Festivals, Fairs, Paintings and Crafts – Static GK Questions Asked in SSC & Railway Exams (PYQs with Answers)

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 15 September 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q1. The Govardhan Puja, celebrated a day after Diwali, primarily commemorates which incident from Hindu mythology?

(a) Krishna defeating Kansa
(b) Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill
(c) Krishna's Ras Lila
(d) Krishna stealing butter

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill

Answer: Option 2 — Krishna lifting the Govardhan hill
The Bhagavata Purana tells how Krishna persuaded the people of Braj to worship the Govardhan hill instead of Indra.
When Indra sent a deluge in anger, Krishna lifted the hill on his little finger for seven days and sheltered the villagers and their cattle beneath it.
Revision note — Govardhan Puja and the five days of Diwali
• Falls on Kartik Shukla Pratipada, the day after Diwali; also called Annakut, "mountain of food", because a hill of cooked food is offered to Krishna.
• The five days: Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali), Lakshmi Puja (Diwali), Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj.
• In Gujarat and Maharashtra the same day is Bali Pratipada / Padwa and opens the Vikram Samvat new year.
• The Govardhan Parikrama of about 21 km around the hill near Mathura is a major Vaishnava pilgrimage, central to the Pushtimarg of Vallabhacharya.
• Diwali itself marks Rama's return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile; for Sikhs it is Bandi Chhor Divas, the release of Guru Hargobind with 52 kings from Gwalior.
• Elsewhere Diwali is Tihar in Sikkim and Nepal and Kali Puja in Bengal.
Do not mix these up
• Govardhan Puja vs Naraka Chaturdashi — the day before Diwali recalls Krishna slaying Narakasura; the day after recalls the hill.
• Govardhan Puja vs Bhai Dooj — Bhai Dooj comes two days after Diwali and honours the brother–sister bond, linked to Yama and Yamuna.
Also asked from this topic: the festival marking Rama's return after 14 years of exile (Diwali); the festival called Tihar in Sikkim (Diwali); what Bandi Chhor Divas commemorates (Guru Hargobind's release).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 15 September 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q2. Which Indian festival is famous for vibrant colours and water fights in the spring?

(a) Baisakhi
(b) Diwali
(c) Holi
(d) Janmashtami

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Holi

Answer: Option 3 — Holi
Holi, the festival of colours, falls on Phalguna Purnima (February–March) and marks the arrival of spring; people throw gulal and coloured water at one another.
Baisakhi is the harvest festival of April, Diwali the festival of lights in autumn, and Janmashtami the birthday of Krishna in August–September.
Revision note — Holi and its regional forms
• The night before is Holika Dahan, the bonfire recalling Prahlad and the burning of his aunt Holika; the colour play the next day is Dhulandi or Rangwali Holi.
• Lathmar Holi is played at Barsana and Nandgaon (Uttar Pradesh), where women drive men away with sticks; Braj Holi at Mathura and Vrindavan is linked to Krishna and Radha.
• Hola Mohalla at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, is the Sikh martial festival started by Guru Gobind Singh, held the day after Holi with Nihang mock battles.
• Dol Jatra / Dol Purnima is Holi in Bengal and Odisha; Shigmo in Goa; Yaosang in Manipur; Rang Panchami is played on the fifth day after Holi in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
• The Bhagoria haat festival of the Bhil tribes of Madhya Pradesh begins seven days before Holika Dahan.
• Spring festivals to pair with it: Basant Panchami (Saraswati puja, in Magha) and Baisakhi (13 or 14 April, Punjab's harvest and the birth of the Khalsa in 1699).
Also asked from this topic: what Holi is popularly called (festival of colours); the festival that begins seven days before Holika Dahan (Bhagoria); where Hola Mohalla is held (Anandpur Sahib).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 15 September 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q3. The 'Hornbill Festival', known as the "Festival of Festivals" and uniting Naga tribes, is held in:

(a) Assam
(b) Nagaland
(c) Manipur
(d) Sikkim

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Nagaland

Answer: Option 2 — Nagaland
The Hornbill Festival is held every year from 1 to 10 December at Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima, bringing all the Naga tribes of Nagaland together in one place.
It is named after the great Indian hornbill, a bird revered in Naga folklore.
Revision note — Hornbill Festival and the North-East
• Started in 2000 by the Nagaland government's Tourism and Art and Culture departments; it opens on 1 December, Nagaland's Statehood Day (Nagaland became the 16th state on 1 December 1963).
• Kisama is about 12 km from Kohima; the village has a morung (traditional youth dormitory) of each tribe, with folk dances, war cries, wrestling and the Hornbill International Rock Contest.
• Nagaland has 16 to 17 major tribes — Angami, Ao, Sema (Sumi), Lotha, Konyak, Chakhesang and others — each with its own shawl, dance and dialect.
• The hornbill symbolises boldness and grandeur in Naga tradition; its feathers were worn as a mark of valour.
• Other North-East festivals: Bihu (Assam), Sangai (Manipur, 21–30 November), Losar (Sikkim, Arunachal).
• Also Wangala of the Garos (Meghalaya), Chapchar Kut (Mizoram) and Moatsu of the Aos (Nagaland, May).
Do not mix these up
• Hornbill vs Sangai — both are December-side tourism festivals of the North-East, but Hornbill belongs to Nagaland and Sangai, named after the brow-antlered deer, to Manipur.
Also asked from this topic: the state of the Hornbill Festival (Nagaland); the tribal group associated with it (Naga); what the hornbill symbolises in Naga folklore (boldness and grandeur).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 12 September 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q4. The Hornbill Festival is organized by which Indian tribal community/state to promote indigenous warrior traditions and crafts?

(a) Garo tribe – Meghalaya
(b) Apatani tribe – Arunachal Pradesh
(c) Naga tribes – Nagaland
(d) Khasi tribe – Meghalaya

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Naga tribes – Nagaland

Answer: Option 3 — Naga tribes – Nagaland
The Hornbill Festival is organised by the Government of Nagaland every 1–10 December to bring all the Naga tribes together on one stage.
Warrior dances, log-drum beating, morungs (bachelor dormitories), crafts and food of each tribe are showcased — which is why it is called the "Festival of Festivals".
Revision note — Hornbill Festival
• Held since 2000 at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, about 12 km from Kohima; run by the State Tourism and Art & Culture departments.
• Starts on 1 December, which is Nagaland Statehood Day — Nagaland became the 16th state of India on 1 December 1963.
• Named after the Great Indian Hornbill, a bird that appears in the folklore, headgear and songs of almost every Naga tribe, standing for boldness and grandeur.
• Nagaland has 17 recognised major tribes including Angami, Ao, Sema (Sumi), Lotha, Konyak, Chakhesang and Rengma; Kohima is the capital and Dimapur the largest city.
• The festival also runs the Hornbill International Rock Contest, a night carnival and traditional games such as Naga wrestling.
• Other North-East tribal festivals: Wangala (Garo, Meghalaya — 100-drum festival), Nongkrem (Khasi, Meghalaya), Dree (Apatani, Arunachal), Ziro Music Festival (Arunachal), Moatsu (Ao Nagas, May).
Do not mix these up
• Hornbill Festival vs Moatsu — Hornbill is the state-wide December festival of all Naga tribes; Moatsu is the Ao tribe's sowing festival in May.
• Wangala vs Nongkrem — both are Meghalaya harvest festivals, but Wangala belongs to the Garos and Nongkrem to the Khasis.
Also asked from this topic: the state that hosts the Hornbill Festival (Nagaland); what the hornbill symbolises in Naga folklore (boldness and grandeur); its nickname (Festival of Festivals).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 12 September 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q5. In the socio-cultural context, Bhogi signifies the shift from which philosophical outlook to another?

(a) Materialism to asceticism
(b) Darkness to enlightenment
(c) Tamas (inertia) to Rajas (action)
(d) Karma to Bhakti

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Tamas (inertia) to Rajas (action)

Answer: Option 3 — Tamas (inertia) to Rajas (action)
Bhogi is the first day of Pongal / Sankranti, when old and useless things are thrown into a dawn bonfire to make room for the new.
In the language of the three gunas, the ritual marks a move from tamas — dullness, inertia, clinging to the old — to rajas, the energy and activity that the new harvest season demands.
Revision note — Bhogi and the four days of Pongal
• Bhogi falls on the last day of the Tamil month Margazhi, one day before Makar Sankranti (usually 13 January); it is dedicated to Indra, the rain god, and is called Indran in older usage.
• The Bhogi Mantalu bonfire of discarded household items and the Bhogi Pallu shower of fruits over children are its two signature customs.
• The same day opens the four-day Sankranti of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• Day 2 is Thai Pongal (Surya Pongal) — the new rice is boiled till it overflows in a clay pot, to the cry "Pongalo Pongal", on the first day of the month Thai.
• Day 3 is Maatu Pongal, when cattle are bathed, painted and garlanded; Jallikattu bull-taming belongs to this day, famous at Alanganallur near Madurai.
• Day 4 is Kaanum Pongal, a day of outings and family visits; the counterpart festivals are Lohri (Punjab), Magh Bihu (Assam), Uttarayan (Gujarat) and Makar Sankranti elsewhere.
• The three gunas of Samkhya philosophy: sattva (purity, balance), rajas (activity, passion), tamas (inertia, darkness).
Do not mix these up
• Bhogi vs Lohri — both are bonfire festivals on 13 January, but Bhogi opens Pongal in the south while Lohri is the Punjab festival before Maghi.
• Tamas vs "darkness" — the guna tamas means inertia and dullness; Bhogi's bonfire is about discarding the stale, not the Diwali idea of light over darkness.
Also asked from this topic: the number of days Pongal lasts (4); the day on which cattle are adorned (Maatu Pongal); the Andhra–Telangana festival that opens with the Bhogi bonfire (Sankranti).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 12 September 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q6. What is the symbolic significance of the breaking of bangles by hijras on the final day of the Koovagam festival?

(a) Mourning Aravan's death as widows
(b) Ending of their vow to Bahuchara Mata
(c) Beginning of monastic life
(d) A purification ritual

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Mourning Aravan's death as widows

Answer: Option 1 — Mourning Aravan's death as widows
At Koovagam the transgender devotees (Aravanis) are ritually married to Aravan for one night, re-living Krishna's Mohini form.
Next morning Aravan's effigy is sacrificed, and the "brides" break their bangles, tear their garlands and wear white — the marks of a Hindu widow mourning her husband.
Revision note — Koovagam festival and the Aravan legend
• Held at the Koothandavar temple in Koovagam village, Kallakurichi district, Tamil Nadu (part of Villupuram district until 2019), in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April–May), over about 18 days.
• Aravan (Iravan) in the Mahabharata is the son of Arjuna and the Naga princess Ulupi; he offered himself as a sacrifice to Kali for the Pandavas' victory at Kurukshetra.
• His last wish was to be married before dying; no woman would wed a man doomed for the morning, so Krishna took the form of Mohini and married him for one night.
• Transgender devotees who identify with Mohini are called Aravanis in Tamil Nadu; they have the thali (mangalsutra) tied by the temple priest on the wedding night.
• The festival has a beauty pageant (Miss Koovagam) and is one of the largest annual gatherings of the transgender community in India.
• Tamil Nadu set up India's first Transgender Welfare Board in 2008; the NALSA judgment (2014) recognised the third gender, and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act came in 2019.
Do not mix these up
• Aravan vs Bahuchara Mata — Aravan is the Mahabharata hero worshipped at Koovagam, Tamil Nadu; Bahuchara Mata is the patron goddess of the hijra community, with her temple at Becharaji, Gujarat.
• Koovagam vs Kulasai Dasara — both are Tamil Nadu temple festivals, but Kulasai (Thoothukudi) is famous for its demon-themed make-up, not the Aravan wedding.
Also asked from this topic: the Tamil Nadu festival famous for ferocious demon-themed make-up (Kulasai Dasara); the bull-taming sport held during Pongal in Tamil Nadu (Jallikattu).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 12 September 2026 Shift 1 · Folk theatre forms by state

Q7. In what way does Burra Katha, as a musical storytelling tradition of Andhra Pradesh, serve as both a tool of entertainment and socio-political commentary, particularly during historical and reform movements?

(a) By focusing solely on mythological epics with no reference to contemporary issues
(b) By using rhythmic dance and puppetry to promote religious festivals
(c) By integrating satirical dialogue, folk melodies, and moral narratives that critique social injustices, promote reformist ideas, and engage audiences through interactive storytelling
(d) By restricting performances to royal courts and excluding common people from participation

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) By integrating satirical dialogue, folk melodies, and moral narratives that critique social injustices, promote reformist ideas, and engage audiences through interactive storytelling

Answer: Option 3 — By integrating satirical dialogue, folk melodies, and moral narratives that critique social injustices, promote reformist ideas, and engage audiences through interactive storytelling
Burra Katha is a Telugu ballad-storytelling form in which a lead narrator sings a story while two assistants add comedy and political comment, so it entertains and preaches at the same time.
In the 1940s the Praja Natya Mandali used it to spread anti-colonial and reformist messages among villagers.
Revision note — Burra Katha of Andhra Pradesh
• Performed by three people: the kathakudu (main narrator) and two assistants — the rajakiya (political commentator) and the hasyaka (comedian).
• Named after the burra, the local word for the tambura, which the narrator plays; the assistants keep time on the dakki (small drum) and andelu (metal rings).
• Themes range from the Ramayana and Mahabharata to Bobbili Yuddham, and from the 1940s to the Telangana peasant movement and social reform.
• Shaik Nazar, called the "Burrakatha Pitamaha", received the Padma Shri in 1986; Miriyala Apparao was awarded the Padma Shri (posthumous) in 2025.
• It is showcased at the Perupalem Beach Festival of Andhra Pradesh; the related Telangana form is Oggu Katha.
Do not mix these up
• Burra Katha vs Harikatha — Harikatha is a devotional solo discourse on Vishnu and the Puranas; Burra Katha is a secular three-person ballad with satire.
• Burra Katha vs Kuchipudi — Kuchipudi is the classical dance-drama of Andhra Pradesh; Burra Katha is folk storytelling, not a dance.
Also asked from this topic: the primary instrument of Burrakatha (tambura); its home state (Andhra Pradesh); the Burrakatha pioneer given the Padma Shri posthumously in 2025 (Miriyala Apparao).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 11 September 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q8. The Perupalem Beach Festival is organized in which Indian state?

