Musical Instruments · Dance Forms · Folk Traditions · Festivals & Fairs — SSC / Railway / UPSC / BPSC
| Category | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Tantu Vadya (String) | Use of strings | Veena, Tanpura, Sitar, Sarod, Violin, Santoor, Rudra Veena, Sarangi, Jantar |
| Sushir Vadya (Wind) | Use of air | Flute (Bansuri), Shehnai, Conch (Shankh), Organ, Mouth Organ, Accordion |
| Ghan Vadya (Solid) | Solid; no strings, air or membrane | Dandiya sticks, Manjira, Khartal, Bell (Ghanta) |
| Avanaddha Vadya (Percussion) | Stretched membrane (often leather) | Dhol, Nagara, Tabla, Pakhawaj, Duff, Edakka |
| Instrument | Renowned Players |
|---|---|
| Sitar | Pandit Ravi Shankar (Bharat Ratna 1999; autobiography: Raga Mala), Ustad Vilayat Khan, Nikhil Banerjee, Shahid Parvez, Buddhaditya Mukherjee, Arvind Parikh |
| Sarod | Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Rajeev Taranath, Ustad Allauddin Khan, Hafiz Ali Khan, Buddhadev Das Gupta, Vikashjit Roy Choudhary |
| Shehnai | Ustad Bismillah Khan (Bharat Ratna 2001, alongside Lata Mangeshkar), Dayashankar Jagannath, Prasanna, Hari Singh, Bageshwari Kumar |
| Tabla | Ustad Alla Rakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain (Padma Bhushan 2002; Padma Vibhushan 2023) |
| Flute (Bansuri) | Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Prabhat Sharma, Pannalal Ghosh, Raghunath Seth, Rajendra Prasanna |
| Sarangi | Pandit Ram Narayan, Bundu Khan, Ustad Sabri Khan, Dhruv Ghosh, Asif Ali Khan |
| Veena | Ustad Bahauddin Dagar (Rudra Veena) and S. Balachander (Saraswati Veena) |
| Mridangam | T.V. Gopalakrishnan |
| Violin | Vishnu Govind Jog, Lalgudi Jayaraman, T.N. Krishnan, Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu, Ragini Shankar |
| Santoor | Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 1986), Bhajan Sopori, Rahul Sharma |
| Guitar | Brij Bhushan Kabra |
| Mandolin | U. Srinivas |
| Nadaswaram | Sheikh Hassan, Nirruswami Pillai, Rajarathnam Pillai |
| Drums | Shivamani |
| Surbahar | Annapurna Devi, Ustad Imrat Khan |
| Rudra Veena | Ustad Asad Ali Khan |
| Pakhawaj | Mohan Shyam Sharma, Tantarama Sharma |
| Gharana | Associated Instrument |
|---|---|
| Banaras Baaj Gharana | Tabla |
| Delhi Gharana | Tabla |
| Lucknow Gharana | Tabla |
| Farrukhabad Gharana | Tabla |
| Jaipur Gharana | Sitar |
| Maihar Gharana | Sitar |
| Imdad Khan Gharana | Sitar |
| Bulandshahr Gharana | Sarod |
| Niyamatullah Gharana | Sarod |
| Gaya Gharana | Esraj |
| Nana Saheb Panse Gharana | Pakhawaj |
| Kudau Singh Gharana | Pakhawaj |
| Nathdwara Gharana | Pakhawaj |
| Ghulam Ali Gharana | Pakhawaj |
| Indore Beenkar Gharana | Rudra Veena |
| Classical Dance | State/Region |
|---|---|
| Bharatanatyam | Tamil Nadu |
| Kuchipudi | Andhra Pradesh |
| Kathakali | Kerala |
| Mohiniyattam | Kerala |
| Kathak | Uttar Pradesh |
| Manipuri | Manipur |
| Odissi | Odisha |
| Sattriya | Assam |
Mudras depicted on Chidambaram Temple's Gopuram · Modern revival included Kalakshetra, founded by Rukmini Devi Arundale in 1936 · Rooted in Shaivism & South Indian tradition · Vazhuvoor is a notable bani (style)
Musical Instruments: Mridangam, Veena, Flute, Sarangi, Manjira
Originally performed only by men (even female roles); later women joined · Combines Nritta, Natya, and Nritya · Instruments: Violin, Mridangam · Costumes: Bagalbandi (men), Banarasi/Kanchipuram silk saree (women) · Vempati Chinna Satyam founded Kuchipudi Art Academy in Chennai (1963)
| Vesham | Represents |
|---|---|
| Pacha (Green) | Noble heroes and divine characters |
