The Pitrapaksha Mela, when families offer pind daan for their ancestors, is held in which town of Bihar?
- A.Rajgir
- B.Gaya
- C.Vaishali
- D.Sasaram
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Gaya. Gaya holds the Pitrapaksha Mela in the dark half of Ashwin, when families come from across the country to offer pind daan at the Vishnupad temple and at the appointed spots along the Falgu river. Because the rite is held to free the ancestors, the town is described as a place of liberation, and the fair lasts more than a fortnight.
Option A, Rajgir, in Nalanda district, holds the Malmas Mela in the extra month that comes about once in three years, and a state cultural festival as well. Option C, Vaishali, holds its Mahotsav on the birth anniversary of Mahavira, who was born in that area. Option D, Sasaram, in Rohtas district, is known for the tomb of Sher Shah Suri and has no such fair. Gaya and the Falgu must be fixed together.
Read the full article: Chhath, Sonepur Mela and Festivals of Bihar: Key Facts
Practice Questions
View allThe Chhath festival of Bihar is dedicated chiefly to which deity?
- A.Vishnu
- B.Surya
- C.Shiva
- D.Indra
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Chhath is kept for the Sun God, Surya, along with Chhathi Maiya, and the whole ritual is built around the sun: the vratis stand in water and offer arghya, that is water and prasad, first to the setting sun on the evening of shashthi and then to the rising sun…
Read the full explanation →The main worship of Chhath falls on which day of the month of Kartik?
- A.Chaturthi of the bright half
- B.Panchami of the bright half
- C.Shashthi of the bright half
- D.Purnima
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The festival takes its very name from shashthi, the sixth day of the bright half of Kartik, on which the evening offering to the setting sun is made.
Read the full explanation →Which is the chief prasad of Chhath, made of wheat flour and jaggery?
- A.Thekua
- B.Tilkut
- C.Anarsa
- D.Khaja
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Thekua is a hard sweet made from wheat flour and jaggery, fried in ghee or oil and pressed in a wooden mould, and it is the offering most closely identified with Chhath.
Read the full explanation →The Sonepur fair is held at the confluence of which two rivers?
- A.Ganga and Son
- B.Ganga and Gandak
- C.Ganga and Kosi
- D.Ganga and Punpun
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Sonepur in Saran district lies opposite Patna at the point where the Gandak, coming down from Nepal, joins the Ganga, and the fair is held on that bank from Kartik Purnima.
Read the full explanation →The Sonepur fair, described as the largest cattle fair in Asia, begins on which day?
- A.Makar Sankranti
- B.Kartik Purnima
- C.Vaishakh Purnima
- D.Sharad Purnima
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The Harihar Kshetra fair at Sonepur opens on the full moon of Kartik and runs for about a month, with cattle, horses, birds and handicrafts on sale, a theatre ground, and traders from several states.
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