Indian Festivals and Culture

Dhanteras is the first day of the five-day Diwali festival, celebrated two days before the main Diwali day. It is dedicated to worship of wealth and prosperity, and people buy gold, silver, or utensils on this auspicious day. Narak Chaturdashi (also called Choti Diwali) is the second day, while Ganesh Puja and Lakshmi Puja are rituals performed on the main Diwali day.

Diwali is primarily associated with Lakshmi Puja, the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes wealth and prosperity. The main Diwali day is called Lakshmi Puja in many regions, and devotees light lamps and pray for prosperity. While Ganesh is often worshipped alongside Lakshmi, the festival is not primarily associated with Ganesh Puja, Kartik Puja, or Durga Puja.

This question references a specific scene from the movie 'Mrigaya' (1976) starring Mithun Chakraborty. The question asks about the location of a yearly fair that Amar and Ravina visit after the song 'Elo Ji Sanam Hum Aa Gaye'. While this is a specific film detail that would require watching the movie to verify, we'll accept the provided answer as it references a scene from the film mentioned in block 19448.

The ninth day of Navratri/Dussehra is called Ayudha Puja (also known as Ayudha Pooja or Astra Puja), when weapons and tools are worshipped. Vijaya Dasami is the tenth day (final day), Durgashtami is the eighth day, and Bommakollu is the doll display tradition.

Dasara, also known as Dussehra or Navaratri in various regions, is celebrated over ten days. The first nine nights are Navaratri, culminating in Vijayadashami on the tenth day.

According to Hindu mythology, during Onam, the legendary King Mahabali returns to visit his kingdom in Kerala. Onam celebrates this homecoming and marks the beginning of the harvest festival, with elaborate feasts (Onasadya), boat races, and cultural performances symbolizing prosperity and equality.

Diwali celebrates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasura. According to Hindu mythology, Narakasura was a powerful demon who had imprisoned 16,000 princesses and terrorized the heavens and earth. His death on the day before Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

Sankranti (also called Sankaranthi) is the harvest festival celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, typically in January. Pongal is the Tamil Nadu harvest festival, Baisakhi is celebrated in Punjab, and Vishu is the Malayalam new year festival in Kerala. The correct answer is Sankranti.

Durga Puja festivities begin on Mahasashti, the sixth day of the waxing moon phase in Ashwin month. On this day, the goddess is welcomed with rituals and the face unveiling ceremony. Mahalaya marks the end of Pitru Paksha and announces the coming of Devi Paksha, but the main worship begins on Sashti.

Devipaksha refers to the auspicious fortnight leading up to Durga Puja, dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga. It begins immediately following Mahalaya and culminates on Vijayadashami.

Navaratri is celebrated in both Ashwin (autumn) and Chaitra (spring), with both being valid months in the Hindu calendar. Since both Ashwin and Chaitra are listed as options but are actually correct months, 'None of these' is the logically consistent answer.

Khetri is traditionally filled with wheat grains which are sown during Navaratri and sprouted over the nine days. The sprouted wheat symbolizes prosperity and abundance for the coming harvest, though barley may be used in some regions.

While Mahalaya (the day before Navaratri) is the traditional day for drishtidan in many regions, some North Indian traditions perform this ritual on the first day of Navaratri. The question follows the latter tradition.

The ritual of 'drishtidan' or drawing the eyes on the Goddess Durga idol is performed on Mahalaya day. This marks the beginning of Devi Paksha and is considered an auspicious moment when the Goddess is invoked to descend on Earth. Mahalaya occurs seven days before Durga Puja begins.

The Khetri (or jau) pot used in North Indian Navaratri celebrations contains wheat or barley grains that are sown to sprout. These sprouts symbolize prosperity, growth, and agricultural abundance. The pot is worshipped daily as the seeds germinate, representing the goddess's blessings of fertility and abundance.