6. Dol Purnima (Dol Jatra)
- Festival Name: Dol Purnima (Dol Jatra)
- State/Region associated: West Bengal
- Religion/Community associated: Hindu (Vaishnavite tradition)
- Month/Season of celebration: Phalguna Purnima (February–March)
- Type of festival: Religious / Cultural / Spring festival
- Significance/Purpose: Celebrates the divine love of Radha-Krishna and marks the arrival of spring; also commemorates the birth anniversary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Important deity/person associated: Radha-Krishna and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Special ritual/unique feature: Idols of Radha-Krishna are placed on a decorated swing (Dol) and rocked ceremonially; people play with Abir (colored powder).
- Famous place where celebrated: Santiniketan (Basanta Utsav) and Nabadwip (birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu).
- Recently in news/current affairs: Celebrations in 2026 emphasized the sustainable use of natural Abir made from flowers and herbs.
- UNESCO recognition: No.
- One-line exam fact: Dol Purnima in West Bengal is a significant Vaishnavite festival marking the swing ceremony of Lord Krishna and the birth anniversary of the saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Trick/Hint: ‘Dol’ sounds like ‘dull,’ so remember it like this: you go to the sea beach when you feel dull.
Here is a highly targeted repository of 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) tailored for top-tier Indian competitive exams (UPSC, SSC CGL, State PSCs, Railways, and Banking). The questions systematically cover tribal festivals, cultural fairs, harvest traditions, and newly updated national current affairs across all Indian States and Union Territories.
100 Practice MCQs
Q1. The Nauchandi Mela, renowned as a landmark of Hindu-Muslim syncretic culture, is annually held in which district of Uttar Pradesh?
A) Prayagraj
B) Meerut
C) Agra
D) Varanasi
Answer: B) Meerut
Q2. Which historic annual festival in Uttar Pradesh was newly designated to receive government funding and administrative layout equivalent to a ‘Mini-Kumbh’?
A) Bateshwar Fair
B) Shakumbhari Devi Mela
C) Garh Mukteshwar Mela
D) Soron Mela
Answer: C) Garh Mukteshwar Mela
Q3. Which unique element is true regarding the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra of Uttarakhand, celebrated once every 12 years?
A) It is completely traveled via mechanized boats.
B) The high-altitude foot pilgrimage is led by a sacred four-horned ram.
C) It concludes at the banks of the Yamuna River.
D) It is an entirely static mask-dance theater.
Answer: B) The high-altitude foot pilgrimage is led by a sacred four-horned ram.
Q4. The ritual theatre ‘Ramman’ of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, which features masked performances of epics, is inscribed on which global cultural list?
A) UNESCO World Heritage Sites List
B) UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
C) RAMSAR Convention Sites
D) IUCN Red List of Cultural Arts
Answer: B) UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Q5. During which festival in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand do children wear necklaces made of deep-fried sweet knots (Ghughute) and feed them to black crows?
A) Phool Dei
B) Harela
C) Ghughutia (Uttarayani)
D) Hill Jatra
Answer: C) Ghughutia (Uttarayani)
Q6. The ‘Hill Jatra’ festival of Pithoragarh, centered around paddy cultivation, features a terrifying yet highly revered pastoral mask character named:
A) Bhumiyal Devta
B) Lakhia Bhoot
C) Chausingha
D) Dulla Bhatti
Answer: B) Lakhia Bhoot
Q7. The historic ‘Jhanda Mela’ of Dehradun commemorates the arrival of which spiritual figure, effectively marking the historical foundation of Dehradun city?
A) Guru Gobind Singh
B) Guru Ram Rai Ji
C) Baba Banda Singh Bahadur
D) Guru Tegh Bahadur
Answer: B) Guru Ram Rai Ji
Q8. The popular winter folk festival of ‘Lohri’ in Punjab is historically and structurally linked to the lore of which legendary regional hero?
A) Banda Singh Bahadur
B) Dulla Bhatti
C) Bhagat Singh
D) Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: B) Dulla Bhatti
Q9. The ‘Hola Mohalla’ festival, an extraordinary display of Sikh martial arts, horse-riding, and mock battles, was initiated by Guru Gobind Singh at which location?
A) Golden Temple, Amritsar
B) Takht Sri Damdama Sahib
C) Anandpur Sahib
D) Sultanpur Lodhi
Answer: C) Anandpur Sahib
Q10. The ‘Sanjhi’ festival of Haryana, which involves creating highly complex bas-relief wall paintings using fresh clay and cow dung, is primarily celebrated by:
A) Village elders and priests
B) Unmarried young girls
C) Nomadic cattle herders
D) Traditional metal craftsmen
Answer: B) Unmarried young girls
Q11. The internationally acclaimed Surajkund Crafts Mela is held annually in which district of Haryana to showcase Indian handlooms and handicrafts?
