SSC
Which festival falls on the first day of the Malayalam month of Medam, usually on 14 or 15 April?
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Answer: Option A — Vishu
Detailed Solution
Vishu is a Hindu festival of Kerala that falls on the first day of the Malayalam month of Medam, usually on 14 or 15 April. It marks the astronomical New Year, when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries (Mesha), and it is celebrated as the New Year by Malayalis, along with the festival of Onam.
The most important ritual of Vishu is the Vishukkani, meaning "the first sight on Vishu". On the night before Vishu, the women of the family arrange an auspicious display in the prayer room, usually in a large bronze vessel called an "uruli". It includes raw rice, fruits (such as jackfruit, mango and banana), vegetables (especially the golden cucumber, kani vellari), coconut, gold ornaments, coins, a mirror, sacred texts, a white cloth, a lit lamp (nilavilakku) and, most importantly, the golden-yellow flowers of the "konna" (Indian laburnum, Cassia fistula) tree, which blooms at this time of year. The display is placed in front of an image of Lord Krishna (or Vishnu). Early in the morning on Vishu, family members are led with their eyes closed to see the Vishukkani as the first sight of the new year. It is believed that seeing these auspicious things first will bring prosperity throughout the year.
After the Vishukkani, the elders of the family give money (usually coins) to the younger members and to servants, a custom called "Vishukkaineetam". Children burst firecrackers (Vishu padakkam), people wear new clothes (Vishukodi), and families prepare a grand feast (Vishu sadya) with dishes such as Vishu kanji and Vishu katta. Crowds visit the Sabarimala and Guruvayur temples to see the Vishukkani there.
Vishu falls on the same day as other New Year festivals of India, such as Baisakhi, Puthandu, Bohag Bihu, Pohela Boishakh and Pana Sankranti.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Onam is the harvest festival in the month of Chingam (August-September).
- ✗Thiruvathira is a festival of women in the month of Dhanu (December-January).
- ✗Makaravilakku is the festival at Sabarimala on Makar Sankranti.
Quick tip
Remember: Vishu = the first day of Medam (14-15 April), the Vishukkani, the konna flowers and Vishukkaineetam.
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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.