(a) Tamil Nadu
(b) Odisha
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Kerala

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Andhra Pradesh

Answer: Option 3 — Andhra Pradesh
The Perupalem Beach Festival is held at Perupalem village near Mogaltur, in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh (headquarters Bhimavaram since 2022), on the Bay of Bengal coast.
It is run mainly to promote Perupalem as a coastal tourism destination.
Revision note — Perupalem Beach Festival and the Andhra coast
• Organised by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department with the district administration; the draw is folk music, folk dance, sand art, beach sports and local cuisine.
• Burrakatha, the Telugu oral storytelling form performed by a Kathakudu (main narrator) with two assistants and the budike tambura, is a regular item at the festival.
• Andhra Pradesh has the second longest coastline among Indian states, about 974 km, after Gujarat.
• The state capital is Amaravati; Andhra Pradesh was the first state created on a linguistic basis (as Andhra State, 1 October 1953) and was bifurcated to form Telangana on 2 June 2014.
• Other Andhra tourism festivals: Visakha Utsav at Visakhapatnam, Rayalaseema Food and Dance Festival, and the Tirumala Brahmotsavam at Tirupati.
• The main rivers reaching this coast are the Godavari and the Krishna; the Godavari is India's second longest river after the Ganga.
Do not mix these up
• Perupalem Beach Festival (Andhra Pradesh) vs Puri Beach Festival (Odisha) — both are east-coast beach festivals, but Puri's is held on the beach beside the Jagannath temple town.
• West Godavari vs Eluru — when the new Eluru district was carved out in 2022, Perupalem (Mogaltur mandal) stayed in West Godavari, whose headquarters moved to Bhimavaram.
Also asked from this topic: the purpose of the festival (to promote Perupalem as a tourism destination); the coast it is held near (Mogaltur coast); the oral art form showcased there (Burrakatha).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 11 September 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q9. What is the usual timing for the Hola Mohalla festival in relation to Holi?

(a) One day before Holi
(b) One week after Holi
(c) On the same day as Holi
(d) One day after Holi

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) One day after Holi

Answer: Option 4 — One day after Holi
Hola Mohalla begins on the day after Holi — Chet Vadi 1 of the Nanakshahi calendar — at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab.
Holi is the festival of colour; Hola Mohalla is the Sikh festival of martial valour that follows it.
Revision note — Hola Mohalla
• Begun by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in 1701, at Anandpur Sahib, Rupnagar district, Punjab.
• The name joins halla, a military charge or mock attack, and mohalla, an organised column or procession — so the term itself means a mock battle.
• It runs for three days, in which Nihang Sikhs display Gatka (the Sikh martial art of sticks, swords and shields), horsemanship, tent pegging and mock battles.
• The Guru Granth Sahib is recited and kirtan performed, and enormous langars (free community kitchens) feed the pilgrims.
• The main venue is Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, the very place where Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa in 1699 on Baisakhi.
• Punjab treats Hola Mohalla as a state-level festival; a smaller Hola Mohalla is also held at Paonta Sahib, Himachal Pradesh.
Do not mix these up
• Holi vs Hola Mohalla — Holi falls on Phalguna Purnima and is about colour; Hola Mohalla starts the next day and is about arms and martial display.
• Hola Mohalla vs Baisakhi — both are linked to Anandpur Sahib, but Baisakhi (13/14 April) marks the founding of the Khalsa in 1699, not the post-Holi fair.
Also asked from this topic: the place it is held at (Anandpur Sahib); the scripture recited during it (Guru Granth Sahib); the literal meaning of the term (mock battle).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 11 September 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q10. The festival marking Ram's victory over Ravana, with 'Ramlila' plays and burning effigies, is called:

(a) Diwali
(b) Holi
(c) Dussehra
(d) Eid-ul-Adha

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Dussehra

Answer: Option 3 — Dussehra
Dussehra, also called Vijayadashami, falls on the tenth day of the bright fortnight of Ashvin and marks Rama's victory over Ravana.
The Ramlila enactment runs through the preceding nine nights and ends with the burning of the effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna.
Revision note — Dussehra and the festivals around it
• Dussehra = Vijayadashami, the tenth day after Navratri; the story comes from the Ramayana of Valmiki.
• In eastern India the same day closes Durga Puja and celebrates Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
• Ramlila was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008; the Ramnagar Ramlila of Varanasi is the most famous.
• Mysuru Dasara of Karnataka is the state festival, with the Jamboo Savari elephant procession.
• Kullu Dussehra of Himachal Pradesh begins on the day others end; Bastar Dussehra of Chhattisgarh is the longest, about 75 days.
• Diwali comes 20 days after Dussehra, on the new moon of Kartika, marking Rama's return to Ayodhya.
• Related folk forms: Pandav Nritya of Uttarakhand and Saila of Chhattisgarh are performed at Dussehra; Kwak Jatra of Manipur falls on Vijayadashami day.
Do not mix these up
• Dussehra vs Diwali — Dussehra marks the killing of Ravana on the tenth day of Ashvin; Diwali marks Rama's return to Ayodhya, on the new moon twenty days later.
• Vijayadashami vs Ganga Dussehra — Vijayadashami falls in September–October; Ganga Dussehra falls in Jyeshtha (May–June) and marks the descent of the Ganga.
• Dussehra vs Durga Puja — the same days, but the north remembers Rama and Ravana and the east Durga and Mahishasura.
Also asked from this topic: the epic in which the Dussehra story is told (the Ramayana); the goddess of Navratri, which ends in Vijayadashami (Durga); the home state of the Saila dance (Chhattisgarh).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 11 September 2026 Shift 1 · Tribal festivals

Q11. Which eco-centric, tribal festival in Arunachal Pradesh, marked by rituals for good harvest, is celebrated by the Apatani tribe?

(a) Hornbill Festival
(b) Dree Festival
(c) Losar
(d) Wangala

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Dree Festival

Answer: Option 2 — Dree Festival
Dree is the agricultural festival of the Apatani tribe of the Ziro valley, Lower Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh.
It is observed every year on 5 July with prayers and animal sacrifice for a good paddy harvest.
Revision note — Tribal festivals of Arunachal Pradesh
• Dree — Apatani tribe, Ziro valley, celebrated on 5 July; the deities Tamu, Harniang, Metii and Danyi are propitiated against pests, famine and disease.
• The Apatani wet-rice-cum-fish cultivation landscape of Ziro is on UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage Sites.
• Nyokum — Nyishi tribe; Nyok means land or earth and Kum means collectiveness.
• Solung — Adi tribe, a harvest festival at which the rice beer apong is shared; Mopin — Galo tribe, marked by the Popir dance.
• Losar is the new-year festival of the Buddhist Monpa people of Tawang, not a harvest rite.
• Wangala, the hundred-drums harvest festival, belongs to the Garo tribe of Meghalaya.
• The Hornbill Festival (1–10 December, Kisama, near Kohima) is the "Festival of Festivals" of the Naga tribes of Nagaland.
Do not mix these up
• Dree vs Hornbill — Dree is an Apatani harvest festival of Arunachal Pradesh; Hornbill is a Naga cultural festival of Nagaland.
• Wangala vs Dree — Wangala is the Garo festival of Meghalaya, even though both are harvest festivals of the North-East.
• Losar vs Dree — Losar marks the new year of Buddhist communities; Dree is tied to the sowing and harvest cycle.
Also asked from this topic: the state of the Hornbill Festival (Nagaland); the meaning of Kum in Nyokum (collectiveness); the dance of the Mopin festival (Popir).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 11 September 2026 Shift 2 · Folk theatre forms by state

Q12. Which of the following elements of Yakshagana most accurately distinguishes it from other Indian folk-theatre traditions such as Therukoothu (Tamil Nadu) and Jatra (Bengal) in terms of structure, performance dynamics, and cultural synthesis?

(a) Use of spontaneous dialogues and comic interludes by clown figures to engage rural audiences.
(b) Integration of classical Carnatic music with Sanskrit shlokas in a rigidly scripted format.
(c) Unique combination of dance-drama, improvised dialogues, live music, and distinctive make-up and costumes, performed overnight in open-air settings with a dual structure of Himmela (musicians) and Mummela (actors).
(d) Reliance on fixed mythological scripts with minimal improvisation and emphasis on devotional songs without dance.

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Unique combination of dance-drama, improvised dialogues, live music, and distinctive make-up and costumes, performed overnight in open-air settings with a dual structure of Himmela (musicians) and Mummela (actors).

Answer: Option 3 — Unique combination of dance-drama, improvised dialogues, live music, and distinctive make-up and costumes, performed overnight in open-air settings with a dual structure of Himmela (musicians) and Mummela (actors).
Yakshagana is a dance-drama in which the actors improvise their own dialogue around a sung story, so dance, speech, music and costume all work together.
The Himmela–Mummela division — a musicians' group behind and a dancers' group in front — is the structural signature no other folk theatre shares.
Revision note — Yakshagana
• A traditional theatre of coastal Karnataka — Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga districts — with a history of about 400 years; the name means "song of the Yakshas".
• Himmela (background) = the Bhagavata, who sings the story and directs the play, with chande (drum), maddale and harmonium; Mummela (foreground) = the dancer-actors.
• Stories come from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas; the sung text is the prasanga, and the actors improvise prose dialogue on it.
• Performed traditionally from dusk to dawn in open fields after the harvest; the two regional styles are Badagutittu (northern) and Tenkutittu (southern).
• Famous for towering head-dresses (kirita), painted faces and bright costumes; Dr K. Shivaram Karanth (Jnanpith winner) reformed and popularised the form in the 20th century.
• The Yakshagana puppet theatre (string puppets) of the same region uses the same music and costume.
Do not mix these up
• Yakshagana vs Therukoothu — both are all-night open-air epics, but Therukoothu is the street theatre of Tamil Nadu and lacks the Himmela–Mummela split.
• Yakshagana vs Jatra — Jatra is the travelling folk theatre of Bengal, which grew out of Chaitanya's bhakti movement and relies more on spoken melodrama than on dance.
Also asked from this topic: the state of origin of Yakshagana (Karnataka); the state of the night-time street theatre Theru Koothu (Tamil Nadu); the folk theatre of Maharashtra (Tamasha).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 11 September 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q13. What is the main focus of the Kanuma festival?

(a) Worshipping rivers
(b) Honoring livestock, especially cattle
(c) Celebrating harvest
(d) Lighting lamps

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Honoring livestock, especially cattle

Answer: Option 2 — Honoring livestock, especially cattle
Kanuma is the third day of the Sankranti festival in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, kept for the cattle that make farming possible.
Bulls and cows are bathed, their horns painted and decorated, and they are fed and worshipped — the harvest itself is the theme of the other days, not this one.
Revision note — Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
• A four-day festival in mid-January: Bhogi (day 1), Makara Sankranti (day 2), Kanuma (day 3) and Mukkanuma (day 4).
• Bhogi: old things are burnt in a bonfire at dawn; children are showered with Bhogi pallu (berries).
• Makara Sankranti: the Sun enters Makara (Capricorn); homes are decorated with muggu (rangoli) and gobbemmalu (cow-dung balls); the Haridasu goes singing from door to door.
• Kanuma: cattle worship, linked to Krishna lifting Govardhan hill to shelter the cowherds; kite flying and cock-fights are the folk pastimes.
• Mukkanuma: relatives feast together — a day associated with non-vegetarian food in the countryside.
• The same cattle day is Mattu Pongal in Tamil Nadu (third day of Pongal, with Jallikattu) and is echoed by Govardhan Puja in north India.
Do not mix these up
• Kanuma vs Mattu Pongal — the same idea, cattle worship on the third day; Kanuma is Telugu, Mattu Pongal is Tamil.
• Bhogi vs Kanuma — Bhogi is the bonfire day that opens the festival; Kanuma is the cattle day that follows Sankranti.
Also asked from this topic: the cultural significance of the Kanuma festival (honouring cattle used in agriculture); the four-day harvest festival of Andhra and Telangana with the Bhogi bonfire (Sankranti).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 11 September 2026 Shift 2 · Fairs and melas

Q14. The Kumbh Mela rotates among four locations. Which of the following is not one of them?

(a) Haridwar
(b) Prayagraj
(c) Varanasi
(d) Nashik

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Varanasi

Answer: Option 3 — Varanasi
The Kumbh Mela is held at Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik and Ujjain — the four places where drops of amrit fell during the Samudra Manthan.
Varanasi, though the holiest city on the Ganga, has never been a Kumbh venue.
Revision note — The Kumbh Mela
• The four venues and their rivers: Haridwar — Ganga; Prayagraj — Sangam of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati; Nashik (Trimbakeshwar) — Godavari; Ujjain — Shipra.
• The Purna Kumbh returns to each site every 12 years; the Ardh Kumbh is held every 6 years at Haridwar and Prayagraj only.
• The Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj comes after 12 Purna Kumbhs, i.e. once in 144 years.
• At Nashik and Ujjain the fair is also called Simhastha, because it falls when Jupiter is in Leo (Simha).
• The dates are fixed by the positions of Jupiter, the Sun and the Moon; the great bathing days are Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya and Basant Panchami.
• Inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017; the Maha Kumbh 2025 was held at Prayagraj (13 January – 26 February 2025).
• The Akharas — orders of sadhus — lead the Shahi Snan (royal bath) on the main days.
Do not mix these up
• Ardh Kumbh vs Purna Kumbh — Ardh is the six-year fair, held only at Haridwar and Prayagraj; Purna is the twelve-year fair at all four venues.
• Prayagraj vs Varanasi — both are on the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, but only Prayagraj, at the Sangam, hosts the Kumbh.
Also asked from this topic: the city that is not a traditional Kumbh location (Varanasi); the interval of the Kumbh at Prayagraj (12 years); the divine substance whose drops fell at the four sites (amrit).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 10 September 2026 Shift 1 · Contemporary and modern Indian artists

Q15. Which Indian artist's signature use of bindis in her installations addresses identity and tradition?

(a) Bharti Kher
(b) Mithu Sen
(c) Raqib Shaw
(d) L.N. Tallur

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Bharti Kher

Answer: Option 1 — Bharti Kher
Bharti Kher covers sculptures, panels and found objects in thousands of bindis, using the forehead dot as a sign of identity, femininity and tradition.
Her best-known work is the fibreglass elephant "The Skin Speaks a Language Not Its Own" (2006), skinned entirely in sperm-shaped bindis.
Revision note — Contemporary Indian artists
• Bharti Kher — born in London in 1969, works from Gurugram; her signature material is the bindi, and her best-known work is The Skin Speaks a Language Not Its Own.
• Subodh Gupta — Bihar-born, married to Bharti Kher; monumental installations of everyday stainless steel kitchenware, such as Very Hungry God and Line of Control.
• Mithu Sen — Delhi-based, works with drawing, hair, teeth and invented language; known for the project I Hate Pink.
• Raqib Shaw — born in Kolkata, raised in Kashmir, based in London; densely jewelled enamel paintings in the Garden of Earthly Delights series.
• L. N. Tallur — Karnataka-born sculptor who fuses traditional Indian iconography with industrial materials such as concrete and coins.
• Anish Kapoor — British-Indian sculptor of Cloud Gate in Chicago; Sudarsan Pattnaik of Odisha is India's best-known sand artist.
Also asked from this topic: the artist renowned for large installations built from everyday Indian kitchenware (Subodh Gupta).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 10 September 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q16. The 'Dahi Handi' human pyramid event is central to which festival?