A) Gurugram
B) Faridabad
C) Ambala
D) Kurukshetra
Answer: B) Faridabad
Q12. The structural ‘Kullu Dussehra’ of Himachal Pradesh is highly distinct from standard North Indian celebrations because:
A) It does not involve the ritual burning of effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnada.
B) It is celebrated entirely inside dark underground caves.
C) It begins exactly one month after standard Dussehra finishes.
D) It prohibits the use of musical instruments.
Answer: A) It does not involve the ritual burning of effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnada.
Q13. The ‘Minjar Fair’ of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, celebrated with vast historical processions, derives its unique name from the ritual offering of:
A) Fresh mountain honey
B) Maize shoots or silk tassels representing the inflorescence of paddy/maize
C) Hand-woven woolen shawls
D) Wild rhododendron petals
Answer: B) Maize shoots or silk tassels representing the inflorescence of paddy/maize
Q14. The ‘Fagli’ festival of the Western Himalayas (Kinnaur/Kullu in HP) is celebrated in late winter to symbolize:
A) The onset of heavy snowstorms
B) The victory of good over evil, marked by men wearing massive wooden masks and costumes made of dry grass
C) The historical trade route opening with Tibet
D) The formal conclusion of the apple harvest
Answer: B) The victory of good over evil, marked by men wearing massive wooden masks and costumes made of dry grass
Q15. The ‘Tulip Festival’, which showcases thousands of rows of blooming flowers against the backdrop of the Zabarwan mountain range, takes place annually in:
A) Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
B) Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
C) Leh, Ladakh
D) Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir
Answer: B) Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
Q16. The high-altitude ‘Hemis Festival’ of Ladakh is celebrated inside the historic Hemis Monastery to commemorate the birth anniversary of which master?
A) Gautama Buddha
B) Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche)
C) Dalai Lama
D) Atisa Dipamkara
Answer: B) Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche)
Q17. The ‘Losar’ festival, celebrated with religious fervor, masked dances, and family gatherings across Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, marks the arrival of:
A) The Tibetan New Year
B) The Summer Solstice
C) The Autumn Monsoons
D) The Barley Sowing Window
Answer: A) The Tibetan New Year
Q18. The historic ‘Ambubachi Mela’ of Assam is celebrated at the Kamakhya Temple to mark which specific cosmic/natural phenomenon?
A) The winter solstice and solar transit
B) The annual menstruation cycle of Goddess Kamakhya, coinciding with the swelling of the Brahmaputra River
C) The post-harvest sorting of rice grains
D) The historical victory of Sukaphaa over regional tribes
Answer: B) The annual menstruation cycle of Goddess Kamakhya, coinciding with the swelling of the Brahmaputra River
Q19. Assam celebrates three distinct forms of Bihu annually. Which Bihu marks the structural arrival of the Spring season and the Assamese New Year?
A) Bhogali Bihu (Magh Bihu)
B) Rongali Bihu (Bohag Bihu)
C) Kongali Bihu (Kati Bihu)
D) Ali-Aye-Ligang
Answer: B) Rongali Bihu (Bohag Bihu)
Q20. The iconic ‘Hornbill Festival’ of Nagaland, often called the “Festival of Festivals,” is organized annually by the State Government at which heritage village?
A) Khonoma Village
B) Kisama Heritage Village
C) Tuophema Village
D) Pfutsero Village
Answer: B) Kisama Heritage Village
Q21. The ‘Sekrenyi’ festival, a major annual event involving structural water purification rituals and specialized community dancing, belongs to which Naga tribe?
A) Konyak Tribe
B) Angami Tribe
C) Ao Tribe
D) Lotha Tribe
Answer: B) Angami Tribe
Q22. The ‘Moatsu Festival’ is a premier post-sowing festival celebrated with traditional songs and community bonding by which tribe of Nagaland?
A) Sumi Tribe
B) Ao Tribe
C) Chang Tribe
D) Phom Tribe
Answer: B) Ao Tribe
Q23. The ‘Chapchar Kut’ is the grandest, most colorful spring festival celebrated with the structural ‘Cheraw’ (Bamboo Dance) in which North-Eastern state?
A) Nagaland
B) Mizoram
C) Manipur
D) Meghalaya
Answer: B) Mizoram
Q24. The ‘Wangala Festival’, popularly known as the “100 Drums Festival,” is a thanksgiving post-harvest celebration performed by which community of Meghalaya?
