Correct Answer :   Rajasthan

The Gangaur festival, commemorating the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is celebrated throughout Rajasthan. It symbolizes marriage's happiness and auspiciousness, with significant rituals performed by women seeking blessings for marital harmony and prosperity.

Correct Answer :   Nagaland

The much-awaited 4th edition of Rüsoma Orange Festival 2024 is set to begin at Rüsoma village in Kohima district, Nagaland with a two-day programme from 24th January 2024. Addressing a press conference at Vivid Lounge here on Monday, Kekhrie Pfukha, spokesperson for the organiser of Rüsoma Orange Festival, extended a warm invitation to everyone to join the festival and savour the flavour of the “finest oranges” cultivated in the fertile soil of Rüsoma village, 12 km from the state capital.

Referring to Rüsoma as the “Gardening Village” or Tezie Kechü Rüna, he said oranges were a prominent fruit, and the Orange Festival, also known as Shühuo Nyi, originated in 2020 through the efforts of entrepreneur and biker Thejakielie Zuyie.

Since then, he mentioned that the festival had become an annual celebration, earning Rüsoma the moniker of an orange land. He informed the media that event brought together farmers, entrepreneurs, and community members, showcasing a variety of orange products, from fresh produce to juices, jams, and other value-added items.

Pfukha revealed that the opening ceremony would feature live music performances, culinary displays, art exhibitions, and various activities centred around the orange theme.

He disclosed that the honoured guest at the event would be Horticulture & Women Resource Development minister Salhoutuonuo Kruse at 10 am.

He pointed out that Rüsoma village with a population of 2,810, according to the 2022 Census, had a long tradition of orange farming, acting as a unifying force in the community, fostering joy and festivity. He mentioned that the festival this year aimed at continuing this tradition, showcasing the village’s rich cultural heritage and abundant harvest, emphasising agricultural prowess, unity, and community resilience.
The spokesperson emphasized Rüsoma’s rich soil and the village’s unique organic orange farming which was divided into eight units called khels. He said the village engaged in terrace cultivation as a primary occupation.

He pointed out that despite investments in youth education for independence and self-reliance, traditional practices like farming, livestock rearing, and maintaining the dignity of work were actively encouraged to preserve cultural heritage and sustain livelihoods. Highlighting the orange growers data, Khriezotoulie Chase, another spokesperson, disclosed that there were around 28,700 non-bearing trees (orange saplings under plantation), 14,100 orange trees bearing fruits with a total of 42,800 in total. He said the farmers were expecting a profit of Rs 53,47,500 over the two-day event and looking ahead, claiming that the organisers aimed to increase revenue significantly, targeting a range of about Rs 5-6 crore in the upcoming years. He said the profit in 2023 was Rs 40 lakh.

Chase stated that during the two-day festival, a farmer had the potential to earn between Rs 2-3 lakh and highlighted the varying yields from orange trees, with some bearing as much as 230 kg of fruit, while others ranged from 80 to 150 kg.

The festival gates are set to open at 9:30 am, with tickets priced at Rs 10 per person. Growers can participate in competitions such as best stall, biggest stall, sweetest orange, and biggest orange, with a total of 42 stalls available. To enhance the festival experience, orchard camping and paying guest accommodations will be provided at nominal rates. Chase extended an invitation to everyone to be a part of this vibrant celebration..

Source : Nagaland Post

Correct Answer :   United States

New Jersey in the United States is set to host the world's second-largest Hindu temple outside India, to be formally inaugurated on 8th October 2023.

Hailed as the world's largest Hindu temple outside India “in the modern era”, the Akshardham temple has been built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham organisation.

This grand temple is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, a Hindu spiritual leader of the 19th century, and was inspired by his 5th spiritual successor and renowned saint Pramukh Swami Maharaj.


All you need to know about US's Akshardham temple :

1) Located in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, the temple has been built by over 12,500 volunteers from across the US over a span of 12 years, from 2011 to 2023.

2) The temple popular as Akshardham spans over 183 acres and has been designed according to ancient Hindu scriptures and includes design elements from ancient Indian culture. These include 10,000 statues and statuettes, carvings of Indian musical instruments and dance forms.

3) The unique Hindu temple design includes one main shrine, 12 sub-shrines, nine shikhars (spire-like structures), and nine pyramidal shikhars. It is designed to apparently last a thousand years.

4) In its construction, four types of stone including limestone, pink sandstone, marble, and granite were used to give it lasting strength. These were sources from around the world including limestone from Bulgaria and Turkey; Marble from Greece, Turkey and Italy; Granite from India and China; Sandstone from India.

5) The temple premises also have a ‘Brahma Kund’, a traditional Indian stepwell. It contains water from more than 300 water bodies from around the world, including the holy rivers of India and all 50 states of the US.

6) Though the temple will be formally inaugurated on 8 October 2023, it will be open for visitors from 18 October 2023. Currently, the temple is open for visitors during certain hours but will be closed between September 30 and October 17, 2023 due to a series of private events. The official website of the temple says that till September 30, the campus entry will be open to visitors Monday to Friday only, from 10am to 4:30pm..

Source : Hindustan Times