14th April: Day of festivals

IN NEWS:

• On April 14^th, People across the country celebrate harvest festivals in different names

FESTIVALS:

• Baisakhi:
  • The day marks the formation of Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh. People also observes it as the day of thanksgiving for abundant harvest, and pray for future prosperity.
  • It is celebrated on the first day of the Vaisakha month according to Hindu calendar.
  • The northern states of Punjab, Haryana and parts of Delhi celebrate this day with much fanfare.
  • People get together, and perform bhangda and gidda on traditional folk songs and dhol. Men show off their gatka skills.
• Vishu:
  • It is a festival celebrated in Kerala and Tulu Nadu region in Karnataka.
  • The festival marks the first day of Medam, the ninth month in the solar calendar followed in Kerala.
• Bhogali Bihu:
  • The Assamese celebrate Bihu thrice a year, which signify the distinct cycles of farming - Bhogali/Magh Bihu (January), Bohag/Rongali Bihu (April), and Kongali Bihu (October).
  • It marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year.
• Puthandu:
  • According to the Tamil Calendar Varusha Pirappu, Puthandu marks the first day of the first month (Chithirai).
  • It is celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Tamil-dominated countries Sri Lanka and Mauritius.
• Poila Boishakh:
  • According to the Bengali calendar, it is the first day of first month (called Baishakh). It is celebrated in West Bengal and parts of Tripura.
  • People thank the divine forces for the harvest of the previous year and that to follow.

PRELIMS QUESTION:

Q. Match the following:

Festival                       State

1. Bihu                       a. Kerala
2. Vishu                     b. Punjab
3. Puthandu              c. Tamil nadu
4. Baisakhi                 d. Assam

Choose the correct statements from the codes given below:  

1. 1-a; 2-b; 3-c; 4-d;
2. 1-d; 2-c; 3-b; 4-a;
3. 1-a; 2-d; 3-c; 4-d;
4. 1-d; 2-a; 3-c; 4-b;

Answer to Prelims question