(a) Navratri
(b) Holi
(c) Janmashtami
(d) Ram Navami

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Janmashtami

Answer: Option 3 — Janmashtami
Dahi Handi re-enacts the child Krishna stealing butter: teams of Govindas build a human pyramid to break an earthen pot of curd hung high in the street, on Janmashtami.
Revision note — Janmashtami and Dahi Handi
• Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada.
• It is also called Gokulashtami, Krishnashtami and, in Maharashtra, Gopalkala; the fast is broken at midnight, the hour of Krishna's birth.
• Dahi Handi is the Maharashtra and Gujarat form of the festival; the pyramid-builders are called Govindas, and the Government of Maharashtra recognised Dahi Handi as an adventure sport in 2022.
• Krishna's birthplace is Mathura and his childhood home Gokul and Vrindavan, all in Uttar Pradesh; Dwarka in Gujarat was his later capital.
• Other Krishna-linked celebrations: Raslila at Vrindavan, Lathmar Holi at Barsana, and Govardhan Puja, kept the day after Diwali.
• The Bhagavata Purana and the Gita Govinda of Jayadeva are the chief texts of Krishna devotion, and the Bhagavad Gita is Krishna's counsel to Arjuna in the Mahabharata.
Do not mix these up
• Janmashtami vs Ram Navami — Janmashtami is the birth of Krishna in Bhadrapada; Ram Navami is the birth of Rama on the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra.
• Dahi Handi vs Garba — Dahi Handi is the Janmashtami pyramid of Maharashtra; Garba and Dandiya Raas are the circular dances of Navratri in Gujarat.
Also asked from this topic: the festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna (Janmashtami).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 9 September 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q17. Which of the following festivals is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism?

(a) Mahavir Jayanti
(b) Paryushana
(c) Diwali
(d) Navapad Oli

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Mahavir Jayanti

Answer: Option 1 — Mahavir Jayanti
Mahavir Jayanti marks the birth of Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism.
The other three festivals in the list mark a fast, a death and a semi-fast, not a birth.
Revision note — Mahavira and the Jain calendar
• Date: Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi, the 13th day of the bright half of Chaitra, falling in March or April.
• Born about 599 BCE at Kundagrama near Vaishali, Bihar, to Siddhartha, chief of the Jnatrika clan, and Trishala, a Lichchhavi princess and sister of Chetaka.
• He left home at 30, practised austerities for about 12 years, and gained kevala jnana at 42 at Jrimbhikagrama on the Rijupalika river.
• Nirvana at Pavapuri about 527 BCE. Jain Diwali, and Deo Deepawali in Bihar, mark that nirvana.
• The five vows: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Aparigraha, Brahmacharya. He added Brahmacharya to the four of Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara.
• Doctrines: Anekantavada, the many-sidedness of reality, and Syadvada, conditional predication.
• He preached in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit, the sacred language of Jainism; the Agamas are in it and the Kalpa Sutra of Bhadrabahu is recited at Paryushana.
Do not mix these up
• Mahavir Jayanti vs Jain Diwali — Jayanti is his birth in Chaitra; Diwali marks his nirvana at Pavapuri.
• Paryushana vs Das Lakshana — the same season of fasting and forgiveness, but eight days for Svetambaras and ten for Digambaras. It ends in Samvatsari / Kshamavani.
• Mahavira vs Parshvanatha — Mahavira is the 24th Tirthankara, Parshvanatha the 23rd; the fifth vow is Mahavira's addition.
Also asked from this topic: the city near Mahavira's birthplace (Vaishali); his age at renunciation (30); the sacred language of Jainism (Prakrit); whose nirvana Deo Deepawali marks (Mahavira's).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 9 September 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q18. Which of the following festivals marks the beginning of the harvest season in Tamil Nadu and is closely associated with sun worship?

(a) Ugadi
(b) Vishu
(c) Pongal
(d) Makar Sankranti

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Pongal

Answer: Option 3 — Pongal
Pongal is the four-day Tamil harvest festival that opens the harvest season.
Its central day is dedicated to the Sun God, Surya.
Revision note — Pongal and the mid-January solar festivals
• Celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai, normally 14 to 17 January, at the Sun's transit into Capricorn (Makara).
• Pongal means to boil over. Rice boiled in milk is allowed to spill from the pot as a sign of plenty.
• The four days: Bhogi, burning the old; Thai Pongal or Surya Pongal, the sun-worship day; Mattu Pongal, for cattle; Kaanum Pongal, for family visits.
• Jallikattu, the bull-taming sport of Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Pudukkottai, is held around Mattu Pongal.
• The same solar transit is Makar Sankranti in the north, Uttarayan with kites in Gujarat, Magh Bihu in Assam, Lohri on the eve in Punjab, and Sankranti with Kanuma in Andhra and Telangana.
• Ugadi is the lunar New Year of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, known for Ugadi pachadi.
• Vishu is the Malayalam New Year of Kerala in the month of Medam, mid-April, known for the Vishukkani.
Do not mix these up
• Pongal vs Makar Sankranti — the same astronomical event on the same date. Pongal is its Tamil Nadu name and its four-day form.
• Solar vs lunar new years — Pongal, Vishu and Baisakhi follow the Sun; Ugadi and Gudi Padwa follow the lunar calendar in Chaitra.
• Thai Pongal vs Mattu Pongal — the sun is worshipped on the second day, the cattle on the third.
Also asked from this topic: the number of days Pongal runs (4); the day cattle are adorned (Mattu Pongal); the sport held during Pongal (Jallikattu); the sign the Sun enters at Sankranti (Capricorn).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 9 September 2026 Shift 1 · Tribal festivals

Q19. Which one of the following is correctly paired regarding the Santhal festival Erok Sim?

(a) Celebrated in Baisakh – Santhal sowing begins
(b) Celebrated in Asarh – Marks agricultural commencement
(c) Celebrated in Kartik – Festival of hunting
(d) Celebrated in Phalgun – Harvest concludes

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Celebrated in Asarh – Marks agricultural commencement

Answer: Option 2 — Celebrated in Asarh – Marks agricultural commencement
Erok Sim is the Santhal sowing rite, kept in Asarh (Ashadha, June-July) as the monsoon breaks and paddy sowing begins — so both halves of option 2 match.
Revision note — Santhal festivals and the Santhals
• The Santhals are among India's largest tribal communities, spread over Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Assam.
• Their festival year follows the crop: Erok Sim (Asarh, sowing) → Hariar Sim (Sawan, when the seedlings green) → Janthar (Aghan, the new paddy) → Sohrai, the harvest festival.
• Sohrai is the biggest Santhal festival and the harvest festival of Jharkhand — built around the worship, bathing and decoration of cattle, and around Sohrai wall painting.
• Sohrai's month varies by region: Poush-Magh among the Santhals, and just after Diwali in parts of Jharkhand.
• Baha is the flower festival of Phalgun, marking the blossoming of sal and mahua. Disum Sendra is the community hunting festival, held in summer.
• Santhal dance is performed in circular or line formations, by men and women together, chiefly at Sohrai, Baha and Karam.
• Santhali was added to the Eighth Schedule by the 92nd Amendment Act, 2003, with Bodo, Dogri and Maithili, taking the total to 22.
• Santhali is an Austro-Asiatic language; its script Ol Chiki was devised by Pandit Raghunath Murmu.
• The Santhal Hul rebellion broke out on 30 June 1855 in the Santhal Parganas, under Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu.
Do not mix these up
• Erok Sim vs Sohrai — Erok Sim marks the sowing, at the start of the agricultural year; Sohrai marks the harvest, at its close.
• Baha vs Sohrai — Baha is the flower festival of Phalgun; Sohrai is the harvest and cattle festival.
• Santhali vs Bodo — both entered the Eighth Schedule in 2003, but Santhali is Austro-Asiatic and Bodo is Tibeto-Burman.
Also asked from this topic: the harvest festival of Jharkhand (Sohrai); the form of Santhal dance (circular or line group dance); the amendment that added Santhali to the Eighth Schedule (92nd).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 9 September 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q20. Which Punjabi festival is celebrated in January with bonfires, folk songs, and marking the harvest of Rabi crops?

(a) Baisakhi
(b) Lohri
(c) Teej
(d) Maghi

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Lohri

Answer: Option 2 — Lohri
Lohri, on 13 January, is the Punjabi bonfire festival marking the end of the coldest days and the rabi harvest.
January plus a bonfire fits only Lohri.
Revision note — Lohri and the Punjab festival calendar
• Lohri falls on 13 January, the eve of Makar Sankranti, and marks the turn after the winter solstice.
• People circle a bonfire and offer til (sesame), gur, rewri and peanuts — the produce of the winter season, especially sugarcane.
• The folk song sung round the fire honours Dulla Bhatti, a Punjabi hero of Akbar's reign remembered for rescuing abducted girls.
• Maghi is the very next day, 14 January — Makar Sankranti in Punjab, when Sikhs remember the Chali Mukte (Forty Immortals) at Muktsar.
• Baisakhi, on 13 or 14 April, is the spring harvest festival and the day Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib in 1699.
• Bhangra and Giddha are the folk dances of Punjab, performed chiefly at Baisakhi; Teej is the monsoon festival of women, with swings and mehndi.
Do not mix these up
• Lohri vs Maghi — Lohri is 13 January with the bonfire; Maghi is 14 January, Makar Sankranti, with a dip and the Muktsar fair.
• Lohri vs Baisakhi — both are harvest festivals, but Lohri is January, winter, bonfire and Baisakhi is April, spring, Khalsa.
Also asked from this topic: the January harvest festival of Punjab (Lohri); the crop it is linked with (sugarcane); the event of Baisakhi 1699 (founding of the Khalsa Panth);
the harvest folk dance of Punjab (Bhangra).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 9 September 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q21. Where is the Hola Mohalla festival primarily celebrated?

(a) Amritsar
(b) Anandpur Sahib
(c) Patiala
(d) Bathinda

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Anandpur Sahib

Answer: Option 2 — Anandpur Sahib
Hola Mohalla is the three-day Sikh festival held at Anandpur Sahib in Rupnagar district, Punjab, on the day after Holi.
Revision note — Hola Mohalla
• Begun by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in 1701 at Anandpur Sahib, to keep the community trained in arms.
• The name joins halla, a military charge or mock attack, with mohalla, an organised column or procession.
• Guru Gobind Singh coined the masculine Hola against the feminine Holi.
• It falls on the first day of the lunar month of Chet, the day after Holi — usually in March.
• Nihang Sikhs display Gatka, tent-pegging, bareback riding and mock battles; the Guru Granth Sahib is recited and kirtan sung.
• Free community kitchens, the langars, feed the pilgrims through all three days.
• Anandpur Sahib is also where the Khalsa Panth was founded on Baisakhi 1699 and the Panj Pyare were initiated.
Do not mix these up
• Hola Mohalla vs Holi — Holi is the festival of colours; Hola Mohalla is the Sikh martial gathering held the day after it.
• Anandpur Sahib vs Amritsar — Anandpur Sahib is the birthplace of the Khalsa; Amritsar has the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple).
Also asked from this topic: the scripture recited during Hola Mohalla (Guru Granth Sahib); the literal meaning of the name (mock battle); the state of origin of Gatka (Punjab).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 9 September 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q22. Which of the following activities is traditionally performed by Nihangs during Hola Mohalla?

(a) Boat racing and kite flying
(b) Sword dances and horse-riding mock battles
(c) Firewalking rituals and chanting mantras
(d) Idol immersion and temple processions

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Sword dances and horse-riding mock battles

Answer: Option 2 — Sword dances and horse-riding mock battles
The Nihangs, the armed order of the Khalsa, mark Hola Mohalla with Gatka sword play, bareback riding and mock battles at Anandpur Sahib.
Revision note — Nihangs and Gatka
• Nihang Sikhs form the armed order traced to Guru Gobind Singh; they wear blue robes (chola) and the tall conical turban called a dumalla.
• Their two historic bodies are the Budha Dal and the Taruna Dal; they also call themselves the Akali army.
• Gatka is the Sikh martial art of Punjab, practised with the soti (wooden stick) and farri (shield), and also with sword and spear.
• At Hola Mohalla they perform tent-pegging (neza bazi), bareback horse riding and mock battles, closing with a grand procession.
• Langar, the free community kitchen begun by Guru Nanak, runs throughout the festival.
Do not mix these up
• Gatka vs Thang-Ta — Gatka is the Sikh stick-and-sword art of Punjab; Thang-Ta is the sword-and-spear art of Manipur.
• Nihang vs Namdhari — the Nihangs wear blue; the Namdharis (Kuka Sikhs) of Guru Ram Singh wear white and led the Kuka movement.
Also asked from this topic: what Hola Mohalla showcases (martial arts, langars and Nihang mock battles at Anandpur Sahib); the state of Gatka (Punjab).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 9 September 2026 Shift 2 · Painting styles and schools

Q23. Which colours were commonly used in prehistoric rock paintings found in India?

(a) Blue, yellow, and green
(b) Black, white, and red ochre
(c) Silver, gold, and bronze
(d) Indigo, vermilion, and saffron

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Black, white, and red ochre

Answer: Option 2 — Black, white, and red ochre
Prehistoric painters used the mineral pigments that lay to hand and that survive — red ochre (geru, haematite), white from limestone or kaolin, and black from charcoal or manganese.
Revision note — Prehistoric rock paintings in India
• The best-known site is Bhimbetka, in the Vindhyan foothills of Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, near the Narmada valley — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003.
• V. S. Wakankar brought Bhimbetka to notice in 1957; of its 700-odd shelters about 400 carry paintings, running from the Upper Palaeolithic to the historic period.
• Pigments were ground from haematite, limestone or kaolin and charcoal or manganese, and bound with animal fat and plant gum; blue and green are rare.
• The oldest layers show bison, tigers, rhinoceros and hunters in dark red and green; later layers show dancing, horse riders and battle scenes.
• Other rock-art sites — Lakhudiyar in Uttarakhand, Jogimara caves in Chhattisgarh, Kupgallu and Piklihal in Karnataka, and Adamgarh in Madhya Pradesh.
Do not mix these up
• Bhimbetka vs Ajanta — Bhimbetka is prehistoric rock-shelter art; Ajanta in Maharashtra holds Buddhist murals of the 2nd century BCE to the 6th century CE.
• Red ochre (geru) vs vermilion (sindoor) — geru is a natural iron oxide earth, used in rock art and in the lipane step of Warli painting; vermilion is mercuric sulphide, a manufactured pigment.
Also asked from this topic: the state of the Bhimbetka rock shelters (Madhya Pradesh); the river valley they lie near (Narmada); the age of the earliest paintings there (about 30,000 years).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 9 September 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q24. Which festival is celebrated by tying a 'rakhi' for symbolizing sibling love?

