Indian Festivals & Culture GK Quiz – 50 Colorful Traditions and Customs

India’s vibrant tapestry of festivals and cultural traditions reflects its deep history, diverse religions, and colorful regional customs. From the dazzling lights of Diwali and the riotous colors of Holi to the solemn observances of Navratri and Eid, each festival brings unique rituals, music, dance, foods, and community spirit. Cultural practices—be it classical dances like Bharatanatyam, folk arts like Kathakali, or traditional crafts and cuisine—showcase the nation’s rich heritage. Dive into this 50-question quiz on Indian festivals and culture to celebrate and test your knowledge of the traditions that unite and distinguish India’s many regions!

Indian Festivals & Culture GK Quiz

1. Which festival is known as the Festival of Lights?

• A. Holi
• B. Diwali
• C. Dussehra
• D. Navratri

Answer: B. Diwali

2. Which festival involves throwing colored powders?

• A. Raksha Bandhan
• B. Pongal
• C. Holi
• D. Lohri

Answer: C. Holi

3. Which state celebrates Onam as its harvest festival?

• A. Kerala
• B. Tamil Nadu
• C. Karnataka
• D. Andhra Pradesh

Answer: A. Kerala

4. Navratri is primarily dedicated to worship of which deity?

• A. Krishna
• B. Shiva
• C. Durga
• D. Ganesha

Answer: C. Durga

5. Which dance form originates from Tamil Nadu?

• A. Kathak
• B. Bharatanatyam
• C. Odissi
• D. Kathakali

Answer: B. Bharatanatyam

6. Which festival marks the Sikh New Year with a procession of floats?

• A. Baisakhi
• B. Gurpurab
• C. Hola Mohalla
• D. Diwali

Answer: C. Hola Mohalla

7. Which festival celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters?

• A. Raksha Bandhan
• B. Karva Chauth
• C. Bhai Dooj
• D. Teej

Answer: A. Raksha Bandhan

8. Which Indian classical music tradition uses a tanpura drone?

• A. Carnatic
• B. Hindustani
• C. Both A & B
• D. Neither

Answer: C. Both A & B

9. Which festival honors the Sun God with kite flying?

• A. Makar Sankranti
• B. Lohri
• C. Pongal
• D. Bihu

Answer: A. Makar Sankranti

10. Which northeastern state celebrates Hornbill Festival?

• A. Assam
• B. Nagaland
• C. Manipur
• D. Meghalaya

Answer: B. Nagaland

11. Which festival is also known as the Festival of Colors?

• A. Dussehra
• B. Holi
• C. Ganesh Chaturthi
• D. Eid

Answer: B. Holi

12. Which state’s festival is Bihu?

• A. Assam
• B. West Bengal
• C. Gujarat
• D. Rajasthan

Answer: A. Assam

13. Which dish is traditionally served at Janmashtami?

• A. Gujiya
• B. Makhan Mishri
• C. Petha
• D. Puran Poli

Answer: B. Makhan Mishri

14. Which festival marks the end of Ramadan?

• A. Eid al-Adha
• B. Eid al-Fitr
• C. Muharram
• D. Shab-e-Barat

Answer: B. Eid al-Fitr

15. Which festival features the traditional dance Garba?

• A. Diwali
• B. Navratri
• C. Dussehra
• D. Pongal

Answer: B. Navratri

16. Which festival falls on the new moon of Kartik and involves lamps afloat?

• A. Gurpurab
• B. Diwali
• C. Chhath Puja
• D. Karva Chauth

Answer: C. Chhath Puja

17. Which dance form is native to Kerala?

• A. Kathakali
• B. Odissi
• C. Kuchipudi
• D. Sattriya

Answer: A. Kathakali

18. Which harvest festival is celebrated with bonfires in Punjab?

• A. Baisakhi
• B. Lohri
• C. Makar Sankranti
• D. Pongal

Answer: B. Lohri

19. Which festival honors Lord Ganesha?

• A. Ganesh Chaturthi
• B. Diwali
• C. Navratri
• D. Holi

Answer: A. Ganesh Chaturthi

20. Which classical dance is from Odisha?

• A. Bharatanatyam
• B. Kathak
• C. Odissi
• D. Mohiniyattam

Answer: C. Odissi

21. Which festival features the Jagannath Rath Yatra?

• A. Durga Puja
• B. Rath Yatra
• C. Onam
• D. Pongal

Answer: B. Rath Yatra

22. Which folk dance originates in Assam?

• A. Bhangra
• B. Bihu Dance
• C. Garba
• D. Lavani

Answer: B. Bihu Dance

23. Which festival commemorates Lord Krishna’s birth?

• A. Holi
• B. Janmashtami
• C. Diwali
• D. Dussehra

Answer: B. Janmashtami

24. Which dance drama is from Manipur?

• A. Odissi
• B. Kathak
• C. Sattriya
• D. Kuchipudi

Answer: C. Sattriya

25. Which festival is called the Punjabi New Year?

• A. Lohri
• B. Baisakhi
• C. Navratri
• D. Diwali

Answer: B. Baisakhi

26. Which festival celebrates the victory of good over evil with effigy burning?

• A. Dussehra
• B. Diwali
• C. Holi
• D. Navratri

Answer: A. Dussehra

27. Which craft is famous from Varanasi?

• A. Pattachitra
• B. Banarasi silk weaving
• C. Madhubani painting
• D. Kalamkari

