NIOS Class 12 Tourism Chapter 11 Solutions
INTEXT QUESTIONS 11.1
A. Choose the correct Answer
(i) An event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centres on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community, and the Festival is called
a. Tradition
b. Festival
c. Culture
d. Fair
Ans: (i) c
(ii) Gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals, and often to enjoy associated entertainment is called
a. Fair
b. Feast
c. Tradition
d. Festival
Ans: (ii) a
(iii) Which festival is a mixture of religious, festive, spectacular, and full of fun and frolic activities?
a. Gurpurb
b. Baisakhi
c. Christmas
d. Raksha Bandhan
Ans: (iii) c
(iv) Name the states where the following festivals are celebrated
a. Bihu b. Baisakhi c. Rath Yatra d. Kutch
Ans: (a) Assam (b) Punjab (c) Odisha (d) Gujarat
INTEXT QUESTIONS 11.2
1. Tick the correct option
i. Sonepur fair is popular as
a. animal fair
b. book fair
c. camel fair
d. mango fair
Ans: i) a
ii. The largest and holiest fair in India is
a. Goa Carnival
b. Pushkar fair
c. Kumbh mela
d. Makar Sankranti.
Ans: ii) c
2. Why are fairs considered as tourist attractions?
Ans: They hold certain events which attract people, like the Goa Carnival or the Kumbh Mela.
3. Describe the significance of Kumbh for tourists.
Ans: Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage on which Hindus gather at the Ganges and the river Godavari, where bathing for purification from sin is considered a very pious religious act. “An eternal life free of sins” is the promise that comes attached with the magnificent event of Kumbh Mela. The event takes place every 12 years, and Hindus consider bathing in the river Ganges as a pious act.
4. Why is the Goa Carnival an International tourist attraction?
Ans: The Goa carnival is an annual event that takes place in Goa every year, which is filled with fun, frolic, and merry-making. Many visitors flock to see this event.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 11.3
1. Tick the correct option
i. Bharatanatyam dance has its origin in
a. Karnataka
b. Maharashtra
c. Odisha
d. TamilNadu
Ans: (i) d
ii. Indian dances depend on
a. Raaga
b. Bhav
c. Mudra
d. Bhav and mudras
Ans: (ii) d
iii. Which dance form depicts stories from epics and scriptures?
a. Kathakali
b. Bharatanatyam
c. Kathak
d. Odissi
Ans: (iii) a
iv. South Indian music is also known as
a. Carnatic music
b. Dakhinni musi
c. Kannada music
d. Hindustani music
Ans: (iv) a
2. Why are dance and music an integral part of Tourist attractions?
Ans: Dance and music are enjoyed by tourists, especially foreign tourists. This is because these events have been popularised by the Indians settled abroad.
3. List any five popular Indian musical instruments.
Ans: Mridanga, violin, tabla, flute, bansuri, harmonium, sitar, veena, dholak, sarod.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 11.4
1. Why are cuisines unavoidable Tourist attractions?
Ans: The cuisines form an integral part of any cultural programme, together with the festivals and fairs held in the country.
2. Name any five food styles of India available to tourists.
Ans: Mughlai, Oudhi, Rajasthani, South Indian, Punjabi, Gujarati, Maharastrian. Food.
Terminal Exercises
1. Differentiate between Festivals and Fairs.
Ans: Fairs and festivals are events or happenings through which we can see a very large part of our culture.
- Fair is a gathering of people to display or trade products or other goods, including animals, for buying and selling. These fairs are often temporary in nature and may last only an afternoon or may be a fortnight.
- Festivals are associated with a religious event that centres on and celebrates certain religious events of that community.
2. Why are Culture, festivals and fairs considered tourist attractions?
Ans: Tourists want to know and have a glimpse of the cultural attributes of visiting destinations. Fairs and festivals are events or happenings through which we can see a very large part of our culture. In both events, we can add other cultural components which lend colour and gaiety to those events.
3. Mention any three major Hindu festivals. How do they become Tourist attractions? Explain.
Ans: Hindu festivals can draw floods of people numbering half a million or more to any event. Sometimes, Fairs and Festivals are moments of remembrance and commemoration of the birthdays and great deeds of gods, goddesses, heroes, heroines, gurus, Prophets and saints. On these occasions, people gather together to celebrate.
- Deepawali or the Festival of Lights is the most popular of all Hindu festivals, which comes twenty days after Dussehra. It signifies the return of Rama from the forests after killing Ravana. People decorate their homes, have ample fun and merry-making. It is celebrated in most parts of the country with equal enthusiasm and fervour.
- Holi, the liveliest of all Hindu festivals, is observed all over North India. It heralds the end of winter and the beginning of spring and marks the rekindling of the spirit of life. It is a festival of joy when all is forgiven. People throw colored power and water at each other and make merry. Singing and dancing add to the gaiety of the occasion. Holi celebrations in Mathura and the small towns of Braj Bhoomi, the land of Sri Krishna, are spectacular. At this time of the year, many tourists come here to witness the Holi celebration.