(a) Pongal
(b) Raksha Bandhan
(c) Eid
(d) Guru Purnima

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Raksha Bandhan

Answer: Option 2 — Raksha Bandhan
On Raksha Bandhan a sister ties a rakhi, a sacred thread, on her brother's wrist and he promises her protection in return.
The name itself says it — raksha means protection and bandhan means bond.
Revision note — Raksha Bandhan and the festivals around it
• Raksha Bandhan falls on the full moon (Purnima) of the month of Shravan, usually in July or August.
• The same full moon is Narali Purnima in coastal Maharashtra, when coconuts are offered to the sea, and Avani Avittam (Upakarma) in the south, when the sacred thread is changed.
• It is also Kajari Purnima in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, Pavitropana in Gujarat and Janai Purnima in Nepal and the hills.
• The other brother-and-sister festival is Bhai Dooj, two days after Diwali, when the sister puts a tilak on her brother's forehead; in Nepal and Sikkim it is Bhai Tika, part of Tihar.
• Rabindranath Tagore turned Raksha Bandhan into a protest of unity during the Partition of Bengal in 1905, asking Hindus and Muslims to tie threads on one another's wrists.
• In tradition the thread is linked to Indra and Sachi, and to Draupadi tying a strip of cloth on Krishna's wrist in the Mahabharata.
Do not mix these up
• Raksha Bandhan vs Bhai Dooj — Raksha Bandhan is on Shravan Purnima and turns on the rakhi thread; Bhai Dooj comes just after Diwali and turns on the tilak.
• Raksha Bandhan vs Guru Purnima — Guru Purnima, on the full moon of Ashadha, honours the teacher, not a sibling.
Also asked from this topic: the number of days for which Pongal is celebrated (four); the Tamil Nadu bull-taming sport held on Mattu Pongal (Jallikattu); the festival celebrated as Tihar in Sikkim (Diwali).

SSC Stenographer 2026 – 9 September 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q25. In which festival are diyas and fireworks important due to the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, but is also the peak business season for sweets and gifts?

(a) Diwali
(b) Eid
(c) Holi
(d) Christmas

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Diwali

Answer: Option 1 — Diwali
Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his victory over Ravana, and the city welcomed him with rows of lamps.
That is also where the name comes from — deepavali = a row (avali) of lamps (deepa).
Revision note — Diwali
• Diwali falls on the new moon (Amavasya) of the month of Kartika, usually in October or November.
• It runs over five days — Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali), Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja (Annakut) and Bhai Dooj.
• For Jains the day marks the nirvana of Mahavira (527 BCE); for Sikhs it is Bandi Chhor Divas, the release of Guru Hargobind with 52 kings from Gwalior Fort in 1619.
• In Sikkim and Nepal Diwali is Tihar, a five-day festival that includes the worship of crows, dogs, cows and oxen and ends with Bhai Tika.
• In the eighteenth century the Sikh misls assembled at Amritsar on Baisakhi and Diwali to take collective decisions called gurmatas.
• The Bateshwar fair of Uttar Pradesh, on the Yamuna in Agra district, starts a few days before Diwali and runs about three weeks.
• The Suwa (parrot) dance of Chhattisgarh is performed by women around Diwali.
Do not mix these up
• Diwali vs Dussehra — Dussehra (Vijayadashami) marks the killing of Ravana; Diwali, twenty days later, marks Rama's return to Ayodhya.
• Diwali vs Bhai Dooj — Bhai Dooj is the fifth and last day of the Diwali cluster, not a separate festival of lights.
Also asked from this topic: the festival celebrated as Tihar in Sikkim (Diwali); what Bandi Chhor Divas commemorates (Guru Hargobind's release with 52 kings); where the Sikh misls met at Baisakhi and Diwali (Amritsar); the state of the Bateshwar fair held just before Diwali (Uttar Pradesh).

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2025-26 – 20 June 2026 Shift 1 · Puppetry and theatre forms

Q26. Western Scholar Pishel associated the terms Sutradhar and Sthapak in Sanskrit plays with:

(a) Ancient musical instruments
(b) Classical dance performances
(c) Puppet dance tradition
(d) Ritual ceremonies

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Puppet dance tradition

Topic: Sanskrit Drama & Puppetry
Pishel's Research:Western scholar Pishel studied Sanskrit theatrical traditions and their connection to puppetry.
Key Terms:
•Sutradhar= literally 'holder of strings' in Sanskrit
•Sthapak= one who establishes or sets up
Connection:Both terms in Sanskrit plays refer to the puppeteer who manipulates string puppets, controlling the performance.
Pishel linked these theatrical roles to the ancientpuppet dance traditionin India.
Answer: Option 3 → Puppet dance tradition

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2025-26 – 20 June 2026 Shift 2 · Painting styles and schools

Q27. Which of the following traditional art forms originated in the Mithila region of Bihar?

(a) Kalamkari paintings
(b) Pattachitra paintings
(c) Madhubani paintings
(d) Warli paintings

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Madhubani paintings

Topic: Traditional Art Forms of India
Madhubani paintingsoriginated in theMithila region of Bihar.
Key Facts:
• Also known as Mithila paintings
• Created by women of villages around Madhubani district
• Characterized by geometric patterns and vibrant colors
Other options:
• Kalamkari → Andhra Pradesh
• Pattachitra → Odisha
• Warli → Maharashtra
Answer: Option 3 → Madhubani paintings

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2025-26 – 20 June 2026 Shift 3 · Painting styles and schools

Q28. The Pattachitra paintings, known for intricate detailing and mythological themes, originate from which Indian state?

(a) Assam
(b) Odisha
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Madhya Pradesh

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Odisha

Topic: Traditional Indian Art Forms
Pattachitrais a traditional cloth-based scroll painting fromOdisha.
Key Features:
• Intricate detailing with mythological themes
• Depicts stories from Ramayana, Mahabharata, Jagannath culture
• Natural colors and fine brushwork on cloth
Major centers: Puri and Raghurajpur (Odisha)
Answer: Option 2 → Odisha

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2025-26 – 17 June 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q29. 'Bihu' is considered the festival of the ____________ state/UT.

(a) Lakshadweep
(b) Assam
(c) Andaman Nicobar Islands
(d) Chattisgarh

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Assam

Topic: Indian Festivals and States
Bihuis the most important festival ofAssam.
It is celebrated three times a year:
• Rongali Bihu (Spring/Bohag Bihu) - April
• Kongali Bihu (Autumn/Kati Bihu) - October
• Bhogali Bihu (Harvest/Magh Bihu) - January
Marks the Assamese New Year and harvest season.
Answer: Option 2 → Assam

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2025-26 – 16 June 2026 Shift 3 · Fairs and melas

Q30. In which of the following states is the Bateshwar fair held usually few days prior to DEEPAWALI for a period of almost three weeks?

(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Bihar
(c) Chhattisgarh
(d) Madhya Pradesh

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Uttar Pradesh

Bateshwar Fair (Bateshwar Mela)
Location: Bateshwar, Agra district,Uttar Pradesh
Timing: Held few days before Diwali for nearly 3 weeks
Significance: Famous cattle fair on banks of Yamuna River
Answer: Option 1 → Uttar Pradesh

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2025-26 – 14 June 2026 Shift 1 · Fairs and melas

Q31. In which of the following states is the Ambubachi Mela held every year during the monsoon?

(a) Chhattisgarh
(b) Bihar
(c) Jharkhand
(d) Assam

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Assam

Topic: Ambubachi Mela
Location:Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati, Assam
Significance:Annual Hindu festival celebrating the menstruation period of Goddess Kamakhya
Time:Held in June during monsoon season (Assamese month of Ahaar)
Duration:4-day festival when temple remains closed
Answer: Option 4 → Assam

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2025-26 – 14 June 2026 Shift 3 · Festivals by state

Q32. Which of the following goddesses is primarily worshipped during the Gangaur festival of Rajasthan?

(a) Goddess Saraswati
(b) Goddess Lakshmi
(c) Goddess Parvati
(d) Goddess Durga

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Goddess Parvati

Topic:Gangaur Festival - Rajasthan
Gangauris a traditional festival celebrated in Rajasthan.
The festival is dedicated toGoddess Gauri (Parvati)and Lord Shiva.
Women worship Goddess Parvati for marital bliss and prosperity.
Celebrated mainly by married women for 18 days after Holi.
Answer: Option 3 → Goddess Parvati

SSC GD 2026 – 31 May 2026 Shift 3 · Festivals by state

Q33. On which day of the Rongali Bihu festival do people traditionally visit relatives and exchange gifts?

(a) Goru Bihu
(b) Manuh Bihu
(c) Kutum Bihu
(d) Bohagi Bihu

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Kutum Bihu

Correct Answer: Kutum Bihu (Option 3)
Rongali Bihu ( Bohag Bihu) is the most celebrated Bihu festival of Assam, marking the Assamese New Year. It is celebrated over several days, each with a specific ritual. ' Kutum Bihu' is the day dedicated to visiting kutum (relatives) — people traditionally travel to meet family members and exchange gifts, sweets, and gamosa (traditional Assamese towel).
Why others are wrong:
- Goru Bihu: The first day, dedicated to worshipping cattle — cows and buffaloes are bathed and decorated.
- Manuh Bihu: The second day, when people take ritual baths, wear new clothes, and seek blessings from elders.
- Bohagi Bihu: This is the collective name for the entire festival, not a specific day for visiting relatives.

SSC GD 2026 – 30 May 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q34. Which festival in Maharashtra marks the beginning of the New Year?

(a) Baisakhi
(b) Ugadi
(c) Onam
(d) Gudi Padwa

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Gudi Padwa

Correct Answer: Gudi Padwa (Option 4)
Gudi Padwa is the traditional New Year festival celebrated in Maharashtra on the first day of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra (March-April). On this day, a 'Gudi' (a decorated bamboo stick topped with a brass vessel and adorned with mango leaves, flowers, and a silk cloth) is hoisted outside homes to symbolise victory, prosperity, and the arrival of the New Year.
Why others are wrong:
- Baisakhi: Celebrated mainly in Punjab and Haryana as the harvest festival and Sikh New Year.
- Ugadi: The New Year festival of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka — celebrated on the same date as Gudi Padwa but called Ugadi in those regions.
- Onam: A harvest festival of Kerala, celebrated in the Malayalam month of Chingam.

SSC GD 2026 – 29 May 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q35. Rajasthan's ' Gangaur ' festival is celebrated in honour of which goddess?

(a) Goddess Lakshmi
(b) Goddess Kali
(c) Goddess Parvati
(d) Goddess Saraswati

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Goddess Parvati

Correct Answer: Goddess Parvati — Option (c)
Rajasthan's Gangaur festival is celebrated in honour of Goddess Parvati (Gauri). About Gangaur Festival: Name: Gangaur — 'Gan' = Shiva, 'Gaur' = Gauri (Parvati); In honour of: Goddess Gauri (Parvati), the consort of Lord Shiva; Celebrated in: Rajasthan (primarily), also in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and some parts of West Bengal; Time of celebration: 18 days after Holi festival (falls in March-April, during the Hindu month of Chaitra); Duration: 18 days of preparation, main celebration on the 18th day (Chaitra Shukla Tritiya); Significance: Married women pray for the long life and well-being of their husbands; Unmarried girls pray for a good husband (like Lord Shiva); Based on the legend that Goddess Parvati visited her parents' home after marriage — her devotion is celebrated; Rituals: Clay idols of Gauri (Parvati) and Isar (Shiva) are made and worshipped; Women carry the idols in a procession ( Gangaur procession); Decorated thalis (plates) with flowers, sweets, and offerings; Women fast and worship for 18 days; Grand procession at the end with women dressed in traditional Rajasthani attire; Location of major celebrations: Jaipur (royal city) hosts a grand Gangaur procession from the City Palace; Udaipur and Jodhpur also host major celebrations; About Goddess Parvati: Wife of Lord Shiva; Also known as: Gauri (fair-complexioned), Durga, Uma, Shakti; Mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya; Gangaur essentially celebrates the ideal marital relationship exemplified by Shiva and Parvati.
Option (a) Goddess Lakshmi — Incorrect: The Gangaur festival is NOT dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi; it is dedicated to Goddess Gauri (Parvati); Goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) is worshipped during Diwali (through the Lakshmi Puja), Varalakshmi Vratham , and Sharad Purnima; the 'Gan' (Shiva) and 'Gaur' (Gauri/Parvati) in Gangaur clearly indicate the festival's dedication to Parvati.
Option (b) Goddess Kali — Incorrect: The Gangaur festival is NOT dedicated to Goddess Kali; Goddess Kali is worshipped during Kali Puja (especially in West Bengal, on Diwali night), Navratri (as Mahakali), and other occasions; Gangaur is dedicated to Goddess Gauri (Parvati), the gentle and graceful consort of Shiva — NOT the fierce form of Kali.
Option (d) Goddess Saraswati — Incorrect: The Gangaur festival is NOT dedicated to Goddess Saraswati; Goddess Saraswati (goddess of knowledge, learning, and arts) is worshipped during Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja) and Navratri (as the goddess of wisdom); Gangaur is dedicated to Goddess Gauri/Parvati — it is essentially a festival celebrating marital happiness and the devotion of Parvati for Shiva.

SSC GD 2026 – 22 May 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q36. By which other name is the festival of Holi known in West Bengal?

(a) Dol Purnima
(b) Bhai Phonta
(c) Jagadhatri Puja
(d) Kalpataru Utsav

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Dol Purnima

Correct Answer: Dol Purnima — Option (a)
In West Bengal, the festival of Holi is known as 'Dol Purnima' (also called Dol Jatra or Dol Utsav). About Dol Purnima in West Bengal: 'Dol' means 'swing' in Bengali — the festival involves placing the idol of Lord Krishna (or Radha-Krishna) on a decorated swing (dol) and swinging them while devotees sing devotional songs; 'Purnima' means 'full moon' — the festival is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Phalguna (February-March); How it's celebrated: Processions ( shobhajatra ) with Radha-Krishna idols on palanquins; Devotees spray colored powder ( abir ) on each other; Classical music and Holi songs ( dhulot gaan ) are performed; Special celebrations: Shantiniketan (Rabindranath Tagore's institution in Birbhum district, West Bengal) celebrates it as 'Basanta Utsav' (Spring Festival) with singing, dancing, and cultural programs; Vrindavan: Also called Dol Yatra in the Vaishnava tradition; Religious connection: The festival commemorates the divine love of Radha and Krishna; in the Vaishnava tradition (very prominent in Bengal), it is one of the most important festivals.
Option (b) Bhai Phonta — Incorrect: Bhai Phonta is a West Bengali festival similar to Raksha Bandhan (celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters) celebrated on the second day of Kali Puja week — it is NOT the name of Holi in West Bengal; the Holi equivalent is Dol Purnima.
Option (c) Jagadhatri Puja — Incorrect: Jagadhatri Puja is a festival in West Bengal dedicated to Goddess Jagadhatri (a form of Durga) — celebrated in the month of Kartik (October-November), especially in Chandannagar ; it is NOT the name of Holi in West Bengal.
Option (d) Kalpataru Utsav — Incorrect: Kalpataru Utsav is an annual festival celebrated on January 1st at Cossipore Garden House, Kolkata (Adi Udbodhan Mandir), commemorating the day when Sri Ramakrishna blessed devotees — it is NOT the name of Holi in West Bengal; Dol Purnima is the correct name.