| Kathi (Knife) | Arrogant and evil characters |
| Thadi (Beard) | Red beard: fierce characters; white beard: Hanuman-like benevolent figures; black beard: hunters or forest dwellers |
| Minukku | Gentle female or saintly characters |
| Kari (Black) | Witches or evil female figures |
Sevakali: preparatory practice session · Kalasham: a dance sequence · "Nalacharitham" is an important Kathakali play
Also referenced in "Vyavaharamala" (16th century) · Related forms: Tevittichiyattam, Nangiar Koothu, Hasyaabhinaya · Songs traditionally in Manipravalam (Malayalam + Sanskrit) · Themes: love, devotion, surrender to God · Shares similarities with Bharatanatyam and Kathakali
A Kathak training center was established in Khandala in 1955
| Gharana | Key Facts |
|---|---|
| Lucknow Gharana | Peaked during Nawab Wajid Ali Shah's reign |
| Jaipur Gharana | Traditional lineage traced to Bhanuji |
| Varanasi Gharana | Founded by Janaki Prasad |
| Raigarh Gharana | Also linked to Kathak |
Forms: Pung Cholom (Drum Dance), Kartal Cholom (Cymbals Dance), Dhol Cholom · Popularized outside Manipur by Rabindranath Tagore at Santiniketan · Traditional singing style: "Nata"
Pakhawaj syllables used in performances · Central spiritual concept: Moksha
| State | Folk Dances |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Veeranatyam, Dhimsa, Lambadi and Kolattam |
| Assam | Bihu, Bagurumba, Bhortal and Jhumur |
| Bihar | Jat-Jatin, Jhijhiya, Bidesia and Sama-Chakeva |
| Chhattisgarh | Pandavani, Sua, Karma, Gaur Maria, Raut Nacha and Saila |
| Goa | Fugdi, Ghode Modni, Mando and Tarangmel |
| Gujarat | Garba, Dandiya Raas, Tippani, Rathwa dances and Siddi Dhamal |
| Himachal Pradesh | Nati, Kullu Nati, Dangi and Dandras |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Rouf, Hikat, Dumhal and Chakri |
| Jharkhand | Seraikella Chhau, Jhumar and Paika |
| Karnataka | Bhoota Kola, Yakshagana, Veeragase and Dollu Kunitha |
| Kerala | Kaikottikali, Chavittunatakam, Mudiyettu and Chakyar Koothu |
| Madhya Pradesh | Karma, Rai, Jawara and Matki dances |
| Maharashtra | Tamasha, Lavani, Dhangari Gaja, Lezim and Dashavatar |
| Manipur | Thabal Chongba, Basanta Ras and Lai Haraoba |
| Meghalaya | Nongkrem, Shad Suk Mynsiem and Wangala dance festivals |
| Mizoram | Cheraw, Par Lam and Chheihlam |
| Nagaland | Zeliang dances, Rengma dances and Chang Lo |
| Odisha | Rasa Leela, Paika, Gotipua, Mahari and Dalkhai |
| Puducherry | Garodi |
| Punjab | Giddha, Bhangra, Jhumar and Gatka |
| Rajasthan | Ghoomar, Gair, Bhavai, Kathputli, Kalbelia and Gangaur festivities |
| Sikkim | Chu-Faat and Bhutia community dances |
| Tamil Nadu | Kummi, Kavadi, Kolattam and Karagam |
| Telangana | Madhuri (Lambadi/Banjara tribe) |
| Tripura | Hojagiri, Mamita and Lebang Boomani |
| Uttarakhand | Chholiya, Chhapeli, Langvir and Jagar |
| West Bengal | Kathi, Purulia Chhau, Baul, Kirtan and Jatra |
| Haryana | Jhumar, Phag, Dhamal and Loor |
| Ladakh | Shondol and Jabro |
| Andaman & Nicobar | Nicobari community dance |
| Dance | Tribe | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Chaad Laho Dance | Jaintia Tribe | Meghalaya (Chaad Lah Festival) |
| Dhimsa Dance | — | Visakhapatnam, Araku Valley (AP) |
| Jhika Dasain Dance | Santhal Tribe | Meghalaya |
| Zo Mal Lok Dance | Lepcha Community | Sikkim |
| Rangma (War Dance) | Tribes of Nagaland | Nagaland |
| Tambadi Dance | Banjara Tribe | Andhra Pradesh |
| Sangphoo Dance | Naga Tribe | Nagaland |
| Chakri Dance | Women of Kanjar Tribe | Rajasthan |
| Mundari Dance | Munda Tribe | Jharkhand |