- Dussehra is amongst the most popular Indian festivals, which falls in the Hindu month of Ashvin (around September or October). On this day, Rama vanquished the evil Ravana – the 10-headed demon-king of Lanka who had abducted Rama’s wife, Sita. It is a 10-day festival when people visit Ramlilas held in many places. On the tenth day, i.e. on Dussehra, effigies of the demon king Ravanna, along with his brother Kumbhkaran and son Meghnad, are burnt. Kullu Dussehra in Himachal Pradesh and Mysore Dussehra are famous and popular tourist attractions. Music, dance, puppet shows, joyrides, games, food stalls, people buying and selling, the balloon wala and chaat wala, all can be seen at such events.
4. Mention any two major Muslim festivals. How do they serve as Tourist attractions? Explain.
Ans: The major festivals of Muslims are Eid ul Fitr, Eid-ul-Zuha and Milad-un- Nabi. Eid al-Fitr is the biggest Muslim festival in India. It is celebrated after the month of Ramzan (the month of fasting and the ninth month of the Muslim year), on the first day of Shavval – a month in the Hijri year (Muslim year). Markets are flooded with many good things to eat, clothes and gifts. On the day of Eid, people go to the mosque to say their prayers.
Muhharam is a mourning occasion to recall martydom of Imam Hassan and Hussain, grandsons ofthe Prophet.
5. Identify the major Jain and Buddhist festivals and state their significance as Tourist attractions.
Ans: Major Jian festival is the Mahavir Jayanti
- The birthday of Lord Mahavira, the 24th tirthankar of the Jain sect, is largely spent in prayer rather than in any ostentatious display of jubilation. In places with a sizeable Jain population, like Old Delhi and Gujarat, peaceful processions are organised where children put up skits depicting different phases of Mahavira’s life. This day is considered to be auspicious enough to undertake new ventures or organise other social activities.
A major Buddhist festival is the Buddha Purnima and the Hemis Festival, Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir.
- The courtyard of Hemis Gompa, the largest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh, is the stage for the famous ‘Hemis’ festival that celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. Local people dress up in their finest traditional garb for the occasion. Lamas, called ‘chhams,’ perform splendid masked dances and perform sacred plays to the accompaniment of cymbals, drums and long horns. The head lama presides over the function. The festival takes an auspicious turn every 12 years in the Tibetan Year, when the two-storey high ‘Thanka’ depicting Padmasambhava is displayed.
6. List the major Sikh and Christian festivals, which are Tourist attractions.
Ans:
- Gurpurbs are related to the lives of the Sikh gurus; they are an important feature of the Sikh way of life. During these celebrations, the Guru Granth Sahib is read in private homes and in the gurdwaras. This is done in a single continuous ceremony lasting for 48 hours. This reciting of the Grantha Sahib, called Akhan Path, must be completed without interruption. You can see Sikhs march in processions through towns and cities, chanting the holy hymns. Public functions are held. Gurdwaras and residential houses are illuminated with lights and diyas. Friends and families exchange greetings.
- Christmas, the festival of Christians, is associated with the birth of Jesus Christ. At Christmas, which falls on 25 December every year, Christians go to the Church and sing carols and prayers. People send greetings to their friends and families in faraway places. People decorate their homes with Christmas trees and wreaths, bright red decorative bulbs, festoons, bells, other small ornaments, coins and gifts hung in socks. Days before Christmas, markets are packed with huge crowds. People buy new clothes, gifts and decoration materials (for their family).
7. Explain the significance of the National festival that attracts tourists to various places.
Ans: National festivals are celebrated to commemorate the occurrence of great historical events of national importance. Such festivals inculcate a strong feeling of patriotism in the minds of Indians. Celebrations of National festivals exhibit the political and Socio-cultural scenario of the country, and these are alluring Tourist attractions. India celebrates three National Festivals.
- Independence Day: (15th August 1947). Commemorating the day India attained freedom (15 August), Independence Day is celebrated with flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programmes in the state capitals, district headquarters, cities and villages, especially in almost every school. The Prime Minister’s speech at the Red Fort in Delhi is the major highlight. The Delhi skyline is dotted with thousands of kites on this day.
- Republic Day: Commemorating the day India became a Republic, in 1950 on 26 January every year, is witness to colourful celebrations with soldiers marching in unison, followed by folk dancers, school children and floats from different states. The beating retreat that marks the end of celebrations on 29 January is a moving ceremony with military bands playing at Vijay Chowk in Delhi.
- Gandhi Jayanti: The birth anniversary of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who was born on 2nd October in the year 1869.
8. Throw light on the Tourist attractions of the five most popular fairs of India.
Ans:
- Pushkar Fair is one of the world’s largest camel fairs, held during October-November in the oldest city of Rajasthan, “Pushkar”. It attracts a large number of visitors from all around the world, especially from Israel. It is also an important competition, such as the matka phod and the longest moustache, and the Hot air balloon are experiences enjoyed by the tourists. People also gather to watch camel racing, tent pegging and other such events.
