Flashcards: Indian Festivals and Literary Texts — 43 cards

What does festival diversity in India reflect?

The religious, social, tribal, and multicultural variety of the country.

What significance do Indian festivals have?

They have great religious and social significance.

How often are Indian festivals celebrated?

They are celebrated throughout the year with enthusiasm.

What is Bihu in Assam?

A set of three different cultural festivals associated with farming.

When is Bohag Bihu celebrated?

In mid-April.

What does Bohag Bihu mark?

The beginning of the Assamese New Year.

When is Kongal Bihu celebrated?

In October.

With which equinox is Kongal Bihu associated?

The September equinox.

When is Bhogali Bihu celebrated?

In January.

With which solstice is Bhogali Bihu associated?

The January solstice.

Name one instrument used in Bihu performances.

The Dhol.

What is Uttarayan also called in Gujarat?

Makar Sankranti

When is Uttarayan celebrated in Gujarat?

In January when the sun shifts northward

What is the main activity in the Uttarayan kite contest?

Flying kites and cutting competitors' kite threads

Who wins the Uttarayan kite contest?

The fighter whose kite remains longest

What traditional dish is made from the new harvest during Uttarayan?

Khichri

What is forgiven during Uttarayan celebrations?

Ill will

Name two foods or drinks included in Uttarayan celebrations.

Undhiyu and sugarcane juice

Where is the International Kite Festival held during Uttarayan?

Ahmedabad

Which regions especially celebrate Baisakhi as a harvest festival?

Punjab and Haryana especially celebrate Baisakhi.

What do farmers do during Baisakhi?

They express gratitude for the harvest and pray for future prosperity.

Who founded the Khalsa Panth on Baisakhi in 1699?

Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth.

When and where was the Khalsa Panth founded?

It was founded in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib on Baisakhi.

What is Onam in Kerala?

Onam is Kerala’s rice harvest and rain-flower festival.

Why is Onam celebrated in August or September?

To mark the annual visit of King Mahabali from the underworld.

How long does the Onam festival last?

Onam lasts ten days.

Name two traditional features of the Onam festival.

Onapookkalam and Onam Sadhya with 26 or more vegetarian dishes.

How old is Spiel and what does he want for his birthday?

Spiel is nine and wants to behave well for a birthday present.

How does Buddy save Spiel from danger at the balcony?

Buddy senses danger, barks, rushes, and pulls Spiel back by his knickers.

What characterizes Buddy’s friendship with Spiel?

It is unconditional and selfless, not based on exchange.

When did Buddy join Spiel’s family and how did their bond develop?

Buddy was in the family before Spiel was born, and their bond grew essential.

What does a pebble create in the poem?

Ripples that spread from the centre.

How do the ripples in the poem change as they move outward?

They grow into a large wave.

Can the ripples in the poem be traced to a definite end?

No, they cannot be traced to a definite end.

What does the poem compare an unkind word to?

A pebble.

Why does the poem compare a word to a pebble?

Because both start as small acts whose effects spread beyond the moment.

Can the effects of an unkind word be stopped once they start, according to the poem?

No, they cannot be stopped once they start.

Who is presented as the leader of summer's song in the poem?

The Grasshopper.

What activity does the Grasshopper do when tired in summer?

It rests beneath a pleasant weed.

When does the Cricket sing according to the poem?

On a lone winter evening when frost has created silence.

What effect does the Cricket's song have near the stove?

It seems to increase warmth around the stove.

What does the poem claim about the poetry of earth?

It is never dead.

How does the poem link the Grasshopper's and Cricket's songs?

As a continuous natural music.