SSC GD 2026 – 22 May 2026 Shift 3 · Festivals by state

Q37. Which traditional sport of Tamil Nadu involves taming a bull as part of the Pongal festival?

(a) Thang-Ta
(b) Vallam Kali
(c) Jallikattu
(d) Bihu Nas

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Jallikattu

Correct Answer: Jallikattu — Option (c)
Jallikattu is the traditional sport of Tamil Nadu that involves taming/controlling a bull, practiced as part of the Mattu Pongal (Pongal) festival. About Jallikattu : Also known as Eruthazhuvuthal (bull embracing), Manju Virattu (chasing the bull), or Eru Thazhuvuthal ; It is a traditional bull-taming sport of Tamil Nadu with a history of over 2,000 years; Practiced during: Mattu Pongal — the third day of the Pongal festival (January 15-16 every year), which is dedicated to cattle; Process: A bull is released into a crowd, and participants (men) attempt to tame/hold onto the bull's hump for a specific distance or time; The goal is to grab the bull's hump and hold on — the bull owners win if the bull breaks free; Famous locations: Alanganallur and Palamedu in Madurai district are the most famous Jallikattu venues; Controversy: Jallikattu was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014 citing animal cruelty concerns; After massive protests across Tamil Nadu in January 2017 (especially Marina Beach, Chennai), the Tamil Nadu government promulgated an ordinance (followed by legislation) to allow Jallikattu ; Currently conducted under regulations to minimize animal cruelty; About the Pongal festival: 4-day harvest festival of Tamil Nadu (celebrated in January): Day 1 — Bhogi Pongal; Day 2 — Thai Pongal (main day); Day 3 — Mattu Pongal (cattle day); Day 4 — Kaanum Pongal.
Option (a) Thang-Ta — Incorrect: Thang-Ta (also called Huyen Lallong) is a traditional martial art and dance of Manipur — it involves sword (Thang) and spear (Ta) fighting; it is NOT from Tamil Nadu and has no connection to bull-taming or the Pongal festival.
Option (b) Vallam Kali — Incorrect: Vallam Kali (Snake Boat Race) is a traditional water sport/boat race of Kerala — featuring decorated longboats raced on Kerala's backwaters during Onam festival; it is NOT from Tamil Nadu and does not involve bull-taming.
Option (d) Bihu Nas — Incorrect: Bihu Nas (Bihu dance) is a traditional folk dance of Assam performed during the Bihu festival — it is NOT from Tamil Nadu and has nothing to do with bull-taming; the Bihu festival is Assam's spring harvest festival. The candidate selected this incorrect option.

SSC GD 2026 – 20 May 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q38. For how many days is the 'Pongal' festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu?

(a) 2 days
(b) 4 days
(c) 7 days
(d) 10 days

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) 4 days

Correct Answer: 4 days — Option (b)
Pongal is the most important harvest festival of Tamil Nadu, celebrated over 4 days during the Tamil month of Thai (typically January 13-16): Day 1 — Bhogi Pongal: Dedicated to Lord Indra (god of clouds and rains); old items are discarded and bonfires are lit; Day 2 — Thai Pongal (Main Day): The most important day; sweet rice dish called 'Pongal' is prepared and offered to the Sun God (Surya); Day 3 — Mattu Pongal: Dedicated to cattle (cows and bulls) who help in agriculture; cattle are decorated and worshipped; Day 4 — Kaanum Pongal (also called Kanum Pongal): A day for family gatherings and outings; younger members seek blessings from elders. Pongal is one of the oldest harvest festivals and has been celebrated for over 2,000 years.
Option (a) 2 days — Incorrect: Pongal is celebrated over 4 days ( Bhogi Pongal, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal), not 2 days.
Option (c) 7 days — Incorrect: Pongal is a 4-day festival; 7 days is not the correct duration of the Pongal celebrations in Tamil Nadu.
Option (d) 10 days — Incorrect: Pongal is celebrated for 4 days, not 10 days; 10-day festivals include Navratri (9 nights) and Ganesh Chaturthi (10 days in some traditions).

SSC GD 2026 – 20 May 2026 Shift 3 · Puppetry and theatre forms

Q39. Which of the following art forms of Kerala is inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?

(a) Kummi
(b) Baguruмba
(c) Koodiyattam ( Kutiyattam )
(d) Perini Shivatandavam

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Koodiyattam ( Kutiyattam )

Correct Answer: Koodiyattam ( Kutiyattam ) — Option (c)
Koodiyattam (also spelled Kutiyattam or Kuttiyattam ) is the art form of Kerala that is inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Key facts about Koodiyattam : UNESCO inscription: Koodiyattam was inscribed in 2008 — it was among the FIRST items to be inscribed when UNESCO established its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; Origin: Koodiyattam is one of the oldest surviving classical theater traditions in the world, dating back over 2,000 years; Language: It is performed in Sanskrit (with some elements in the local language Manipravalam — a mix of Sanskrit and Malayalam); Performers: Traditionally performed by the Chakyar community (male performers) and Nangiarkoothu (solo female form by Nangyar community); Venue: Performed in specially constructed temple theaters called Koothambalam ; Characteristic features: Elaborate costumes, stylized makeup (similar to Kathakali), hand gestures (mudras), slow and deliberate movements; it can take days or weeks to perform a single act.
Option (a) Kummi — Incorrect: Kummi is a simple folk dance of Tamil Nadu (not Kerala), performed by women in circles, clapping their hands rhythmically; it is NOT on the UNESCO ICH list and is not a Kerala art form.
Option (b) Baguruмba — Incorrect: Baguruмba ( Bagurumba ) is a folk dance of the Bodo tribal community of Assam (not Kerala); it is known as the 'Butterfly Dance'; it is NOT a Kerala art form and is not on the UNESCO ICH Representative List.
Option (d) Perini Shivatandavam — Incorrect: Perini Shivatandavam (also called Perini Thandavam ) is an ancient dance form from Telangana/Andhra Pradesh (not Kerala) — it was performed by warriors before going to battle; it is NOT on the UNESCO ICH list and is not from Kerala.

SSC GD 2026 – 20 May 2026 Shift 3 · Festivals by state

Q40. ' Addolu Eidu ' is a cultural festival of which Indian state/Union Territory?

(a) Meghalaya
(b) Telangana
(c) Goa
(d) Lakshadweep

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Lakshadweep

Correct Answer: Lakshadweep — Option (d)
Addolu Eidu (also written as Addolu Id or Eid al-Adha celebrations in Lakshadweep) is a cultural festival of Lakshadweep — the Union Territory consisting of coral islands in the Arabian Sea. Key facts about Lakshadweep's cultural festival: Lakshadweep has a predominantly Muslim population (over 96%); Addolu Eidu (meaning 'Big Eid' in the local Jeseri /Malayalam dialect of the islands) is the local name for Eid al-Adha ( Bakrid /Bakra Eid) — one of the two major Islamic festivals; The festival is celebrated with unique island traditions, special prayers, communal feasts, traditional music, dance (like Kolkali and Parichakali ), and community gatherings; The celebration in Lakshadweep has distinctive cultural elements blended with the island's unique heritage; The coral islands have a rich tradition of Islamic cultural practices blended with local customs, making festivals like Addolu Eidu a unique cultural experience.
Option (a) Meghalaya — Incorrect: Addolu Eidu is not a festival of Meghalaya; Meghalaya is predominantly Christian (with significant tribal communities like Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia); its main festivals include Wangala , Nongkrem , and Behdienkhlam — none of which are Addolu Eidu .
Option (b) Telangana — Incorrect: Telangana is not associated with the Addolu Eidu festival; Telangana's main cultural festivals include Bathukamma, Bonalu , Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, and Medaram Jatara; Addolu Eidu is a festival of Lakshadweep. The candidate selected this incorrect option.
Option (c) Goa — Incorrect: Addolu Eidu is not a Goan festival; Goa's main festivals include the Goa Carnival, Shigmo , and Feast of St. Francis Xavier; while Goa has a Muslim minority, the Addolu Eidu festival is specifically associated with Lakshadweep.

SSC GD 2026 – 19 May 2026 Shift 2 · Fairs and melas

Q41. In which state of India is ' Godachi Mela' traditionally celebrated?

(a) Gujarat
(b) Karnataka
(c) Assam
(d) Haryana

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Karnataka

Correct Answer: Karnataka — Option (b)
Godachi Mela is a traditional fair (mela) celebrated in Godachi village, located in the Belagavi (formerly Belgaum) district of Karnataka. The Godachi Mela is dedicated to the local deity and is an important cultural and religious gathering for the communities of that region. It is one of the notable local fairs in northern Karnataka that brings together people from surrounding villages and districts for religious worship, trading, cultural performances, and folk arts. The fair is an important aspect of Karnataka's rich tradition of local religious festivals and haats (markets).
Option (a) Gujarat — Incorrect: Godachi Mela is celebrated in Karnataka, not Gujarat. Gujarat has its own famous fairs like Tarnetar Mela and Bhavnath Mela.
Option (c) Assam — Incorrect: Assam is known for fairs like Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya and Jonbeel Mela; the Godachi Mela is specific to Karnataka.
Option (d) Haryana — Incorrect: Haryana is known for fairs like Surajkund Mela; the Godachi Mela belongs to Karnataka, not Haryana.

SSC GD 2026 – 18 May 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q42. ' Hareli festival' is celebrated in which of the following Indian states?

(a) Assam
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Chhattisgarh
(d) Gujarat

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Chhattisgarh

Correct Answer: Chhattisgarh — Option (c)
Hareli is the first major festival of the Chhattisgarh calendar and marks the beginning of the festival season in the state. It is celebrated on the new moon day (Amavasya) of the month of Shravan (July–August). ' Hareli ' means 'green' or 'greenery' — the festival celebrates the lush green fields during the onset of the monsoon and is essentially an agricultural festival. Farmers worship their agricultural tools, implements, and cattle. People also celebrate by playing with ' gedi ' (bamboo stilts) — a tradition unique to Hareli . The festival holds cultural and agricultural significance for the farming communities of Chhattisgarh.
Option (a) Assam — Incorrect: Assam is known for festivals like Bihu ( Bohag / Rongali Bihu, Magh Bihu, Kongali Bihu), Ambubachi Mela, and Ali Ai Ligang ; Hareli is not an Assamese festival.
Option (b) Himachal Pradesh — Incorrect: Himachal Pradesh is known for festivals like Kullu Dussehra, Minjar Fair, and Shivratri Mela in Mandi; Hareli is not a Himachali festival.
Option (d) Gujarat — Incorrect: Gujarat is famous for Navratri, Uttarayan (Kite Festival), and Rann Utsav; Hareli is the festival of Chhattisgarh, not Gujarat.

SSC GD 2026 – 18 May 2026 Shift 3 · Festivals by state

Q43. Which festival is celebrated on the last day of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan?

(a) Bakrid
(b) Eid-ul-Fitr
(c) Muharram
(d) Shab-e-Barat

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Eid-ul-Fitr

Correct Answer: Eid-ul-Fitr — Option (b)
Eid-ul-Fitr (also spelled Eid al-Fitr, meaning 'Festival of Breaking the Fast') is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal (the month after Ramadan in the Islamic calendar), marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims observe a month-long fast (Roza/Sawm) during Ramadan from dawn to sunset. Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations include: special congregational prayers (Salat al-Eid) in the morning; giving Zakat al-Fitr (obligatory charity) before prayers; wearing new clothes; exchanging greetings; feasting with family and friends; and giving gifts (Eidi) to children. It is one of the two most important festivals in Islam.
Option (a) Bakrid — Incorrect: Bakrid (Eid al-Adha, 'Festival of Sacrifice') is celebrated approximately 70 days after Eid-ul-Fitr, commemorating Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son; it involves animal sacrifice and is not the festival marking the end of Ramadan.
Option (c) Muharram — Incorrect: Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Ashura (10th of Muharram) is observed as a day of mourning (especially by Shia Muslims) commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husain; it is not the festival ending Ramadan.
Option (d) Shab-e-Barat — Incorrect: Shab-e-Barat ('Night of Fortune') is observed on the 15th of Sha'ban (the month before Ramadan); it is a night of prayer and forgiveness, not the festival marking the end of Ramadan.

SSC GD 2026 – 9 May 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q44. In which Hindu epic is the story related to Dussehra narrated?

(a) Mahabharata
(b) Ramayana
(c) Bhagavad Gita
(d) Vedas

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Ramayana

Correct Answer: Ramayana — Option (b)
Dussehra (also called Vijayadashami) celebrates the victory of Lord Ram over the demon king Ravana, as narrated in the Ramayana. The Ramayana, composed by sage Valmiki, tells the story of Ram's fourteen-year exile, the abduction of Sita by Ravana, and Ram's eventual victory over Ravana with the help of Hanuman and the Vanara army. Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of Navratri (Ashwin Shukla Dashami) and symbolises the triumph of good over evil. In many parts of India, effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada are burned on this day.
Option (a) Mahabharata — Incorrect: The Mahabharata narrates the Kurukshetra war between the Pandavas and Kauravas; it is not the source of the Dussehra story.
Option (c) Bhagavad Gita — Incorrect: The Bhagavad Gita is a philosophical dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna on the Kurukshetra battlefield; it is not related to Dussehra.
Option (d) Vedas — Incorrect: The Vedas are the oldest sacred scriptures of Hinduism containing hymns, rituals, and philosophy; they do not contain the narrative of Ram and Ravana related to Dussehra.

SSC GD 2026 – 9 May 2026 Shift 2 · Tribal festivals

Q45. ' Laru Kaj' is a traditional festival celebrated by which community in Madhya Pradesh?

(a) Bhil
(b) Baiga
(c) Gond
(d) Sahariya

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Gond

Correct Answer: Gond — Option (c)
Laru Kaj (also spelled ' Laaru Kaaj') is a traditional post-death memorial feast/ritual celebrated by the Gond tribal community in Madhya Pradesh and surrounding regions of central India. 'Kaj' means feast or ritual ceremony in Gondi language. After a death in the Gond family, after a certain period (often one year), the family organizes this elaborate feast to honour the deceased person's soul and to officially end the mourning period. The Gonds are one of the largest tribal communities in India and have a rich cultural tradition of such community rituals.
Option (a) Bhil — Incorrect: The Bhils are a major tribal community primarily from Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, but Laru Kaj is specifically associated with the Gond community.
Option (b) Baiga — Incorrect: The Baiga tribe (found in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh) have their own cultural traditions and festivals, but Laru Kaj is a Gond festival.
Option (d) Sahariya — Incorrect: The Sahariya are a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) found in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan; Laru Kaj is not their festival — it belongs to the Gond community.