- The Sonepur Fair is the only one of its kind in the world. Haathi Bazaar is one of the major attractions of the fair, where elephants are lined up for sale. Apart from this, all breeds of buffalo, donkeys, ponies and birds are also available for sale. It is the largest animal fair in India, which attracts people from all around Asia.
- Ambubasi Fair is a three-day traditional fair which is organised every year during the monsoon in the Kamakhya temple at Guwahati, Assam. Devotees from different parts of the country come here to take part in this fair.
- Baneshwar Fair is a very popular tribal fair held in Dungarpur district in Rajasthan during February. This is a religious fair with simple and traditional rituals to worship Lord Shiva. This fair is the centre of attraction for a large number of tribals from the neighbouring states.
- Desert Festivals of Jaisalmer and Nagaur are other famous festivals which attract tourists. In Jaisalmer, it is a three-day event marked with colour, music and festivity. Tourists over here can witness gair and fire dancers dancing to traditional tunes, camel polo and camel dance. There is a turban tying competition also. Many folk performers also find a platform to show off their talent. There are snake charmers, puppeteers and acrobats who charm the Indian and foreign tourists.
9. Comment on Indian dances as tourist attractions.
Ans: Dance and music have always happened to be the most popular choices of tourists. Dance festivals are held throughout the year all over the country. Indian dances are very popular everywhere among Indians who have settled abroad; these events have popularised them. Both Indians and foreigners visit dance festivals. Some of the very popular dance and music festivals are the Konark dance festival of Orissa, the Khajuraho dance festival of Madhya Pradesh and the Chennai dance and music festival.
Classical and Regional Dances namely Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kathak (Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh), Kathakali (Kerala), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Manipuri (Manipur), Mohiniyattam (Kerala), Odissi (Odisha), Sattriya (Assam), Garba & Dandia (Gujarat) and Bhangra (Punjab) etc. are an integral part of Tourist attractions in India.
10. Highlight special features of any three Indian dances which are a great source of attraction for tourists.
Ans: The classical dance forms of India have a long history of 2000 years. Most of the dances were performed in the temples before the deities; sometimes they were also performed in the royal courts for the visitors to the King. One such example is Kathak, which received patronage in the Mughal courts.
Most of the classical dance styles of India were developed in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. In India, eight major Indian classical dance forms are very popular and attended by a large number of people. Each of these has a regional connection and attracts an audience from different part sof the country and the world.
- Bharatanatyam originated in the Tamil Nadu state of India during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The music used during the performance is based on Carnatic classical music. Mridangam, veena, flute, and violin are the main musical instruments used during dance performances.
- Kathak was initially performed as a temple ritual in northern India, but later became royal court entertainment under the Mughal and Persian influence.
- Kathakali is a unique form of dance drama from Kerala, which is performed on stories from the Hindu epics like the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Puranas in the temples. The dancers use big masks with heavy make-up and costumes, and wear huge,e colorful skirt and head dresses. The facial expression, hand movements (Mudras), and eye movements are used by the dancers to convey their dialogue to the spectators.
- Kuchipudi originated from Andhra Pradesh. It was initially performed in the temples by the Brahmin men, known as Bhagavathalu. It is a form of dance-drama, enacted at night in the open air on an improvised stage. The dancers wear colourful costumes, make-up, and heavy jewellery and ornaments.
- Manipuri dance is a classical dance form of Manipur, dating back to about 100 AD. Its movements are slow and graceful. The gentle arm and foot movements make the dance performance different from other classical dances. The main musical instrument of Manipuri dance is the Manipuri Dholak.
- Mohiniattam belongs to Kerala. Mohiniattam means Mohini’s Dance (according to Indian mythology, Mohini was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the form of a beautiful woman with the intention to slay the demon Bhasmasur).
- Odissi originates from Odisha. It is considered to be one of the oldest surviving dance forms in the world. It is very similar to the Bharatanatyam in respect to expressions and mudras. The dance is based on the Sanskrit play Geet Govinda, which shows love and devotion to Lord Krishna.
- Sattriya is the classical dance form of Assam. It was introduced by the great Vaishnav saint and reformer of Assam, Mahapurusha Shankaradeva. Sattriya dance tradition is governed by strictly laid down principles in respect of hastamudras, footwork, aharyas and music, etc. The costumes of the dancers are made of Assam Pat Silk and traditional Assamese jewellery. It is accompanied by musical compositions called borgets based on classical ragas.
Additional Study Materials
- NIOS Class 12 Tourism Syllabus Bifurcation
- NIOS Class 12 Tourism Sample Question Paper
- Chapter 9. Culture and Heritages in India–I: Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism
- Chapter 10. Culture and Heritages in India–II: Sikhism, Islam, and Christianity
