BY HARISH SIR

STATE-WISE FESTIVALS & FAIRS IN INDIA (INCLUDING TRIBAL FESTIVALS)

1. Andhra Pradesh
• Ugadi – Telugu New Year
• Pongal – Harvest festival
• Tirupati Brahmotsavam – Grand temple festival at Tirupati
• Visakha Utsav – Cultural festival in Visakhapatnam
• Medaram Jatara (Tribal, Koya Community) – Asia’s largest tribal festival, held every two years in Telangana
2. Arunachal Pradesh
• Losar – Tibetan New Year
• Solung (Adi Tribe) – Agriculture festival
• Nyokum Yullo (Nyishi Tribe) – Festival to please deities
• Siang River Festival – Promotes eco-tourism
• Dree Festival (Apatani Tribe) – Celebrates harvest and fertility
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3. Assam
• Bihu (Bohag, Magh, Kati) – Agricultural festivals
• Ambubachi Mela – Celebrates fertility of Goddess Kamakhya
• Jonbeel Mela (Tiwa Tribe) – Ancient barter system fair
• Ali-Aye-Ligang (Mishing Tribe) – Harvest festival
4. Bihar
• Chhath Puja – Worship of Sun God
• Sonepur Cattle Fair – Asia’s largest cattle fair
• Pitrapaksha Mela – Gaya, for ancestral worship
• Jitiya Festival (Tharu Tribe) – Observed by mothers for children's well-being
5. Chhattisgarh
• Bastar Dussehra (Gond Tribe) – Unique 75-day long festival
• Goncha Festival (Muria & Gond Tribes) – Wooden gun firing ritual
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• Madai Festival (Gond Tribe) – Worship of Goddess Danteshwari
• Karma Festival (Oraon & Baiga Tribes) – Worship of Karam tree
6. Goa
• Goa Carnival – Portuguese-era festival
• Shigmo Festival – Goan Holi
• Sao Joao Festival – Monsoon festival
7. Gujarat
• Navratri – Longest dance festival
• Rann Utsav – Kutch cultural fair
• Bhavnath Mahadev Mela – Gir region
• Dang Darbar (Dang Tribe) – Festival showcasing tribal culture
8. Haryana
• Surajkund Crafts Mela – International crafts fair
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• Gugga Naumi – Snake deity worship
• Lohri – Winter harvest festival
9. Himachal Pradesh
• Kullu Dussehra – Procession of local deities
• Minjar Mela – Celebrated in Chamba
• Halda Festival (Lahauli Tribe) – New Year celebration
10. Jharkhand
• Sarhul (Munda, Oraon, & Ho Tribes) – Worship of Sal tree
• Karma Festival (Oraon & Baiga Tribes) – Celebrating nature
• Tusu Parab (Kurmi & Tribal Communities) – Makar Sankranti harvest festival
• Sohrai (Santhal & Munda Tribes) – Cattle worship
11. Karnataka
• Mysuru Dasara – Famous for grand processions
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• Hampi Utsav – Celebrates Vijayanagara heritage
• Kambala Festival – Buffalo race in coastal Karnataka
• Kailpodh Festival (Kodava Community) – Warrior festival
12. Kerala
• Onam – Grandest festival of Kerala
• Thrissur Pooram – Temple elephant procession
• Nehru Trophy Boat Race – Snake boat competition