SSC GD 2026 – 9 May 2026 Shift 3 · Fairs and melas

Q46. Mahesh Rath Yatra is India's second oldest chariot festival. In which state is it celebrated?

(a) Odisha
(b) Gujarat
(c) Jharkhand
(d) West Bengal

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) West Bengal

Correct Answer: West Bengal — Option (d)
Mahesh Rath Yatra, celebrated in Mahesh (a town in Serampore , Hooghly district), is considered India's second oldest Rath Yatra (after the Puri Rath Yatra in Odisha) and Bengal's oldest Rath Yatra. It dates back to 1396 CE — over 620 years of continuous tradition. The chariot festival was established by Dhruvananda Brahmachari after a divine dream. The Jagannath temple at Mahesh is one of the oldest in West Bengal. The Mahesh Rath Yatra attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees annually and has historical significance — even the British era Governor Generals attended it.
Option (a) Odisha — Incorrect: The Puri Rath Yatra in Odisha is the oldest and most famous chariot festival; the Mahesh Rath Yatra (India's second oldest) is in West Bengal.
Option (b) Gujarat — Incorrect: Gujarat has its own temple traditions and festivals, but the Mahesh Rath Yatra is celebrated in West Bengal.
Option (c) Jharkhand — Incorrect: Jharkhand was carved from Bihar in 2000; the Mahesh Rath Yatra is celebrated in West Bengal, not Jharkhand.

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2025-26 – 9 May 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q47. The Hornbill Festival, celebrated to showcase tribal culture, music, dance, and sports, is associated with which Indian state?

(a) Meghalaya
(b) Assam
(c) Manipur
(d) Nagaland

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Nagaland

Topic: Hornbill Festival
TheHornbill Festivalis celebrated inNagaland.
Known as the'Festival of Festivals', held annually inKisama Heritage Villagenear Kohima.
Celebrated infirst week of December(1-10 Dec) to promote tribal culture, traditions, music, dance, and sports of Naga tribes.
Named after theIndian Hornbill bird, which is displayed in folklore of most Naga tribes.
Answer: Option 4 → Nagaland

SSC GD 2026 – 8 May 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q48. The 'Losar' festival is celebrated to mark which New Year?

(a) Hindu New Year
(b) Tamil New Year
(c) Tibetan New Year
(d) Paris New Year

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Tibetan New Year

Correct Answer: Tibetan New Year — Option (c)
Losar is the Tibetan New Year festival, celebrated by Tibetan, Ladakhi, and Buddhist communities. 'Lo' means year and 'Sar' means new in Tibetan. It is one of the most important festivals for Tibetan Buddhists and is celebrated in January or February, based on the Tibetan lunar calendar. Losar is celebrated with elaborate rituals, prayers, traditional dances, family gatherings, and special foods. In India, it is prominently celebrated in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh (by the Monpa and other Buddhist tribes), Sikkim, and Himachal Pradesh (Spiti and Lahaul valleys).
Option (a) Hindu New Year — Incorrect: The Hindu New Year is celebrated as Ugadi/Gudi Padwa/Vishu/Baisakhi depending on the region; Losar is specifically the Tibetan New Year.
Option (b) Tamil New Year — Incorrect: The Tamil New Year is 'Puthandu' (Vishu in Kerala), celebrated in April; Losar is the Tibetan New Year.
Option (d) Paris New Year — Incorrect: There is no 'Paris New Year' as a distinct cultural festival; Losar is the Tibetan Buddhist New Year.

SSC GD 2026 – 8 May 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q49. How many days does the Chhath Puja festival last?

(a) Two days
(b) Three days
(c) Four days
(d) Seven days

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Four days

Correct Answer: Four days — Option (c)
Chhath Puja is a major Hindu festival celebrated primarily in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal. It spans four days: Day 1 — Nahay Khay (ritual bath and meal); Day 2 — Kharna (day-long fast followed by prasad at night); Day 3 — Sandhya Arghya (evening offering to the setting Sun); Day 4 — Usha Arghya (morning offering to the rising Sun). The festival is dedicated to Surya (Sun god) and Chhathi Maiya.
Option (a) Two days — Incorrect: Chhath Puja is a four-day festival, not two days.
Option (b) Three days — Incorrect: Chhath Puja spans four days, not three.
Option (d) Seven days — Incorrect: Seven-day festivals include some forms of Navratri; Chhath Puja lasts four days.

SSC GD 2026 – 8 May 2026 Shift 3 · Festivals by state

Q50. Which festival of Mizoram is celebrated as thanksgiving after clearing forests for Jhum (shifting) cultivation?

(a) Dree
(b) Losar
(c) Chapchar Kut
(d) Behdienkhlam

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Chapchar Kut

Correct Answer: Chapchar Kut — Option (c)
Chapchar Kut is Mizoram's most popular spring festival, celebrated after the clearing of jungle (bamboo, shrubs) for Jhum (shifting) cultivation. ' Chapchar ' means 'the time when jungle clearing for Jhum is completed' and 'Kut' means 'festival'. It is celebrated in March with traditional Mizo music, dance (especially Cheraw — the bamboo dance), and feasting. The festival is a thanksgiving for the hard work of clearing the jungle and an anticipation of a good harvest. It is now celebrated at the state level with great enthusiasm across Mizoram.
Option (a) Dree — Incorrect: Dree festival is the most important festival of the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, celebrated in July for good harvest; it is not a Mizoram festival.
Option (b) Losar — Incorrect: Losar is the Tibetan/Buddhist New Year festival celebrated in Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh; it is not specifically a Mizoram festival.
Option (d) Behdienkhlam — Incorrect: Behdienkhlam is the most important festival of the Pnar (Jaintia) tribe of Meghalaya, celebrated to drive away evil spirits; it is not a Mizoram festival.

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2025-26 – 8 May 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q51. The Goa Carnival is primarily associated with which of the following cultural or religious traditions?

(a) Christian tradition
(b) Persian traditions
(c) Buddhist tradition
(d) Jewish traditions

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Christian tradition

Topic: Goa Carnival - Cultural Festival
The Goa Carnival is a vibrant festival celebrated
before Lent in Goa, India.
It has roots inPortuguese Catholic traditions,
introduced during Portuguese colonial rule.
Features colorful parades, music, dance, and
street celebrations marking the Christian calendar.
Answer: Option 1 → Christian tradition

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2025-26 – 8 May 2026 Shift 3 · Puppetry and theatre forms

Q52. Tholpavakoothu, the traditional shadow puppetry performance, originates from which Indian state?

(a) West Bengal
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Kerala
(d) Odisha

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Kerala

Tholpavakoothu - Traditional Shadow Puppetry
Origin:Kerala
Key Facts:
• Ancient art form performed in Kali temples
• Uses leather puppets depicting Ramayana stories
• Performed during temple festivals, especially in Palakkad region
Answer: Option 3 → Kerala

SSC GD 2026 – 7 May 2026 Shift 1 · Fairs and melas

Q53. Which river is considered especially sacred for holy bathing on Mauni Amavasya?

(a) Yamuna
(b) Ganga
(c) Godavari
(d) Saraswati

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Ganga

Correct Answer: Ganga — Option (b)
The Ganga (Ganges) is considered especially sacred for holy bathing ( snan ) on Mauni Amavasya (the new moon day of silence during the month of Magha). Mauni Amavasya is one of the most important bathing dates during the Kumbh Mela and Magh Mela. Millions of pilgrims take a 'Maun Vrat ' (vow of silence) and bathe in the Ganga, particularly at Prayagraj (Sangam), Varanasi (Ghats), and Haridwar. The Ganga is believed to cleanse sins and grant moksha.
Option (a) Yamuna — Incorrect: While the Yamuna is sacred at Prayagraj (Sangam), the Ganga is specifically considered the most sacred river for Mauni Amavasya bathing.
Option (c) Godavari — Incorrect: The Godavari is the sacred river for the Nashik Kumbh Mela; Mauni Amavasya bathing is primarily associated with the Ganga.
Option (d) Saraswati — Incorrect: The Saraswati is a mythical/subterranean river; physical sacred bathing is associated with the Ganga.

SSC GD 2026 – 7 May 2026 Shift 2 · Fairs and melas

Q54. 'Kanwar Yatra', a major religious fair of Uttarakhand, is primarily associated with the worship of which deity?

(a) Lord Shiva
(b) Goddess Lakshmi
(c) Lord Ganesha
(d) Goddess Durga

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Lord Shiva

Correct Answer: Lord Shiva — Option (a)
The Kanwar Yatra ( Kanwariya pilgrimage) is a major annual Hindu pilgrimage primarily associated with Lord Shiva. Devotees called Kanwariyas collect sacred water from the Ganges (especially at Haridwar, Gaumukh , and Gangotri) and carry it on foot to offer at Shiva temples in their home towns during the month of Shravan (July–August). The largest congregation is in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Millions of devotees undertake this journey, making it one of the world's largest religious gatherings. The Kanwar Yatra is a display of devotion to Lord Shiva, especially during the holy month of Sawan.
Option (b) Goddess Lakshmi — Incorrect: Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped during Diwali and related festivals; Kanwar Yatra is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Option (c) Lord Ganesha — Incorrect: Lord Ganesha is celebrated during Ganesh Chaturthi; Kanwar Yatra is a Shiva pilgrimage.
Option (d) Goddess Durga — Incorrect: Goddess Durga is worshipped during Navratri; Kanwar Yatra is specifically a pilgrimage for Lord Shiva.

RRB NTPC UG CBT-1 2025-26 – 7 May 2026 Shift 1 · Painting styles and schools

Q55. In which state of India did Pattachitra paintings originate?

(a) Rajasthan
(b) Bihar
(c) Odisha
(d) Punjab

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Odisha

Pattachitra Paintings
Origin:Odisha(also West Bengal)
Traditional cloth-based scroll painting.
Famous for Jagannath Temple themes.
Rich mythological and folk narratives.
Answer: Option 3 → Odisha

SSC GD 2026 – 6 May 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q56. 'Kambala' festival is celebrated in which of the following Indian states?

(a) Karnataka
(b) Gujarat
(c) Assam
(d) Tripura

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Karnataka

Correct Answer: Karnataka — Option (a)
Kambala is a traditional buffalo race festival celebrated in the coastal districts of Karnataka (particularly in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts). In Kambala, pairs of buffaloes run through a muddy paddy field track, guided by their handlers. The festival is held during the winter months (November to March) and has been a centuries-old tradition of the Tulu-speaking community ( Tuluvas ) of coastal Karnataka. It gained national attention in 2017 when Srinivas Gowda's buffaloes covered 100m in 9.55 seconds, comparable to Usain Bolt's speed.
Option (b) Gujarat — Incorrect: Gujarat is known for festivals like Navratri (Garba/Dandiya) and Uttarayan (Kite Festival); Kambala is not associated with Gujarat.
Option (c) Assam — Incorrect: Assam celebrates festivals like Bihu; Kambala is a buffalo racing tradition of coastal Karnataka, not Assam.
Option (d) Tripura — Incorrect: Tripura celebrates Garia Puja and Ker Puja; Kambala is specific to coastal Karnataka.

SSC GD 2026 – 6 May 2026 Shift 3 · Festivals by state

Q57. 'Majuli Utsav' festival is celebrated in which of the following Indian states?

(a) Goa
(b) Kerala
(c) Karnataka
(d) Assam

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Assam

Correct Answer: Assam — Option (d)
Majuli Utsav is a cultural festival celebrated on Majuli Island in Assam. Majuli is the world's largest river island, located in the Brahmaputra river in Assam, and is also India's first island district. The festival showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Mishing ( Mising ) and other indigenous communities of Majuli, featuring traditional dances, music, handicrafts, and the unique Vaishnavite Sattra culture. Majuli is famous for its Sattra monasteries, which are centers of neo-Vaishnavism founded by Srimanta Shankardev.
Option (a) Goa — Incorrect: Goa is famous for its Carnival and Shigmo festivals; Majuli Utsav is specific to Assam.
Option (b) Kerala — Incorrect: Kerala celebrates festivals like Onam and Thrissur Pooram; Majuli Utsav is celebrated in Assam.
Option (c) Karnataka — Incorrect: Karnataka has festivals like Dasara (Mysuru) and Kambala; Majuli Utsav is associated with Assam's Majuli Island.

SSC GD 2026 – 5 May 2026 Shift 3 · Festivals by state

Q58. Chhath Puja is primarily dedicated to which deity?

(a) Goddess Durga
(b) Lord Shiva
(c) Surya Dev (Sun God)
(d) Lord Vishnu

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Surya Dev (Sun God)

Correct Answer: Surya Dev (Sun God) — Option (c)
Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu festival primarily dedicated to Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya (the goddess of the sixth day). It is celebrated mainly in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and among communities in Nepal. During Chhath, devotees offer Arghya (prayers with water) to the rising and setting sun. The festival symbolizes gratitude to the Sun for sustaining life on Earth and is one of the most eco-friendly festivals of India.
Option (a) Goddess Durga — Incorrect: Goddess Durga is worshipped during Navratri and Durga Puja, not Chhath Puja.
Option (b) Lord Shiva — Incorrect: Lord Shiva is primarily worshipped during Mahashivratri and Sawan month; Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun God.
Option (d) Lord Vishnu — Incorrect: Lord Vishnu is worshipped during festivals like Ekadashi and Janmashtami; Chhath Puja is specifically for Surya Dev.

SSC GD 2026 – 30 April 2026 Shift 2 · Painting styles and schools

Q59. When was the German Expressionist art group Die Bruecke established?

(a) 1895
(b) 1925
(c) 1905
(d) 1915

Answer & solution

Correct Answer: 1905 — Option (c)
Die Bruecke (meaning 'The Bridge') was a German Expressionist art group founded in Dresden in 1905 by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Fritz Bleyl, Erich Heckel, and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff. It was one of the pioneering Expressionist groups in Europe and significantly influenced 20th-century art. The group disbanded in 1913.
Option (a) 1895 — Incorrect: The group was not founded in 1895.
Option (b) 1925 — Incorrect: Die Bruecke had already dissolved in 1913, well before 1925.
Option (d) 1915 — Incorrect: Die Bruecke was founded a decade earlier, in 1905.

SSC GD 2026 – 27 April 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q60. Which Sikh scripture is recited during Hola Mohalla?