A) Khasi Tribe
B) Garo Tribe
C) Jaintia Tribe
D) Mizo Tribe
Answer: B) Garo Tribe
Q25. The sacred ‘Nongkrem Dance Festival’, featuring highly stylized steps performed by the native chief’s family and local youths to thank the Goddess Ka Blei Synshar, belongs to which Meghalayan tribe?
A) Garo Tribe
B) Khasi Tribe
C) Hajong Tribe
D) Jaintia Tribe
Answer: B) Khasi Tribe
Q26. The ‘Behdienkhlam’ festival, where young men symbolically drive away the demon of cholera/evil spirits by beating the water with decorated wooden logs, is celebrated by which community?
A) Pnar (Jaintia) Tribe of Meghalaya
B) Nyishi Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh
C) Kuki Tribe of Manipur
D) Lepcha Tribe of Sikkim
Answer: A) Pnar (Jaintia) Tribe of Meghalaya
Q27. The agricultural ‘Dree Festival’, featuring traditional prayers to protect crops from pests and seasonal insects, is uniquely celebrated by the Apatani tribe in which valley of Arunachal Pradesh?
A) Tawang Valley
B) Ziro Valley
C) Dibang Valley
D) Sangti Valley
Answer: B) Ziro Valley
Q28. The ‘Sangken’ festival of Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam, characterized by the joyful splashing of clean water on Buddha images and fellow citizens, represents:
A) The Solung Harvest Window
B) The Water New Year Festival of Khamti and Singpho Buddhist communities
C) The Pre-monsoon hunting season launch
D) The Winter Solstice
Answer: B) The Water New Year Festival of Khamti and Singpho Buddhist communities
Q29. The grand ‘Yaoshang’ festival of Manipur, often compared to Holi, features the unique ‘Thabal Chongba’ (dancing by moonlight) and is celebrated by which community?
A) Tangkhul Tribe
B) Meitei Community
C) Zeliangrong Tribe
D) Maram Tribe
Answer: B) Meitei Community
Q30. The ‘Sangai Festival’, named after the endangered brow-antlered deer endemic to Keibul Lamjao National Park, is the premier cultural tourism festival of:
A) Mizoram
B) Manipur
C) Tripura
D) Nagaland
Answer: B) Manipur
Q31. The ancient ‘Kharchi Puja’ festival involves the formal ritual worship of fourteen dynastic deities over seven days in which North-Eastern state?
A) Assam
B) Tripura
C) Meghalaya
D) Mizoram
Answer: B) Tripura
Q32. The ‘Saga Dawa’ festival, recognized as one of the most sacred spiritual periods observing Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana, is primarily celebrated in:
A) Sikkim
B) Tripura
C) Nagaland
D) Manipur
Answer: A) Sikkim
Q33. The ‘Losoong’ (Namsoong) festival marks the traditional agrarian New Year and is celebrated with the colorful Black Hat dance styles by which tribes of Sikkim?
A) Bhutia and Lepcha Tribes
B) Khasi and Garo Tribes
C) Apatani and Nyishi Tribes
D) Chakma and Hajong Tribes
Answer: A) Bhutia and Lepcha Tribes
Q34. The ‘Durga Puja’ of Kolkata, celebrated with grand artistic pandals and community public art installations, was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in which year?
A) 2014
B) 2018
C) 2021
D) 2024
Answer: C) 2021
Q35. The ‘Poush Mela’ of West Bengal, featuring soul-stirring performances by Baul singers and tribal handicraft displays, is historically associated with which location?
