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Nawala, a thanksgiving festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and celebrated by the Gaddi community, is majorly celebrated in which state?
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Answer: Option B — Himachal Pradesh
Detailed Solution
Nawala is a thanksgiving festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, celebrated mainly in the Kangra and Chamba districts of Himachal Pradesh, especially by the Gaddi community. It is held to thank Lord Shiva for his blessings and to pray for the well-being of the family and the flocks.
Nawala is usually organised by a family as a vow (mannat), after a wish has been fulfilled, such as the birth of a child, recovery from illness, or the safe return of the flocks from the high pastures. A Shiva lingam is made, often from flour, and placed under a canopy decorated with flowers and garlands of fruits. Priests perform rituals, and devotional songs in praise of Shiva, called "ainchaliyan", are sung through the night by groups of singers. Relatives, friends and members of the community are invited, and the festival ends with a community feast.
The Gaddis are a semi-nomadic pastoral community of Himachal Pradesh, who live mainly in the Bharmour region of Chamba (known as "Gadderan") and in Kangra. They raise sheep and goats, and they move with their flocks to the high mountain pastures in summer and to the lower valleys in winter. The Gaddis are great devotees of Lord Shiva, and they believe that Mount Kailash in the Bharmour region (Manimahesh Kailash) is the home of Shiva. The Manimahesh Yatra, a pilgrimage to the sacred Manimahesh Lake at the foot of the mountain, held in August-September, is their most important pilgrimage. The Gaddis are known for their distinctive dress, made of handwoven wool, such as the "chola" (a long woollen coat) and the "dora" (a long black rope tied around the waist).
Other festivals of Himachal Pradesh include the Kullu Dussehra, the Minjar Fair of Chamba, the Shivratri Fair of Mandi, Phulaich, Halda and the Doongri festival.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Rajasthan is known for festivals such as Gangaur and Teej.
- ✗Gujarat is known for Navratri and Uttarayan.
- ✗Bihar is known for Chhath.
Quick tip
Remember: Nawala = the Gaddi community of Himachal Pradesh (Kangra and Chamba), Lord Shiva and thanksgiving. The Gaddis = the Manimahesh Yatra.
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Festivals & Fairs of India — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Festivals & Fairs of India, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the religious, harvest, tribal and cultural festivals of India, the fairs (melas) held across the country, and the states, communities and seasons linked to them. It also includes festivals listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, such as Kumbh Mela and Durga Puja in Kolkata. Most questions ask which state celebrates a festival, which tribe it belongs to, or what event it marks. Harvest festivals are especially common: Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Onam (Kerala), Bihu (Assam), Lohri and Baisakhi (Punjab) and Nuakhai (Odisha). Fairs such as the Pushkar camel fair (Rajasthan) and the Sonepur cattle fair (Bihar) are also frequently tested. Revise festivals state by state. Practise the festivals and fairs questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.