Answer: B. Banarasi silk weaving

28. Which festival is observed with a nine-day fast before Diwali?

• A. Navratri
• B. Karva Chauth
• C. Ganesh Chaturthi
• D. Dussehra

Answer: A. Navratri

29. Which sweet is distributed on Eid al-Adha?

• A. Seviyan
• B. Gujiya
• C. Rasgulla
• D. Jalebi

Answer: A. Seviyan

30. Which festival involves worshipping cows?

• A. Gopashtami
• B. Govardhan Puja
• C. Pongal
• D. Chhath Puja

Answer: A. Gopashtami

31. Which festival marks the harvest of sugarcane in Tamil Nadu?

• A. Pongal
• B. Makar Sankranti
• C. Bihu
• D. Onam

Answer: A. Pongal

32. Which art form uses intricate palm-leaf engraving in Kerala?

• A. Kalamkari
• B. Tanjore painting
• C. Wresting
• D. Chitra punch

Answer: D. Chitra punch

33. Which festival is associated with the holy river Ganges?

• A. Chhath Puja
• B. Kumbh Mela
• C. Pongal
• D. Holi

Answer: B. Kumbh Mela

34. Which festival includes the folk dance Bhangra?

• A. Navratri
• B. Baisakhi
• C. Diwali
• D. Dussehra

Answer: B. Baisakhi

35. Which instrument is central to Hindustani classical music?

• A. Mridangam
• B. Sitar
• C. Violin
• D. Flute

Answer: B. Sitar

36. Which festival celebrates Goddess Saraswati?

• A. Saraswati Puja
• B. Durga Puja
• C. Ganesh Chaturthi
• D. Holi

Answer: A. Saraswati Puja

37. Which garment is traditionally worn during Navratri Garba?

• A. Lehenga choli
• B. Saree
• C. Dhoti
• D. Salwar kameez

Answer: A. Lehenga choli

38. Which festival is known for the Jagannath temple car festival?

• A. Ratha Yatra
• B. Durga Puja
• C. Onam
• D. Diwali

Answer: A. Ratha Yatra

39. Which region is famous for the folk dance Lavani?

• A. Rajasthan
• B. Maharashtra
• C. Kerala
• D. Punjab

Answer: B. Maharashtra

40. Which festival celebrates the elephant-headed god with clay idols?

• A. Ganesh Chaturthi
• B. Holi
• C. Dussehra
• D. Diwali

Answer: A. Ganesh Chaturthi

41. Which craft is Pattachitra associated with?

• A. Odisha
• B. Gujarat
• C. West Bengal
• D. Tamil Nadu

Answer: A. Odisha

42. Which festival is marked by nine nights of dance and worship?

• A. Durga Puja
• B. Navratri
• C. Diwali
• D. Holi

Answer: B. Navratri

43. Which region celebrates the festival of Chapchar Kut?

• A. Mizoram
• B. Manipur
• C. Nagaland
• D. Tripura

Answer: A. Mizoram

44. Which sweet is specially made for Pongal?

• A. Pongal Santhanam
• B. Puran Poli
• C. Kheer
• D. Ladoo

Answer: A. Pongal Santhanam

45. Which dance is performed with elaborate masks in Kerala?

• A. Kathak
• B. Kathakali
• C. Bharatanatyam
• D. Kuchipudi

Answer: B. Kathakali

46. Which tribal festival is celebrated by the Gonds?

• A. Karama
• B. Karma Puja
• C. Hornbill
• D. Bihu

Answer: A. Karama

47. Which festival features a boat race in Kerala?

• A. Onam
• B. Vishu
• C. Baisakhi
• D. Navratri

Answer: A. Onam

48. Which festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva with night-long vigils?

• A. Maha Shivaratri
• B. Ganesh Chaturthi
• C. Diwali
• D. Holi

Answer: A. Maha Shivaratri

49. Which dance form originates from Andhra Pradesh?

• A. Odissi
• B. Kuchipudi
• C. Bharatanatyam
• D. Kathak

Answer: B. Kuchipudi

50. Which festival includes the ritual of lighting earthen lamps in Punjab?

• A. Diwali
• B. Bandi Chhor Divas
• C. Lohri
• D. Baisakhi

Answer: B. Bandi Chhor Divas