| Adi Dance | Adi Tribe | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Ghumar Dance | Bhil women and other Rajasthani communities | Rajasthan |
| Karma Dance | Oraon, Munda, Gond and other communities | Central and eastern India |
| Tapu Dance | — | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Jhumar Dance | Kurmi Community | Jharkhand |
| Sarhul Dance | Oraon, Munda and other communities | Jharkhand |
| Elelakkarodi Dance | — | Kerala |
| Ratwai Dance | Mewati Tribe | Rajasthan |
| State | Folk Songs |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | Alha, Birha, Kajri, Chaiti and Phaag |
| Chhattisgarh | Dadaria, Sua songs, Sohar and Karma songs |
| Uttarakhand | Jhoda, Chanchari, Bhagnaul and Jagar |
| Chhattisgarh / MP | Bhojali, Pandavani, Bharthari and Karma songs |
| Bihar / Jharkhand | Nachari, Jhumar, Chhath songs, Jat-Jatin and Sohar |
| Rajasthan | Halar, Kaman, Gangaur songs, Panihari and Maand |
| Assam | Bihu songs, Assamese Lokgeet and Tokari geet |
| Andhra Pradesh | Madiga Dappu, Mala Jammikunta Burrakatha |
| Karnataka | Janapada Geethe, Sobane Pada and Tripadi songs |
| Maharashtra | Lavani, Powada, Ovi and Bhaleri |
| Tamil Nadu | Nattupura Pattu |
| West Bengal | Baul, Bhatiyali and Bhawaiya |
| Punjab | Tappa |
| Kerala | Vadakkan Pattu, Thekkan Pattu and Vanchipattu |
| Manipur | Pena Ishei and Khullong Ishei |
| Tripura | Rauchambung, Jadooni, Reshkhagara |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Ja-Jin-Ja, Baryi and Nyioga |
| Nagaland | Li songs of the Chakhesang/Chokri tradition and other Naga community songs |
| Goa | Mando |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Wanwun |
| Festival | Description |
|---|---|
| Holi | Holi season around Phalguna Purnima; Lathmar Holi is the pre-main-Holi stick-and-shield tradition of Barsana and Nandgaon |
| Diwali | New moon day of Kartik; commemorates Lord Rama's return from exile |
| Vijayadashami | 10th day of Shukla Paksha, Ashwin; symbolizes Rama's victory over Ravana |
| Janmashtami | Ashtami of Krishna Paksha, Bhadrapada — Lord Krishna's birthday |
| Ramnavami | 9th day of Shukla Paksha, Chaitra — Lord Rama's birthday |
| Basant Panchami | 5th day of Shukla Paksha, Magh — Goddess Saraswati's worship |
| Raksha Bandhan | Full moon of Shravan — brother-sister bond |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi; Bal Gangadhar Tilak popularised public celebrations in 1893 |
| Makar Sankranti | Sun God |
| Festival | Description |
|---|---|
| Eid-ul-Fitr | First day of Shawwal, after the end of Ramadan |
| Eid-ul-Adha (Bakrid) | 10 Dhu al-Hijjah; commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice in obedience to God |
| Muharram | The first Islamic month; Ashura on its tenth day includes remembrance of Karbala, especially among Shia Muslims |
| Shab-e-Barat | 15th night of Shaban; night of forgiveness and prayer |
| Festival | Description |
|---|---|
| Vaisakhi | First day of the solar month Vaisakh, around 13–14 April; Khalsa founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 |
| Lohri | 13th January; bonfire and circling ritual |
| Hola Mohalla | Around Holi, especially at Anandpur Sahib; instituted by Guru Gobind Singh in 1701 |
| Festival | Description |
|---|---|
| Christmas | 25 December — birth of Jesus Christ |
| Good Friday | Before Easter; crucifixion of Jesus |
| Easter | Resurrection of Jesus Christ |
| Festival | Description |
|---|---|
| Buddha Purnima | Full moon, Vaisakha; birth, enlightenment & Mahaparinirvana of Buddha |
