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Fairs and Festivals

(January)
Posted in GA, Static GK On April 29, 2016

Dear Aspirants
Here we are providing you some valuable information on important Fairs and
Festivals of India held in the month of January. It will help you in all banking as well
as Insurance Exams.

1. Float Festival, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

This magnificent Float Festival is celebrated in Madurai (Tamil Nadu) on the night of
the full moon between mid January and mid February every year. The
ornamented icons of the two deities, the God Sundaresa
(incarnation of Shiva) and the goddess Meenakshi (incarnation of
Parvati) with pearl crowns on their heads and riding on a golden bull are taken
out in a splendid procession from the Meenakshi temple. The icons are floated in
the tank on a raft decked with flowers and flickering lamps.
2. Kerala Village Fair, Kovalam, Kerala

It is also known as the Gramam.This ten-day-long celebration of the culture and

traditions of Kerala is known as Gramam, the Kerala Village Fair. The idea behind
this fair is to replicate an entire village or gramam in the traditional style of
Kerala. Tradition, history, culture, art and craft all merge together to
form a spectacle of unhindered joy and festivity! The premises of the traditional
nalukettu (the quadrangular upper class house with a central open courtyard)
become the venue of the festival.
3. Modhera Dance Festival, Gujarat

Sun Temple at Modhera in Mehsana District are the ruins of the 11th
Century temple, situated on the banks of Pushpavati river. Constructed in 1026-27
A.D. during the reign ofKing Bhimdev I of Patan, the temple is dedicated to
Surya or the Sun God. The main highlight of the Modhera dance festival is the
typical Garba performance that depicts the glorious culture of
Gujarat.
4. Nagaur Fair, Rajasthan

The Jodhpur Nagaur Fair is the second biggest fair in India. Nagaur
Fair of Jodhpur, Rajasthan is held every year during the month of Jan-Feb. It is
popularly known as the Cattle fair of Nagaur. This is because the Nagaur Fair is
mainly all about trading of animals. Approximately 70,000 bullocks, camels
and horses are traded every year in this fair.
5. Makar Sankranti, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal
and Andhra Pradesh

Makara Sankranti is celebrated in the month of Magh according to the

Hindu calendar and usually occurs in January. It is a harvest festival and a
celebration of spring on the occasion of the ascent of the sun to the north
(Uttarayana). In Maharashtra, Karnataka as well as parts of Andhra Pradesh,
Makar Sankranti is a day of goodwill and friendship.
6. Lohri, Punjab
Lohri is a festival connected with the solar year. It is a popular Punjabi
festival, celebrated by people from the Punjab region of South Asia. The origins
of Lohri are many and link the festival to Punjab region. Lohri marks
the end of winter on the last day of Paush, and beginning of
Magha (around January 12 and 13), when the sun changes its course. It is
associated with the worship of the sun and fire and is observed by all communities
with different names.
Thanks
Team GradeUp..!!

Dear Aspirants
Here we are providing you some valuable information on important Fairs and
Festivals of India held in the month of January. It will help you in all banking as well
as Insurance Exams.
1. Bihu Festival, Assam

Most famous for its tea gardens and rare Great Indian One-Horned
Rhinocerous, Assam also has three cultural festivals a year, all
known as Bihu, that mark a particular period on the agricultural calendar. The
biggest and most colorful of the three is Bohaag Bihu (also known as Rongali
Bihu). Bohaag/Rongali Bihu (mid April each year), Kaati Bihu (mid October each
year), and Maagh/Bhogali Bihu (mid January each year).
2. Brahmaputra Beach Festival, Assam

The festival is a unique festival, the Brahmaputra Beach Festival, which is held
every year in the month of January. Coinciding with the harvest festival of
Assam (Magh Bihu), the festival is held on the sandy beaches of the vast
Brahmaputra River.This two day event combines culture and adventure sports,
including traditional Bihu dances, food, crafts, cultural exhibition,
paragliding, boat cruises, canoeing, rafting, and beach volleyball.
3. Dehing Patkai Festival, Assam

Another Assamese festival, organized by the Tourism Department around the time
ofMaagh/Bhogali Bihu, thats worth catching is the Dehing Patkai
Festival. Named after theDehing river and Patkai range in eastern
Assam. Attractions include fairs, tea heritage tours, golfing, adventure sports,
hiking and wildlife, and trips to Stilwell Road and World War II cemeteries.
4. Torgya Monastery Festival, Arunachal Pradesh

A three day monastery festival, Torgya is observed by the Monpa tribe of

Arunachal Pradesh. The rituals, including the performance of sacred dances by
brightly costumed monks in the monasterys courtyard, are supposed to ward off
evil spirits and bring prosperity to the tribe. The celebrations are the grandest every
third year known as Dungyur Chenmo.
5. National Kite Festival, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

On Makar Sankranti, Ahmedabad is at its colourful best as kites of all colours,

patterns and dimensions soar into the sky. Special kites with little paper
lamps illuminate the night sky with myriad flickering lights. Special Gujarati
cuisine, exhibitions of handicrafts, and folk art enhance the festive spirit.
6. Mamallapuram Dance Festival, Tamil Nadu

Once the ancient port of the Pallavas, Mamallapuram plays host to a

vibrant festival of dance in January/February every year. Exponents of classical
dance forms such as Bharat Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and
Kathakali from across the country perform against the magnificent backdrop of
the Pallava Rock Sculpture along the sea shore.
7. Joydev Kenduli Mela at Kenduli, West Bengal
This mela attracts a lot of Bauls. Held on the occasion of Makar
Sankranti and attracts a large number of tourists who throng the place only to
hear the Bauls, who pour their soulful renditions to packed houses.
8. Pattadakkal Dance Festival, Karnataka

Delicately carved temples rich in detail provide the backdrop for this dance festival
held inPattadakkal, the ancient capital of the Chalukyan kings. Also
called the Chalukya Utsava.
9. Pongal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh

Pongal is a celebration of the harvest, which is observed for three days

from 14 to 17 January every year. Pongal festivities are organised as Bhogi
Pongal, Surya Pongal and Mattu Pongalon the three successive days of the
festival. Pongal is a colourful and traditional festival with many a ceremony devoted
to various deities. With ingredients provided by the freshly gathered harvest,
community meals are held at many a place.
Thanks
Team GradeUp..!!