love between Radha and Krishna, as well as the victory of Vishnu over a demon
What is Holi?
This region, translated as "The Land of Five Rivers", is known for its fertile farmland and produces about 1/5 of India's wheat
What is Punjab?
Often called the New York of India, this capital of Maharashtra is also the hub of the Hindi film industry
This Aryan language is known as the mother tongue of all languages on the subcontinent, and the holy language of the Hindu faith
What is Sanskrit?
Another celebration of Diwali is for this warrior-god's return from exile
Who is Rama?
In Gujarat, Navaratri is celebrated through this major dance festival
What is garba?
The holy sites of Varanasi, Haridwar, and Rishikesh are along the banks of this major river
What is the Ganges (Ganga)?
This city, until June 2, was the capital of two states due to a bifurcation, and has always been known as a historical center for the Nizams
What is Hyderabad?
This Dravidian language is the most-spoken one abroad, and is also known for their prolific film industry, with actors such as Allu Arjun
What is Telugu?
SAA Daily Double:
Varun Suraj and Chris Ruiz
This New Year's celebration in South India typically falls around March or April
This largest city on the Deccan Plateau is known for IT and is the home of many multinational tech companies
What is Bangalore (Bengaluru)?
This Eastern state capital is known, among many other things, for its bustling Chinatown, literary prowess, and delectable sweets
What is Kolkata?
This Dravidian language is the second-oldest on the subcontinent, and its speakers are known for their elaborately designed temples
Diwali, in this faith, is celebrated as the release of Guru Hargobind, and is known as Bandi Chhor Divas
What is Sikhism?
The festival celebrating this has many names, such as Lohri, Onam, and Thai Pongal
What is the harvest?
This state, known for its unique architecture, is located almost entirely within the Thar Desert
What is Rajasthan?
Lucknow is the capital of this state, both the most populous in India and the most populous country subdivision in the world
What is Uttar Pradesh?
SAA DAILY DOUBLE:
Amar Boparai and Hana Rehman
While Diwali is not a major holiday for Buddhists, some choose to celebrate when this Mauryan emperor chose to convert to their faith
Who was Ashoka?
In this iconic city, the end of Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, is celebrated with a parade containing elephants and an idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari
What is Mysore?
This southwestern state along the Malabar Coast is known for good food, high life quality and a large Christian population
What is Kerala?
This city, known for rolling coastal hills, is the southernmost state capital in the country
What is Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)?
This Aryan language was once known for its similarly-named empire, with its prime ministers being known as Peshwas
What is Marathi?