| Tseshu Festival | Sikkim & Ladakh; commemorates Padmasambhava's birth |
| Sangken | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Festival | Description |
|---|---|
| Mahavir Jayanti | 13th of Shukla Paksha, Chaitra; birthday of Lord Mahavir |
| Paryushan | August or September |
| Festival | Description |
|---|---|
| Navroz | Around the March equinox, conventionally 21 March |
| Zarathustno Deeso | Death anniversary of Zarathust |
| Khordad Sal | The traditional birthday celebration of Zarathustra (Zoroaster), prophet of Zoroastrianism |
| Festival | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Republic Day | 26 January | Constitution came into force, 1950 |
| Gandhi Jayanti | 2 October | Gandhi's birthday; International Non-Violence Day |
| Independence Day | 15 August | Symbol of India's independence |
| Festival | State/Region | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pongal | Tamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu; four-day harvest season celebration around mid-January, with Thai Pongal around 14–15 January |
| Onam | Kerala | Harvest festivities; legendary return of King Mahabali |
| Bihu | Assam | 3 times a year: Rangali/Bohag, Bhogali, Kangali Bihu |
| Durga Puja | West Bengal | Ashwin Navratri month; worship of Shakti |
| Vidhava | Maharashtra | Twice a year; worship of Lord Vithoba (Vishnu) |
| Jagannath Rath Yatra | Odisha (Puri) | June-July; famous Vaishnava festival |
| Rajim Kumbh | Chhattisgarh | Rajim, Raipur; on banks of Mahanadi |
| Chhath | Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh | Kartika Shukla Shashthi; honours the Sun and Chhathi Maiya |
| Khan Festival | Arunachal Pradesh | By Miji tribe; secular festival |
| Masassu Festival | Nagaland | By Ao tribe, first week of May |
| Emro Festival | Nagaland | By Pachuri tribe, October; harvest arrival |
| Dasmoche Festival | Leh (Ladakh) | Second week of Feb; organised by Buddhist monks |
| Mysore Dussehra | Karnataka | Wodeyar royal observance begun by Raja Wodeyar I at Srirangapatna in 1610 |
| Mahamastakabhisheka | Shravanabelagola (Karnataka) | Jain festival; Bahubali statue, every 12 years |
| Nanda Devi Raj Jat | Uttarakhand | Religious pilgrimage, every 12 years |
| Festival | State/Description |
|---|---|
| Cheti Chand | God of Sindhi community (Jhulelal); Hindu Moon celebration |
| Kharchi Puja | Tripura; July-August |
| Kala Ghoda Festival | Annual, Mumbai (since 1999) |
| Losung Festival | Sikkim; by Bhutia tribe |
| Harai and Tihar | Nepal; by Hindus |
| Wangpui Kut Festival | Mizoram, since 1984; 2 days |
| Attolu Idu | Lakshadweep |
| Nuakhai | Odisha; harvest festival, Aug-Sep |
| Lokranjan Festival | Khajuraho (MP); live tribal dance |
| Rohela Panduga/Roti Mahatsav | Andhra Pradesh; 3 days, Chara Shaheed Dargah |
| Vishu Utsav | Kerala/Maharashtra; Malayalam New Year |
| Harela Festival | Uttarakhand; symbol of new harvest |
| Hemis Festival | Ladakh; birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava |
| Thrissurpuram | Kerala; April-May |
| Khajuraho Dance Festival | MP; 7 days, started 1975 |
| Kajri Festival | Mirzapur (UP); honours Kajali |
| Me-Dum-Me-Phi Festival | Assam; by Ahom people |
| Atla Taddi | Andhra Pradesh, Sept-Oct |
| Raj Parv | Odisha; June, 3 days |
| Doljatra Festival | Bengal, Odisha, Manipur, Assam; by Vaishnavites |
| Bali Yatra | Cuttack, Odisha; Kartik Purnima |
| Braj Utsav | Dedicated to Lord Krishna, before Holi, Rajasthan |
| Sakewa | Sikkim; tribute to Mother Nature by Kirat Khambu Rai |
| Hampi Utsav | Karnataka; celebrates Vijayanagara Empire |
