Festivals

East

100

This is a signature element of Durga Puja in West Bengal and is also on the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Massive artistic structures called pandals housing idols of the Goddess Durga

200

Chhath Puja predominantly celebrated in Jharkhand, Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of 

Surya ( the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya

300

Which state organises the famous Rann Utsav every year?

Gujarat

400

Often called the Festival Of Festivals, the Hornbill Festival is a 10 day cultural celebration held every year in this state

Nagaland

500

The Hemis festival in Ladakh commemorates the birth anniversary of this revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism

Guru Padmasambhava(Guru Rimpoche)

South India

100

A traditional boat race is a major highlight of this festival in Kerala

Onam

200

This harvest festival known as Pongal is celebrated in this Indian state

Tamil Nadu

300

What is celebrated as the New Year in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telengana?

Ugadi 

400

Which South Indian festival commemorates the legendary homecoming of the Asura king Mahabali?

Onam

500

Ugadi pachadi is a special dish made on Ugadi that combines six different tastes.What do these tastes symbolise?

the spectrum of human emotions and experiences ( joy, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise)

• Sweet (Madhura) – Jaggery (bella / bellam): Represents happiness, joy, and success.
• Bitter (Tikta) – Neem flowers (vepapootha): Represents sadness, sorrow, and difficult life challenges.
• Sour (Amla) – Tamarind juice: Represents unpleasant experiences or difficult moments.
• Salty (Lavaṇa) – Salt: Represents fear, anxiety, or the essential, grounding realities of life.
• Spicy / Pungent (Katu) – Green chili or black pepper: Represents anger, passion, or emotional intensity.
• Astringent / Tangy (Kaṣāya) – Raw green mango pieces: Represents surprise, anticipation, or unexpected twists and turn

North

100

The festival of Diwali is celebrated primarily to commemorate this major event

The return of Lord Rama,Sita and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile

200

In the towns of Barsana and Nandgaon near Mathura , Holi is uniquely celebrated as Lathmar Holi where ....

Women playfully beat men with sticks while men protect themselves with shields

300

In which month is the harvest festival of Lohri celebrated in Punjab and North India?

January

400

Which festival marks the Sikh New Year and the formation of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699?

Baisakhi

500

In Lucknow and other North Indian cities , what are tazias that form a central visual feature of a major Islamic festival

 Tazias are miniature artistic replicas of the mausoleum of Imam Hussain in Karbala carried in public processions during Muharram

West

100

During Makar Sankranti in Gujarat,the skyline in Ahmedabad is famously filled with...

Colourful kites of all shapes ans sizes

200

Which freedom fighter and social reformer popularised public celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra to foster nationalist sentiment and unity during British rule?

Bal Gangadhar Tilak ( Lokmanya Tilak)

300

Parsi New Year is celebrated with great enthusiasm in parts of Western India under what name?

Navroz

400

What is the name of the traditional carnival celebrated in the state of Goa just before the season of Lent?

Goa carnival

500

Which festival marks the New Year for the Sindhi community and honors Jhulelal

Cheti Chand

World

100

La Tomatina, a massive tomato throwing festival is held in which country?

Spain

200

The Mid Autumn festival in China traditionally features the sharing of which special food

Moon cakes

300

Which festival celebrated in the USA traditionally features a  turkey dinner ?

Thanksgiving

400

The Day of the Dead ( Dia de los Muertos) a tradition of remembering deceased loved ones is most celebrated in which country

Mexico

500

Which festival in Japan involves viewing and celebrating cherry blossoms

Hanami