(a) Guru Granth Sahib
(b) Bhagavad Gita
(c) Quran
(d) Bible

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Guru Granth Sahib

Correct Answer: Guru Granth Sahib — Option (a)
Guru Granth Sahib is the eternal living Guru and the holy scripture of Sikhism. During Hola Mohalla — the Sikh festival celebrated the day after Holi, established by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1701 at Anandpur Sahib — the Guru Granth Sahib is recited and kirtan (devotional singing of hymns) is performed. Hola Mohalla is a festival of martial arts, military exercises, and mock battles, as well as religious discourses and poetry readings. The Guru Granth Sahib (also called the Adi Granth) contains 1,430 pages and includes the hymns (Gurbani) of Sikh Gurus and various saints across faiths.
Option (b) Bhagavad Gita — Incorrect: The Bhagavad Gita is a Hindu scripture; Hola Mohalla is a Sikh festival during which the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy scripture) is recited.
Option (c) Quran — Incorrect: The Quran is the holy scripture of Islam and is not recited at Hola Mohalla; the Guru Granth Sahib is the scripture recited at this Sikh festival.
Option (d) Bible — Incorrect: The Bible is the holy scripture of Christianity and is not associated with Hola Mohalla; the Sikh holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib is recited during this festival.

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2025-26 – 22 March 2026 Shift 1 · Painting styles and schools

Q61. Warli painting, a traditional tribal art form, originates from which Indian state?

(a) Maharashtra
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Odisha

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Maharashtra

Topic: Traditional Indian Art Forms
Warli painting is atribal art formfrom the Warli tribe.
Origin:Thane and Nashik districts of Maharashtra.
Characteristics: Simple geometric patterns, white pigment on mud base, depicts daily life and nature.
Answer: Option 1 → Maharashtra

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2025-26 – 22 March 2026 Shift 3 · Painting styles and schools

Q62. Kalamkari painting involves the use of which instrument for drawing outlines?

(a) Paintbrush
(b) Needle
(c) Stylus
(d) Bamboo pen

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Bamboo pen

Topic: Kalamkari Art
Kalamkariis a traditional Indian art form from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The word 'Kalam' means pen and 'kari' means craftsmanship.
Abamboo pen (kalam)is used to draw intricate outlines and patterns.
Natural dyes are applied using this bamboo pen on cotton fabric.
Answer: Option 4 → Bamboo pen

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2025-26 – 19 March 2026 Shift 3 · Festivals by state

Q63. Natyanjali Dance Festival is held every year for ______ days in 1000-year-old temple of Chidambaram, (Tamil Nadu).

(a) 5
(b) 2
(c) 8
(d) 10

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) 5

Natyanjali Dance Festival
Location: Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu
Temple:Nataraja Temple(1000-year-old)
Duration:5 days
Time: Held duringMaha Shivaratri
Features: Classical dance performances dedicated to Lord Nataraja
Answer: Option 1 → 5

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2025-26 – 18 March 2026 Shift 3 · Painting styles and schools

Q64. Which painting form is known for its monochromatic style using white pigment on mud walls?

(a) Madhubani
(b) Pahari
(c) Gond
(d) Warli

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Warli

Warli Painting Characteristics:
• Originated from Warli tribe of Maharashtra
• Useswhite pigment (rice paste)on mud walls
•Monochromatic style(white on brown/red)
• Simple geometric patterns depicting daily life
Other Options:
Madhubani - Colorful, Bihar origin
Pahari - Miniature paintings, Himalayan region
Gond - Colorful dots and lines, Madhya Pradesh
Answer: Option 4 → Warli

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2025-26 – 17 March 2026 Shift 1 · Fairs and melas

Q65. Which North Indian fair, held every 12 years, is a major Hindu pilgrimage event at Prayagraj?

(a) Pushkar Mela
(b) Surajkund Mela
(c) Kumbh Mela
(d) Hemis Festival

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Melais held every 12 years at Prayagraj (Allahabad).
It is the largest religious gathering in the world.
Held at four locations: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik.
Other options: Pushkar (Rajasthan), Surajkund (crafts fair), Hemis (Ladakh Buddhist festival).
Answer: Option 3 → Kumbh Mela

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2025-26 – 16 March 2026 Shift 3 · Painting styles and schools

Q66. Cheriyal scroll painting belongs to which State of India?

(a) Telangana
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Karnataka

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Telangana

Cheriyal scroll painting is a traditional art fromTelanganastate,
originating from Cheriyal village near Siddipet .
Key Facts:
• Narrative scrolls with bold colours depicting mythology.
• Made by the Nakashi community (hereditary painters).
• Received Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• 45 cm wide, long scroll format with bright natural pigments.
Answer: Option 1 → Telangana

RRB NTPC GL CBT-1 2025-26 – 16 March 2026 Shift 3 · Tribal festivals

Q67. In which of the following states is the Baishagu festival celebrated by the Boro Kacharis in the month of April?

(a) Assam
(b) Odisha
(c) Bihar
(d) Karnataka

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Assam

Baishagu is a major spring harvest festival celebrated by the Boro Kacharis
in the month of April in ASSAM.
Key Facts:
• One of the most important festivals of the Boro (Bodo) community.
• Celebrated at the beginning of the Baisakh month (Assamese New Year period).
• Involves traditional music, dance, and worship of nature.
• The Boro Kachari tribe is the largest plains tribe of Assam.
Answer: Option 1 → Assam

RRB JE CBT-1 2025-26 – 25 February 2026 · Tribal festivals

Q68. Which region is the Sarhul festival, orgainsed on 1ˢᵗ April 2025, particularly significant in?

(a) The southern states of India
(b) The Chhotanagpur region and Jharkhand
(c) The coastal regions of India
(d) The Himalayan region

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) The Chhotanagpur region and Jharkhand

Sarhul is a tribal festival celebrated mainly in the Chhotanagpur region and Jharkhand.
It marks the beginning of the new year and the arrival of spring.
The festival involves nature worship and is significant to the tribal communities in this region.
Hence, the Sarhul festival is particularly significant in the Chhotanagpur region and Jharkhand.
Final answer: Option 2

SSC MTS 2025 – 20 February 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q69. The 'Lai- Haraoba ' festival is celebrated in which Indian state?

(a) Manipur
(b) Tamil Nadu
(c) Gujarat
(d) Himachal Pradesh

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Manipur

Correct Answer: Manipur (Option 1)
Lai- Haraoba is a major traditional festival of Manipur, celebrated by the Meitei community. 'Lai' means deity and ' Haraoba ' means merrymaking or pleasing. It is a ritualistic festival held to please the Umang Lais (nature deities) and involves traditional Meitei dances, songs, and rituals performed over several days.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 2 – Tamil Nadu's famous festivals include Pongal, Karthigai Deepam , etc.
Option 3 – Gujarat celebrates Navratri, Uttarayan (Kite Festival), etc.
Option 4 – Himachal Pradesh celebrates Kullu Dussehra, Minjar , Losar, etc.

SSC MTS 2025 – 20 February 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q70. ' Gurpurab ' festival of Punjab is celebrated in honour of the _____.

(a) Hindu Gods
(b) Sikh Gurus
(c) Sufi Saints
(d) Buddhist Monks

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Sikh Gurus

Correct Answer: Sikh Gurus (Option 2)
Gurpurab (also spelled Gurpurb ) is a Sikh religious festival that commemorates the birth or death anniversaries of the Sikh Gurus, especially Guru Nanak Dev Ji (the founder of Sikhism). The most important Gurpurab is Guru Nanak Gurpurab, celebrated in November. It involves processions (Nagar Kirtans), prayer gatherings, and community service (langar).
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – Hindu Gods are worshipped in festivals like Diwali, Holi, Navratri — not called Gurpurab .
Option 3 – Sufi Saints are honoured at Urs celebrations at dargahs, not Gurpurab .
Option 4 – Buddhist Monks are commemorated in events like Buddha Purnima, not Gurpurab .

SSC MTS 2025 – 20 February 2026 Shift 2 · Fairs and melas

Q71. ' Nalwari Fair', celebrated in Himachal Pradesh, is mainly known as a _____.

(a) flower show
(b) handicraft fair
(c) cattle fair
(d) food festival

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) cattle fair

Correct Answer: cattle fair (Option 3)
The Nalwari Fair (also called Nalwari Mela) is a famous traditional cattle fair held in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the largest cattle fairs in Himachal Pradesh, where cattle, horses, mules, and other livestock are bought and sold. The fair also features local cultural programs.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – Flower show is associated with fairs in places like Shimla, not Nalwari .
Option 2 – While handicrafts may be present, Nalwari is primarily known as a cattle fair.
Option 4 – Food festival does not define the Nalwari Fair.

RRB JE CBT-1 2025-26 – 20 February 2026 · Fairs and melas

Q72. Which of the following is one of Asia's largest cattle fairs, organized at the confluence of two mighty rivers, the Ganga and Gandak?

(a) Flamingo Festival
(b) Sonepur Fair
(c) Suraj Kund Craft Mela
(d) Thrissur Pooram

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Sonepur Fair

The Sonepur Fair is one of Asia's largest cattle fairs.
It is organised at the confluence of two mighty rivers, the Ganga and Gandak.
Other options like Flamingo Festival, Suraj Kund Craft Mela, and Thrissur Pooram are cultural or craft fairs in different locations.
Hence, the correct answer is Sonepur Fair.

SSC MTS 2025 – 19 February 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q73. 'Phulaich Festival' is celebrated in which Indian state/UT?

(a) Assam
(b) Puducherry
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Himachal Pradesh

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Himachal Pradesh

The correct answer is option 4.
Phulaich (also spelled Phullaich or Phulaich) is a traditional festival celebrated in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in the Kinnaur and Spiti regions. It is a flower festival that marks the beginning of spring/autumn, celebrating the blooming of flowers and the onset of a new agricultural season.
Option 1 is incorrect: Assam's major festivals include Bihu; Phulaich is not associated with Assam.
Option 2 is incorrect: Puducherry's festivals are influenced by Tamil and French culture; Phulaich is not among them.
Option 3 is incorrect: Rajasthan has its own desert festival and folk fairs; Phulaich is specific to Himachal Pradesh.

SSC MTS 2025 – 19 February 2026 Shift 2 · Tribal festivals

Q74. _____ is a harvest festival of the Jharkhand.

(a) Sohrai
(b) Shigmotsav
(c) Baishagu
(d) Halda

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Sohrai

The correct answer is option 1.
Sohrai is a major harvest festival celebrated in Jharkhand, particularly by the Santali, Munda, and other tribal communities. It marks the end of the harvest season and is celebrated with traditional music, dance, and cattle worship. Sohrai painting — a unique folk art — is also practised during this festival.
Option 2 is incorrect: Shigmotsav (Shigmo) is a spring festival celebrated by the Goan Hindu community, not a harvest festival of Jharkhand.
Option 3 is incorrect: Baishagu is a spring festival celebrated by the Bodo community of Assam, not a Jharkhand harvest festival.
Option 4 is incorrect: Halda is not a recognized harvest festival of Jharkhand.

SSC MTS 2025 – 19 February 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q75. In which Indian Union Territory is the 'Hemis Festival' celebrated?

(a) Ladakh
(b) Chandigarh
(c) Puducherry
(d) Delhi

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Ladakh

The correct answer is option 1.
The Hemis Festival is a famous Buddhist festival celebrated at Hemis Monastery in Ladakh (Union Territory). It is one of the largest and most colourful festivals in Ladakh, held annually in June-July to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. The festival features masked Cham dances performed by monks.
Option 2 is incorrect: Chandigarh is a Union Territory but does not have the Hemis Monastery or Festival.
Option 3 is incorrect: Puducherry is known for its French heritage and Tamil festivals; the Hemis Festival belongs to Ladakh.
Option 4 is incorrect: Delhi, being the national capital Union Territory, does not have the Hemis Festival.

SSC MTS 2025 – 18 February 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q76. The buffalo race held annually in Karnataka is a part of which festival?

(a) Kambala
(b) Gangaur
(c) Pushkaram
(d) Chaitrual

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Kambala

Kambala is the traditional buffalo race festival held annually in the coastal districts of Karnataka. It is a form of buffalo racing through muddy paddy fields and is an important cultural event of the Tulu-speaking people. Gangaur is a Rajasthani festival; Pushkaram is a Telugu river festival; Chaitrual is not associated with this race.

SSC MTS 2025 – 18 February 2026 Shift 2 · Tribal festivals

Q77. The famous 'Hornbill Festival', known for showcasing tribal culture and heritage, is held in which Indian state/Union Territory?

(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) West Bengal
(c) Nagaland
(d) Jammu & Kashmir

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Nagaland

The correct answer is option 3.
The Hornbill Festival is held annually from December 1 to 10 at Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima, Nagaland. Organised by the Nagaland government, it showcases the rich cultural heritage of all Naga tribes. The festival is named after the Indian Hornbill bird, which is prominent in Naga tribal folklore and headgear.
Option 1 is incorrect: Andhra Pradesh has its own cultural festivals but not the Hornbill Festival.
Option 2 is incorrect: West Bengal's major festivals include Durga Puja and Dol Jatra ; the Hornbill Festival belongs to Nagaland.
Option 4 is incorrect: Jammu & Kashmir is known for the Hemis Festival but not the Hornbill Festival.

SSC MTS 2025 – 18 February 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q78. Which festival is celebrated as 'Tihar' in the state of Sikkim?

(a) Eid
(b) Holi
(c) Diwali
(d) Christmas

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Diwali

The correct answer is option 3.
In Sikkim and among the Nepali-speaking communities, Diwali is celebrated as 'Tihar' — a five-day festival of lights. It coincides with the Hindu festival of Diwali and includes the worship of crows, dogs, cows, oxen, and brothers (Bhai Tika). It is one of the most important festivals in Sikkim.
Option 1 is incorrect: Eid is an Islamic festival and is not called 'Tihar' anywhere.
Option 2 is incorrect: Holi is the festival of colours ; it is not known as 'Tihar'.
Option 4 is incorrect: Christmas is a Christian festival and has no connection to the name 'Tihar'.

SSC MTS 2025 – 18 February 2026 Shift 3 · Tribal festivals

Q79. 'Madai festival' is celebrated in which of the following Indian state?

(a) Haryana
(b) Goa
(c) Chhattisgarh
(d) Gujarat

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Chhattisgarh

The correct answer is option 3.
Madai festival is a traditional tribal fair celebrated in Chhattisgarh. It is organised by tribal communities (especially Gondi people) as an agricultural and religious festival to worship local deities. The festival involves fairs, cultural programs, and community worship.
Option 1 is incorrect: Haryana's major festivals include Baisakhi and Gugga Navami; Madai is not associated with Haryana.
Option 2 is incorrect: Goa is known for Carnival and Shigmo festivals, not Madai.
Option 4 is incorrect: Gujarat's major festivals include Navratri and Uttarayan ; Madai is specifically a Chhattisgarh tribal festival.

SSC MTS 2025 – 18 February 2026 Shift 3 · Tribal festivals

Q80. Which festival is a major religious celebration of the Jaintia community in Meghalaya?