| Mewar Festival | Udaipur (Rajasthan); Gangaur, dedicated to Parvati |
| Pinjore Heritage Festival | Panchkula, Haryana; December |
| Uttarayan | Gujarat; International Kite Festival |
| Kutch Festival | Bhuj, Gujarat |
| Fair / Mela | Location / Description |
|---|---|
| Bhavnath Mahadev Fair | Junagadh, Gujarat; during Mahashivratri |
| Madhavrai Poonam Fair | Gujarat; Neelkanth Mahadev Complex, Babra |
| Madhovpur Fair | Gujarat; marriage of Krishna and Rukmini, 5 days |
| Groundnut Fair | Karnataka; last Monday of Kartik month |
| Paush Fair | West Bengal; on occasion of harvest |
| Surajkund Fair | Faridabad (Haryana); International Crafts Mela |
| Shri Jagannath Fair | Alwar (Rajasthan); Lord Jagannath procession |
| Pushkar Camel Fair | Pushkar, Rajasthan; a major annual camel and livestock fair around Kartika Purnima |
| Simhastha Fair | Ujjain, MP; Shipra River |
| Gangaur Festival | Pushkar, Nagaur & Ursa Fair, Rajasthan |
| Sardhana Christian Fair | Uttar Pradesh; first Sunday of November |
| Ambubachi Fair | Assam; Kamakhya Temple |
| Bahu Fair | Jammu; a devotional fair at Bahu Fort’s Bawe Wali Mata temple during Navratri |
| Dogdarbar Fair | Gujarat; during Holi |
| Kumbh Fair | Every 12 years; Haridwar (Ganga), Prayagraj (Sangam), Nasik (Godavari), Ujjain (Kshipra) |
| Sonpur Cattle Fair | Sonepur, Bihar; a historic major cattle and cultural fair near the Ganga–Gandak confluence |
| Topic | Key Fact |
|---|---|
| Musical Instrument Classification | By Bharat Muni; 4 types: Tantu, Sushir, Ghan, Avanaddha Vadya |
| Father of Carnatic Music | Purandara Dasa |
| Inventor of Mohan Veena | Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt |
| Ghatam virtuoso “Vikku” | T.H. Vinayakram |
| Shehnai – Bharat Ratna | Ustad Bismillah Khan |
| Total Classical Dances | Eight |
| Bharatanatyam | Tamil Nadu; roots in Sadir and a twentieth-century revival |
| Kuchipudi | Andhra Pradesh; Siddhendra Yogi tradition and the characteristic Tarangam item |
| Kathakali | Kerala; stylised dance-drama, supported by Kerala Kalamandalam founded in 1930 |
| Sattriya | Assam; recognized as classical dance in 2000 |
| Manipuri | Manipur; Radha-Krishna Ras and other Meitei ritual and percussion-dance traditions |
| Odissi | Odisha; Mahari and Gotipua roots, with ancient dance evidence at Udayagiri–Khandagiri |
| Kathak | North India, including major Uttar Pradesh centres; name derived from katha (story) |
| Kalbelia | Rajasthan; UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage 2010 |
| Chhau (UNESCO) | Seraikella (Jharkhand), Purulia (West Bengal), Mayurbhanj (Odisha); UNESCO intangible heritage inscription in 2010 |
| Kumbh Mela | About twelve years at each site; Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik–Trimbakeshwar and Ujjain |
| Pushkar Camel Fair | Pushkar, Rajasthan; a major annual camel and livestock fair around Kartika Purnima |
| Sonpur Cattle Fair | Sonepur, Bihar; a historic major cattle and cultural fair near the Ganga–Gandak confluence |
| Onam | Kerala; harvest festivities and the legendary return of King Mahabali |
| Pongal | Tamil Nadu; four-day harvest season celebration around mid-January, with Thai Pongal around 14–15 January |
| Bihu | Assam; 3 times a year (Rangali, Bhogali, Kangali) |
| Chhath Puja | Especially Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh; worship of Surya and Chhathi Maiya |
| Republic Day | 26 January |
| Gandhi Jayanti | 2 October; Gandhi’s birthday and the International Day of Non-Violence |
| Independence Day | 15 August |