Culture questions look easy but cost a lot of marks, because the options are all real fairs and real dances. The paper only checks whether you can match the right pair. So I study this topic as pairs, and I revise the pairs, not paragraphs.
What this topic covers
Fairs and where they are held
| Fair | Place | When / about |
|---|---|---|
| Hola Mohalla | Sri Anandpur Sahib | Day after Holi; started by Guru Gobind Singh Ji; martial skills of the Nihangs |
| Maghi Mela | Sri Muktsar Sahib | January (Maghi); remembers the Chali Mukte (forty liberated ones) |
| Shaheedi Jor Mela | Sri Fatehgarh Sahib | December; martyrdom of the younger Sahibzadas |
| Baisakhi Mela | Talwandi Sabo (Damdama Sahib), Anandpur Sahib and across Punjab | 13 or 14 April; harvest and the founding of the Khalsa in 1699 |
| Chhapar Mela | Chhapar village, Ludhiana | September; in the memory of Gugga Pir |
| Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan | Devi Talab Mandir, Jalandhar | December; one of India's oldest classical music festivals, since 1875 |
| Kila Raipur Sports Festival | Kila Raipur, Ludhiana | February; the "Rural Olympics" |
| Baba Sheikh Farid Aagman Purb | Faridkot | September; the arrival of Baba Farid |
Festivals
- Lohri: 13 January, the night before Maghi; bonfire, the story of Dulla Bhatti.
- Baisakhi: 13 or 14 April; harvest festival and Khalsa founding day (1699).
- Teeyan: in Sawan (monsoon); women's festival of swings and Giddha.
- Bandi Chhor Divas: celebrated with Diwali; release of Guru Hargobind Ji from Gwalior Fort.
Folk dances
| Performed by men | Performed by women |
|---|---|
| Bhangra (harvest, with dhol) | Giddha (with boliyan and clapping) |
| Jhumar (slow, graceful, from the Sandal Bar) | Sammi (from the Sandal Bar, now Pakistan) |
| Luddi (dance of victory) | Kikli (girls in pairs, holding crossed hands) |
| Malwai Giddha (men's Giddha of Malwa) | Jaago (wedding night, pot of lamps on the head) |
Folk instruments
- Dhol (with Bhangra), Tumbi (one-string; made famous by Lal Chand Yamla Jatt), Algoza (twin flutes), Chimta, Sarangi, Dhad (small hourglass drum of the dhadi singers), Bugdu and Kato.
Crafts and dress
- Phulkari: embroidery with silk thread; a fully covered piece is called a Bagh. Phulkari has a GI tag.
- Punjabi Jutti, Paranda (hair tassel) and the Pagg (turban).
The five Takhts
- Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar (established by Guru Hargobind Ji in 1606)
- Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib (birthplace of the Khalsa)
- Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda
- Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Bihar (birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh Ji)
- Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded, Maharashtra
Three Takhts are in Punjab; two are outside.
How it is asked in the exam
- "Maghi Mela is held at?" (Sri Muktsar Sahib.)
- "Which of these is a women's folk dance?" (Giddha / Sammi / Kikli.)
- "Lal Chand Yamla Jatt is associated with?" (Tumbi.)
- "Harballabh music festival is held in?" (Jalandhar.)
- "Which Takht is in Bathinda district?" (Damdama Sahib.)
Points to remember
- Jhumar and Sammi both come from the Sandal Bar region (now in Pakistan). Jhumar is men's, Sammi is women's.
- Malwai Giddha is danced by men, even though Giddha is a women's dance. This is a favourite trap.
- Dulla Bhatti is linked with Lohri; Gugga Pir with Chhapar Mela.
Common mistakes
- Placing Hola Mohalla at Amritsar. It is Anandpur Sahib.
- Mixing Maghi (Muktsar) with Jor Mela (Fatehgarh Sahib).
- Counting all five Takhts in Punjab.
Practise straight after reading
Make flash cards with one side "fair / dance / instrument" and the other side "place / who performs / artist". Shuffle and test yourself tomorrow, after 7 days and after 30 days.