List of Major Festivals of India with States (Top Questions)

Regional festivals of India are a frequently tested static GK topic in SSC exams, with questions on which state a festival belongs to and what it celebrates. This practice set covers 25 major festivals with their states, followed by practice questions and FAQs.

Major Festivals of India: Quick Reference Table

Practice Questions on Festivals of India

1. Q1. Bihu is the harvest festival of which state?
   Answer: Assam
2. Q2. Onam is celebrated mainly in which state?
   Answer: Kerala
3. Q3. Which festival marks the Marathi New Year?
   Answer: Gudi Padwa, Maharashtra
4. Q4. The Hornbill Festival is associated with which state?
   Answer: Nagaland
5. Q5. Rath Yatra, the chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, is held in which state?
   Answer: Odisha (Puri)
6. Q6. Which festival is named after Manipur's state animal?
   Answer: Sangai Festival
7. Q7. Chhath Puja, dedicated to the Sun God, is predominantly celebrated in which state?
   Answer: Bihar
8. Q8. Pongal is a harvest festival of which state?
   Answer: Tamil Nadu
9. Q9. Which festival marks the Telugu and Kannada New Year?
   Answer: Ugadi
10. Q10. Hemis Festival, celebrated at a Buddhist monastery, belongs to which Union Territory?
    Answer: Ladakh

Tips to Remember Festivals and States for SSC

• Group festivals by theme: harvest festivals (Bihu, Onam, Pongal, Baisakhi, Lohri), New Year festivals (Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Losar), and tribal/cultural festivals (Hornbill, Sangai, Wangala, Chapchar Kut).
• Link each festival to one defining fact — the deity worshipped, the harvest it celebrates, or the community it represents.
• Revise alongside our current affairs section since festival-related questions sometimes appear with a current-year context.
• Practice more with our previous year questions and study material.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which state celebrates Bihu as its main festival?

Assam celebrates Bihu, a harvest festival observed three times a year.

2. What is Onam and where is it celebrated?

Onam is a harvest festival celebrated in Kerala, honouring the legendary King Mahabali.

3. Which state is associated with the Hornbill Festival?

Nagaland is associated with the Hornbill Festival, which showcases Naga tribal culture.

4. What is Rath Yatra and where is it held?

Rath Yatra is the chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, held annually in Puri, Odisha.

5. Which festival marks the Marathi New Year?

Gudi Padwa marks the Marathi New Year and is celebrated in Maharashtra.

6. What is the Sangai Festival?

The Sangai Festival is a cultural festival of Manipur, named after the state's endangered Sangai deer.

7. Which festival is dedicated to the Sun God and celebrated mainly in Bihar?

Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun God and is predominantly celebrated in Bihar.

8. What is Pongal?

Pongal is a four-day harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to the Sun God.

9. Which festival marks the Telugu and Kannada New Year?

Ugadi marks the New Year for Telugu and Kannada communities in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.

10. What is the Hemis Festival?

The Hemis Festival is a Buddhist monastery festival celebrated in Ladakh, honouring Guru Padmasambhava.

11. Which festival is celebrated by the Garo tribe?

The Wangala Festival is a harvest festival celebrated by the Garo tribe of Meghalaya.

12. What is Chapchar Kut?

Chapchar Kut is a spring festival celebrated in Mizoram after the clearing of jungle for cultivation.

13. How should I prepare festival-related questions for SSC exams?

Group festivals by theme and state, and remember one key identifying fact for each rather than detailed rituals.

14. Is Durga Puja celebrated only in West Bengal?

Durga Puja is celebrated across India, but it holds the greatest cultural and religious significance in West Bengal.

15. Where can I find more static GK practice sets like this?

Visit our Practice Papers section for more culture and GK-based SSC practice sets.