• Attukal Pongala – World’s largest gathering of women
13. Madhya Pradesh
• Khajuraho Dance Festival – Celebrating classical dance
• Malwa Utsav – Cultural event
• Tansen Music Festival – In memory of Tansen
• Bhagoria Festival (Bhil Tribe) – Tribal matchmaking festival
BY HARISH SIR
14. Maharashtra
• Ganesh Chaturthi – Lord Ganesha festival
• Ellora Ajanta Festival – Cultural festival
• Kala Ghoda Arts Festival – Mumbai cultural fair
• Wari Yatra (Varkari Sect) – Pilgrimage to Pandharpur
15. Manipur
• Yaoshang Festival – Manipur’s version of Holi
• Ningol Chakouba – Social festival for married women
• Lai Haraoba – Celebrating local deities
16. Meghalaya
• Shad Suk Mynsiem – Spring festival
• Nongkrem Dance Festival – Khasi tribe’s thanksgiving festival
• Behdienkhlam (Jaintia Tribe) – Seeking protection from diseases
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17. Mizoram
• Chapchar Kut (Mizo Tribe) – Spring festival
• Mim Kut (Mizo Tribe) – Corn harvest festival
18. Nagaland
• Hornbill Festival (All Naga Tribes) – "Festival of Festivals"
• Sekrenyi Festival (Angami Tribe) – Celebrates purification rituals
19. Odisha
• Rath Yatra – Lord Jagannath’s chariot festival
• Durga Puja – Grand celebration in Cuttack
• Chhau Festival (Mayurbhanj & Seraikela Tribes) – Masked dance festival
20. Punjab
• Lohri – Harvest festival
• Baisakhi – Sikh New Year
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• Hola Mohalla – Sikh martial arts fair
21. Rajasthan
• Pushkar Camel Fair – Largest camel trade fair
• Gangaur Festival – Festival for Goddess Gauri
• Baneshwar Fair (Bhil Tribe) – Religious tribal fair
• Desert Festival (Jaisalmer) – Cultural celebration
22. Sikkim
• Losar – Tibetan New Year
• Pang Lhabsol – Honors Mount Kanchenjunga
23. Tamil Nadu
• Pongal – Grandest harvest festival
• Natyanjali Dance Festival – Devoted to Lord Nataraja
• Thaipusam – Devotion to Lord Murugan
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24. Telangana
• Bathukamma – Floral festival
• Bonalu – Worship of Goddess Mahakali
• Sammakka Saralamma Jatara (Koya Tribe) – Asia’s biggest tribal congregation
25. Tripura
• Kharchi Puja – Worship of 14 deities
• Neermahal Water Festival – Boat race
26. Uttar Pradesh
• Kumbh Mela – World’s largest religious gathering
• Taj Mahotsav – Cultural event in Agra
• Dev Deepawali – Grand celebration in Varanasi
27. Uttarakhand
• Ganga Dussehra – Worship of River Ganga
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• Bikhauti Mela – Agriculture-based fair
• Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra (Bhotia Tribe) – Himalayan pilgrimage
28. West Bengal
• Durga Puja – Bengal’s biggest festival
• Poush Mela – Shantiniketan’s fair
• Ganga Sagar Mela – Religious fair at Ganga delta
BY HARISH SIR

IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS 🌍

International festivals celebrate cultural heritage, traditions, and global unity. These festivals are significant for
SSC CGL, UPSC, and other competitive exams, especially for topics related to culture, international affairs, and
world history.

1. Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) – China 🇨🇳

• When? January/February (based on the Lunar Calendar)
• Significance: Marks the beginning of the Chinese lunar year.
• Celebrations: Fireworks, Dragon Dance, Red Envelope gifting (Hongbao), and Family reunions.
• Community: Han Chinese and Overseas Chinese celebrate it worldwide.

2. Oktoberfest – Germany 🇩🇪
• When? Late September – Early October
BY HARISH SIR
• Where? Munich, Bavaria, Germany
• Significance: Largest beer festival in the world, dating back to 1810.
• Celebrations: Traditional Bavarian music, costumes (Lederhosen and Dirndl), and beer tasting.

3. Carnival – Brazil 🇧🇷 (Also celebrated in Venice, Italy & New Orleans, USA)
• When? February or March (Before Lent begins)
• Significance: Largest pre-Lenten festival, known for its vibrant energy and grand parades.
• Celebrations: Samba parades, street parties, and masked balls.
• Famous Carnivals:
o Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) – World’s largest carnival.
o Venice Carnival (Italy) – Known for its elaborate masks and costumes.
o Mardi Gras (New Orleans, USA) – French-style carnival with floats and jazz music.
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4. La Tomatina – Spain 🇪🇸
• When? Last Wednesday of August
• Where? Buñol, Spain
• Significance: A unique Tomato-throwing festival with origins in 1945.
• Celebrations: Thousands of people participate in throwing tomatoes at each other for fun.

5. Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) – Mexico 🇲🇽

• When? 1st & 2nd November
• Significance: Honors deceased loved ones with offerings (ofrendas).
• Celebrations: Sugar skulls (Calaveras), decorated altars, and traditional Mexican food.

6. Hanami (Cherry Blossom Festival) – Japan 🇯🇵

• When? March – May (Varies by region)
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• Significance: Celebrates the beauty of Sakura (cherry blossoms).
• Celebrations: People gather in parks for picnics under cherry trees.
• Community: Japanese and tourists from around the world.

7. Saint Patrick’s Day – Ireland 🇮🇪

• When? 17th March
• Significance: Honors St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
• Celebrations: Parades, wearing green, and Irish traditional music.
• Famous Locations: Dublin, New York, Chicago (where they dye the river green!).

8. Bastille Day – France 🇫🇷

• When? 14th July
• Significance: French National Day commemorating the storming of the Bastille (1789).
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• Celebrations: Military parades, fireworks, and patriotic events in Paris.

9. Halloween – USA & Western Countries

• When? 31st October
• Significance: Originally a Celtic festival (Samhain), it marks the eve of All Saints' Day.
• Celebrations: Trick-or-treating, haunted houses, and costume parties.

10. Christmas – Worldwide

• When? 25th December
• Significance: Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
• Celebrations: Gift-giving, Santa Claus traditions, church services, and festive meals.
• Famous Christmas Markets:
o Germany – Nürnberg, Cologne
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o Austria – Vienna
o France – Strasbourg

11. Thanksgiving – USA & Canada 🇺🇸 🇨🇦

• When?
o USA – 4th Thursday of November
o Canada – 2nd Monday of October
• Significance: A day to express gratitude for harvest and blessings.
• Celebrations: Family feasts with turkey, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce.

12. Eid al-Fitr & Eid al-Adha – Islamic Countries

• When? Dates vary based on the Islamic lunar calendar
• Significance:
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o Eid al-Fitr – Celebrates the end of Ramadan (month of fasting).
o Eid al-Adha – Honors Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice, marked by animal sacrifice.
• Celebrations: Special prayers, feasting, and giving to charity (Zakat).

13. Nowruz – Persian New Year (Iran, Central Asia, & Parts of India)
• When? 21st March (Spring Equinox)
• Significance: Celebrates the Persian New Year and arrival of spring.
• Community: Iranians, Zoroastrians, Parsis, and Central Asians.
• Celebrations: Haft-Seen table, fire-jumping rituals, and family gatherings.

14. Hogmanay – Scotland 🇬🇧

• When? 31st December – 1st January
• Significance: Scottish New Year celebrations with Viking origins.
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• Celebrations: Fireworks, street parties, and the first-footing tradition.

15. Inti Raymi – Peru 🇵🇪 (Inca Festival of the Sun)

• When? 24th June
• Where? Cusco, Peru
• Significance: Honors Inti, the Sun God, in ancient Incan culture.
• Celebrations: Traditional dances, rituals, and reenactments.

16. Diwali – Celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists

• When? October/November (Varies by Hindu lunar calendar)
• Significance: Festival of Lights, celebrating the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.
• Celebrations: Fireworks, lighting lamps (diyas), exchanging sweets, and prayers.
BY HARISH SIR
17. Vesak (Buddha Purnima) – Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, & Southeast Asia
• When? April/May (Varies by Buddhist lunar calendar)
• Significance: Celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha.
• Celebrations: Buddhist prayers, processions, and temple decorations.