(a) Kang
(b) Bumchu
(c) Chaitrual
(d) Behdienkhlam

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Behdienkhlam

The correct answer is option 4.
Behdienkhlam is the most important festival of the Jaintia ( Pnar ) community in Meghalaya, celebrated in the month of July. The festival involves rituals to drive away plague and disease, and to pray for a good harvest. It includes elaborate processions with decorated structures and music.
Option 1 is incorrect: Kang is a festival associated with the Manipuri community, not the Jaintia community of Meghalaya.
Option 2 is incorrect: Bumchu is a Buddhist festival celebrated in Sikkim.
Option 3 is incorrect: Chaitrual is not a significant festival specifically associated with the Jaintia community of Meghalaya.

SSC MTS 2025 – 17 February 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q81. 'Kwak Jatra ' of Manipur is celebrated in the month of _____.

(a) January
(b) March
(c) October
(d) December

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) October

Kwak Jatra is a traditional festival of the Meitei community of Manipur, celebrated in October. It is a significant cultural and religious festival of the state. January, March, and December are incorrect months for this festival.

SSC MTS 2025 – 17 February 2026 Shift 2 · Fairs and melas

Q82. Which of the following fairs is NOT associated with Uttarakhand?

(a) Thal Fair
(b) Pushkar Fair
(c) Jauljibi Fair
(d) Syalde Bikhauti Fair

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Pushkar Fair

Pushkar Fair is NOT associated with Uttarakhand — it is held in Pushkar, Rajasthan, and is famous for camel trading and religious significance. Thal Fair, Jauljibi Fair, and Syalde Bikhauti Fair are all traditional fairs of Uttarakhand.

SSC MTS 2025 – 17 February 2026 Shift 2 · Fairs and melas

Q83. 'Purnagiri Mela' is celebrated in which Indian state?

(a) Assam
(b) Gujarat
(c) West Bengal
(d) Uttarakhand

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Uttarakhand

Purnagiri Mela is celebrated in Uttarakhand, at the Purnagiri Temple near Tanakpur in Champawat district. It is one of the most important religious fairs of the Kumaon region. Assam, Gujarat, and West Bengal are not associated with this mela.

SSC MTS 2025 – 17 February 2026 Shift 3 · Festivals by state

Q84. 'Halda festival' is celebrated in which of the following Indian state?

(a) Haryana
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Gujarat
(d) Assam

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Himachal Pradesh

'Halda' is a traditional harvest festival celebrated in Himachal Pradesh. It marks the beginning of the agricultural sowing season and is associated with prayers for good crops. Haryana, Gujarat, and Assam have their own distinct festivals but are not associated with Halda.

SSC MTS 2025 – 17 February 2026 Shift 3 · Festivals by state

Q85. ' Hareli Festival' is mainly celebrated by which group of people?

(a) Traders
(b) Farmers
(c) Soldiers
(d) Teachers

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Farmers

Hareli Festival is an important agricultural festival celebrated mainly by farmers, particularly in Chhattisgarh. It marks the beginning of the Kharif crop season. On this day, farmers worship their agricultural implements and pray for a good harvest. It is not associated with traders, soldiers, or teachers.

SSC MTS 2025 – 16 February 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q86. The ' Dosmoche ' festival is celebrated in which state/UT of India?

(a) Kerala
(b) Ladakh
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Goa

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Ladakh

Dosmoche (also spelled Dosmochey) is an important Tibetan Buddhist festival celebrated primarily in Ladakh, particularly at the Leh Palace and Diskit Monastery. It is a two-day festival held in the 11th month of the Tibetan calendar and involves elaborate masked dances (Cham) to ward off evil spirits and ensure prosperity.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Kerala: Has its own rich festival traditions like Onam and Thrissur Pooram; Dosmoche is not associated with Kerala.
- Tamil Nadu: A predominantly Hindu state with festivals like Pongal and Karthigai Deepam ; Dosmoche does not belong here.
- Goa: Known for Carnival, Shigmo , and Diwali; Dosmoche is specific to the Buddhist culture of Ladakh.

SSC MTS 2025 – 16 February 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q87. 'Indra Jatra' festival is celebrated in which of the following Indian state?

(a) Sikkim
(b) Goa
(c) Gujarat
(d) Maharashtra

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Sikkim

Indra Jatra is celebrated in Sikkim, India, as a significant Buddhist and Hindu festival. It involves the worship of Lord Indra, masked dances, and the display of religious effigies. While Indra Jatra is more widely known in Nepal (Kathmandu), it is also celebrated as an important festival in Sikkim due to its shared Himalayan cultural heritage.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Goa: Known for festivals like Carnival and Shigmo; Indra Jatra is not particularly associated with Goa.
- Gujarat: Known for Navratri, Uttarayan, and Rann Utsav; not associated with Indra Jatra.
- Maharashtra: Known for Ganesh Chaturthi and Gudi Padwa; Indra Jatra is not a key festival here.

SSC MTS 2025 – 16 February 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q88. In which state of India is the festival of 'Chikalkalo' celebrated?

(a) Sikkim
(b) Haryana
(c) Goa
(d) Odisha

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Goa

Chikalkalo (literally 'mud festival' from 'chikal' meaning mud) is a traditional festival celebrated in Goa. It is associated with the monsoon season and involves playful activities with mud, symbolising the fertility of the earth. It is part of the vibrant Konkani-Goan cultural tradition.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Sikkim: Has its own Buddhist and Hindu festivals; Chikalkalo is not associated with Sikkim.
- Haryana: Known for festivals like Teej and Baisakhi; Chikalkalo belongs to Goa.
- Odisha: Known for Rath Yatra and Durga Puja; Chikalkalo is a Goan tradition.

SSC MTS 2025 – 13 February 2026 Shift 1 · Tribal festivals

Q89. ' Phagun Madai' festival is celebrated on the eve of which major festival?

(a) Makar Sankranti
(b) Holi
(c) Diwali
(d) Lohri

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Holi

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Holi
Phagun Madai is a tribal festival celebrated in Chhattisgarh, particularly by the Gondi tribes. It is held in the month of Phagun (February-March) on the eve of Holi. It is a grand fair-like celebration where tribal communities gather to worship, engage in cultural activities, and celebrate the arrival of spring before Holi.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 (Makar Sankranti): Makar Sankranti is celebrated in January; Phagun Madai falls in Phagun month (February-March), which is tied to Holi.
Option 3 (Diwali): Diwali is celebrated in October-November; Phagun Madai is not associated with Diwali.
Option 4 ( Lohri ): Lohri is a Punjabi harvest festival in January; it is not related to Phagun Madai.

SSC MTS 2025 – 13 February 2026 Shift 3 · Tribal festivals

Q90. 'Lui-Ngai-Ni' festival is celebrated in which Indian state?

(a) Goa
(b) Manipur
(c) Assam
(d) Arunachal Pradesh

Answer & solution

Answer: (b) Manipur

Lui-Ngai-Ni is a traditional seed-sowing festival celebrated by the Naga tribes in Manipur, particularly in the Senapati district. It marks the beginning of the agricultural season and is celebrated with traditional songs, dances, and rituals. The festival promotes unity among various Naga tribes.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Goa: Known for festivals like Carnival and Shigmo ; Lui-Ngai-Ni is not associated with Goa.
- Assam: Has its own prominent festivals like Bihu; Lui-Ngai-Ni is a Manipur-based Naga festival.
- Arunachal Pradesh: Though home to many tribes, Lui-Ngai-Ni is specifically celebrated in Manipur.

SSC MTS 2025 – 12 February 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q91. 'The Feast of St. Francis Xavier' is celebrated in Goa in which month?

(a) January
(b) August
(c) December
(d) May

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) December

Correct Answer: Option 3 – December
The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated on December 3 every year in Goa. It commemorates the death anniversary of St. Francis Xavier, a patron saint of Goa. The celebration at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa draws large numbers of pilgrims and tourists. Every ten years, the body of St. Francis Xavier is also placed on public display (called the 'Exposition').
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 (January): No major feast of St. Francis Xavier is held in January.
Option 2 (August): August is not associated with this feast.
Option 4 (May): The feast is not celebrated in May.

SSC MTS 2025 – 12 February 2026 Shift 3 · Tribal festivals

Q92. 'Agalmaka festival' is celebrated in which Indian state?

(a) Kerala
(b) Gujarat
(c) Meghalaya
(d) Andhra Pradesh

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Meghalaya

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Meghalaya
Agalmaka is a traditional festival celebrated by the Garo tribe of Meghalaya. It is a harvest festival where the Garo people express gratitude for a good harvest and pray for continued prosperity. The festival reflects the rich tribal cultural heritage of the Northeast India.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 (Kerala): Kerala has its own festivals like Onam and Thrissur Pooram; Agalmaka is not from Kerala.
Option 2 (Gujarat): Gujarat is known for Navratri and Uttarayan; Agalmaka is not associated with Gujarat.
Option 4 (Andhra Pradesh): Andhra Pradesh celebrates festivals like Ugadi and Sankranti; Agalmaka is not from there.

SSC MTS 2025 – 11 February 2026 Shift 1 · Tribal festivals

Q93. Which of the following festivals is known as the '100-drum festival' and is celebrated by the Garo tribes?

(a) Wangala
(b) Hornbill
(c) Chhekar
(d) Laru Kaj

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Wangala

The correct answer is Wangala (Option 1). Wangala , also known as the '100-Drum Festival,' is the most important harvest festival of the Garo tribe of Meghalaya. It is celebrated to honor the Sun God ' Saljong ' with traditional dances and drum performances. Option 2 (Hornbill) is a festival of Nagaland. Option 3 ( Chhekar ) and Option 4 ( Laru Kaj) are other Garo festivals but not associated with 100 drums.

SSC MTS 2025 – 11 February 2026 Shift 3 · Festivals by state

Q94. In which Indian state is the festival of ' Baithki Holi' traditionally celebrated?

(a) Karnataka
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Uttarakhand
(d) Telangana

Answer & solution

Answer: (c) Uttarakhand

The correct answer is Uttarakhand (Option 3). ' Baithki Holi' is a unique form of Holi celebration in Uttarakhand, especially in the Kumaon region. In this tradition, people sit together ( Baithki means sitting) and sing classical and folk Holi songs called 'Khari Holi' for several days before the main Holi festival. Option 1 (Karnataka), Option 2 (Maharashtra), and Option 4 (Telangana) do not celebrate Baithki Holi.

SSC MTS 2025 – 10 February 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q95. Where is the 'International Mango Festival' primarily celebrated in India?

(a) Delhi
(b) Shimla
(c) Dispur
(d) Mysore

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Delhi

Correct Answer: 1 – Delhi.
The International Mango Festival is primarily celebrated in Delhi, usually organised by the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) at venues like Talkatora Gardens. The festival showcases hundreds of mango varieties from across India and is held annually around June-July.
Shimla (Option 2), Dispur (Option 3), and Mysore (Option 4) are not known for hosting the International Mango Festival.

SSC MTS 2025 – 10 February 2026 Shift 3 · Festivals by state

Q96. In which Indian state/UT is the 'Three Kings Feast' festival celebrated?

(a) Goa
(b) Ladakh
(c) Nagaland
(d) Assam

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Goa

The correct answer is Goa (Option 1). The 'Three Kings Feast' (Feast of the Three Kings / Epiphany) is a unique festival celebrated in Goa, reflecting the strong Portuguese-Christian cultural influence in the region. It is held on January 6th every year in Cansaulim, Chandor, and Reis Magos. Option 2 (Ladakh), Option 3 (Nagaland), and Option 4 (Assam) do not celebrate this festival.

SSC MTS 2025 – 9 February 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q97. The 'International Kite Festival' in Gujarat coincides with which festival?

(a) Holi
(b) Diwali
(c) Krishna Janmashtami
(d) Makar Sankranti

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) Makar Sankranti

Correct Answer: 4 (Makar Sankranti)
The International Kite Festival ( Uttarayan ) in Gujarat is celebrated on Makar Sankranti, which falls on January 14 every year. This festival marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara). Ahmedabad is particularly famous for its grand kite-flying celebrations during this festival, attracting participants from across the world.
Option 1 (Holi) is incorrect - Holi is the festival of colours celebrated in February/March.
Option 2 (Diwali) is incorrect - Diwali is the festival of lights celebrated in October/November.
Option 3 (Krishna Janmashtami) is incorrect - the candidate chose this wrong option; Janmashtami celebrates Lord Krishna's birth.

SSC MTS 2025 – 6 February 2026 Shift 1 · Fairs and melas

Q98. The Kumbh Mela in Uttarakhand is celebrated in which city?

(a) Haridwar
(b) Rishikesh
(c) Nainital
(d) Dehradun

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Haridwar

Correct Answer: 1 (Haridwar)
Kumbh Mela in Uttarakhand is celebrated in Haridwar, situated on the banks of the River Ganga. Haridwar is one of the four Kumbh Mela sites in India, the others being Prayagraj (Allahabad), Nashik, and Ujjain.
Option 2 (Rishikesh) is incorrect - Rishikesh is known for yoga and adventure tourism, not Kumbh Mela.
Option 3 (Nainital) is incorrect - Nainital is a hill station and lake city, not a Kumbh Mela site.
Option 4 (Dehradun) is incorrect - Dehradun is the capital of Uttarakhand but not a Kumbh Mela venue.

SSC MTS 2025 – 6 February 2026 Shift 1 · Festivals by state

Q99. In which Indian state is the 'Maha Mastakabhisheka Festival' celebrated?

(a) Karnataka
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Uttarakhand
(d) Gujarat

Answer & solution

Answer: (a) Karnataka

Correct Answer: 1 (Karnataka)
The Maha Mastakabhisheka is a grand Jain festival celebrated at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka. It is held once every 12 years and involves the anointing (abhisheka) of the colossal monolithic statue of Bahubali (Gomateshwara). It is one of the largest peaceful gatherings in the world.
Option 2 (Rajasthan) is incorrect - Rajasthan is not associated with this festival.
Option 3 (Uttarakhand) is incorrect - Uttarakhand is associated with Hindu pilgrimage sites like Char Dham, not this Jain festival.
Option 4 (Gujarat) is incorrect - though Gujarat has significant Jain heritage, this specific festival is in Karnataka.

SSC MTS 2025 – 6 February 2026 Shift 2 · Festivals by state

Q100. 'Ganga Dussehra' is celebrated in the month of _____.

(a) January
(b) October
(c) November
(d) June

Answer & solution

Answer: (d) June

Correct Answer: 4 (June)
Ganga Dussehra is a Hindu festival celebrated on the 10th day (Dashami) of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) of the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, which corresponds to May-June in the Gregorian calendar. It celebrates the descent of the River Ganga from heaven to earth. Devotees take a holy dip in the Ganga believing it cleanses ten types of sins.
Option 1 (January) is incorrect.
Option 2 (October) is incorrect.
Option 3 (November) is incorrect.

1 2 3

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