SSC
The Thiruvathira festival, celebrated by women with the Thiruvathirakali dance, is mainly celebrated in which state?
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Answer: Option B — Kerala
Detailed Solution
Thiruvathira is a Hindu festival of Kerala dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is celebrated on the day of the Thiruvathira star (Ardra nakshatra) in the Malayalam month of Dhanu, which falls in December or January. It is believed to be the birthday of Lord Shiva.
Thiruvathira is especially a festival of women. Married women observe a fast for the long life and well-being of their husbands, and unmarried girls pray to get good husbands. According to one legend, it was on this day that Goddess Parvati was finally united with Shiva after her long penance. Another legend links it with the story of Kamadeva, the god of love, who was burnt to ashes by Shiva and later restored to life at the request of his wife, Rati.
On the day of Thiruvathira, women wake up early and bathe in ponds or rivers, singing songs. They wear traditional clothes, such as the set mundu, and adorn their hair with flowers. They avoid eating rice and eat special dishes, such as "Thiruvathira puzhukku" (a dish made with tubers and beans) and "koova payasam" (made from arrowroot flour). In the evening and night, women perform the Thiruvathirakali (also called Kaikottikali), a graceful group dance, in which they move in a circle around a lit lamp, clapping their hands and singing songs in praise of Shiva and Parvati. Swings are also set up for women to enjoy.
In Tamil Nadu, the same day is celebrated as Arudra Darshan, especially at the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram, where it marks Shiva's cosmic dance.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Karnataka is known for festivals such as Mysuru Dasara and Kambala.
- ✗Goa is known for festivals such as Shigmo and the Goa Carnival.
- ✗Andhra Pradesh is known for festivals such as Sankranti and Ugadi.
Quick tip
Remember: Thiruvathira = Kerala, the month of Dhanu, Lord Shiva and the Thiruvathirakali dance. Arudra Darshan = Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu.
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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.