A) Darjeeling
B) Shantiniketan (Bolpur)
C) Murshidabad
D) Digha
Answer: B) Shantiniketan (Bolpur)
Q36. The structural ‘Nabakalebara’ festival of Odisha involves the sacred replacement of the wooden idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. This occurs at intervals of:
A) Fixed every 5 years
B) Calculated during leap years of the Hindu calendar containing two Ashadha months (8, 12, or 19 years)
C) Exactly every 12 years matching the Kumbh Mela
D) Every single year during the Rath Yatra
Answer: B) Calculated during leap years of the Hindu calendar containing two Ashadha months (8, 12, or 19 years)
Q37. The iconic ‘Nuakhai’ festival of Odisha is fundamentally designed as a:
A) Maritime trade commemoration fair
B) Agricultural festival to welcome the season’s new rice harvest
C) Spring flower celebration
D) Post-winter hunting ritual
Answer: B) Agricultural festival to welcome the season’s new rice harvest
Q38. The historic ‘Bali Jatra’ festival of Cuttack, Odisha, celebrated on the banks of the Mahanadi River, historically commemorates:
A) The historical coronation of King Ashoka
B) The ancient maritime trade voyages of Odia mariners (Sadhabas) to Bali, Sumatra, and Java
C) The birth of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
D) The defeat of the demon Mahishasura
Answer: B) The ancient maritime trade voyages of Odia mariners (Sadhabas) to Bali, Sumatra, and Java
Q39. The ancient ‘Chhath Puja’ of Bihar, celebrated with rigorous fasts and riverbank rituals, is strictly dedicated to the worship of:
A) Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati
B) The Sun God (Surya Dev) and his consort Chhathi Maiya
C) Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu
D) Lord Krishna and Radha
Answer: B) The Sun God (Surya Dev) and his consort Chhathi Maiya
Q40. The ‘Sonepur Mela’ of Bihar, held at the confluence of the Ganga and Gandak rivers, holds global renown for being:
A) The largest handloom textile exposition in Asia
B) One of the largest traditional cattle and livestock fairs in Asia
C) An exclusive jewelry market for tribal ornaments
D) A book and literature festival
Answer: B) One of the largest traditional cattle and livestock fairs in Asia
Q41. The majestic tribal festival of ‘Sarhul’ in Jharkhand, marked by prayers for the prosperity of land and nature, centers on the ritual worship of which sacred tree?
A) Banyan Tree
B) Sal Tree
C) Neem Tree
D) Peepal Tree
Answer: B) Sal Tree
Q42. The ‘Tusu Festival’ of Jharkhand and West Bengal is a significant winter harvest celebration held on the day of Makar Sankranti, primarily focused around:
A) The worship of the local river goddess through clay structures and folk songs by young girls
B) Archery competitions among village chiefs
C) Masked dynamic performances of Chhau dance styles by men
D) Massive bullock cart racing
Answer: A) The worship of the local river goddess through clay structures and folk songs by young girls
Q43. The famous ‘Bastar Dussehra’ of Chhattisgarh is globally unique because it spans a massive duration of 75 days and is entirely dedicated to:
A) The historical return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya
B) The local state deity Goddess Danteshwari, involving complex tribal council meetings
C) The creation of giant terracotta horse idols
D) Boat racing down the Indravati River
Answer: B) The local state deity Goddess Danteshwari, involving complex tribal council meetings
Q44. The International Kite Festival (Uttarayan) of Gujarat is anchored around which specific solar transit phase?
A) Autumn Equinox
B) Movement of the Sun into Capricorn (Makar Sankranti)
C) Summer Solstice
D) Vernal Equinox
Answer: B) Movement of the Sun into Capricorn (Makar Sankranti)
Q45. The ‘Modhera Dance Festival’, which presents leading classical dancers on a historic sandstone stage, is organized annually against the backdrop of which monument?
A) Rani ki Vav
B) Sun Temple, Modhera
C) Champaner Archeological Park
D) Adalaj Stepwell
Answer: B) Sun Temple, Modhera
Q46. The world-famous ‘Pushkar Fair’ of Rajasthan, culminating on Kartik Purnima, is globally unique for combining a holy lake dip with:
A) A massive camel and livestock trading market
B) A diamond and gold jewelry auction
C) An international sand sculpting competition
D) A traditional kite flying tournament
Answer: A) A massive camel and livestock trading market
Q47. The ‘Desert Festival’ of Rajasthan features incredible displays of turban tying, mustache competitions, and folk dances against the backdrop of Sam Sand Dunes in:
A) Jodhpur
B) Jaisalmer
C) Bikaner
D) Udaipur
Answer: B) Jaisalmer
Q48. The cultural ‘Baneshwar Fair’ of Rajasthan, often called the “Kumbh of Tribals,” is a massive congregation held at the confluence of which three rivers?
A) Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati
B) Som, Mahi, and Jakham
C) Banas, Chambal, Sipra
D) Luni, Jawai, Sukri
Answer: B) Som, Mahi, and Jakham
Q49. The ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ festival of Maharashtra was historically transformed into a massive public community celebration by which national leader to foster anti-colonial unity?
A) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
C) Mahadev Govind Ranade
D) Subhash Chandra Bose
Answer: B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Q50. The unique ‘Gopal Kala’ ritual during Janmashtami in Maharashtra, involving the formation of human pyramids to break an earthen pot filled with curd, is locally called:
A) Lavani
B) Dahi Handi
C) Tamasha
D) Powada
Answer: B) Dahi Handi
